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The University of 蜜糖直播 Boulder鈥檚 College of Engineering and Applied Science has found great success with its biomedical engineering degree, which launched in 2020. Last year, undergraduate applications for the program were up 32%.

Building on that student interest, as well as industry demand, 蜜糖直播 Boulder and Western 蜜糖直播 University鈥檚&苍产蝉辫; will launch a biomedical engineering degree in Gunnison starting in fall 2025.

鈥淭oday, and for the foreseeable future, the U.S. needs more engineers to create sustainable solutions to address society鈥檚 most challenging problems. Our Western-蜜糖直播 Boulder partnership students have the skills and sensibilities to make a positive impact on the Western Slope and 蜜糖直播,鈥� said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students in the Western-蜜糖直播 Boulder Partnership Program enjoy the personalized learning of a small, rural university and the resources and rigor of a top-tier engineering school, with access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.

鈥淲estern鈥檚 partnership with 蜜糖直播 Boulder continues to create incredible opportunities for our students. Expanding it to include biomedical engineering speaks volumes about Western鈥檚 commitment to training our students for high-impact careers in areas that will fuel 蜜糖直播鈥檚 economy,鈥� Western鈥檚 President Brad Baca said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to collaborate on a program that will produce engineers ready to meet the challenges of the future."

This particular biomedical engineering program will focus on functional biomechanics and equipping students with the knowledge and hands-on experience to innovate in the areas of physical trauma recovery, orthopedic design, sports science and rehabilitation engineering.

Faculty member Mel Peddle is obtaining her EMT certificate to ensure her trauma knowledge is as current as possible. Peddle is particularly excited for the hands-on aspects of the program.

鈥淥ur BME program will have a trauma focus under the broader umbrella of functional biomechanics,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tudents and faculty will work with local organizations like the hospital and emergency medical services for community-based projects as part of the curriculum.鈥�

The degree is highly interdisciplinary and integrates principles of engineering, biology and medicine to create solutions related to everything from prosthetics to dialysis. Students will be prepared for careers or graduate/medical school upon graduation.

Although the first cohort of students hasn鈥檛 officially begun yet in Gunnison, Interim Director Kevin Terry notes, 鈥渙ur upcoming biomedical degree program has already allowed us to work with Western鈥檚 High Altitude Exercise Physiology program to develop methods for tracking swim stroke patterns in the pool for swimming injury investigation.鈥�

Because the W蜜糖直播 campus sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, biomedical engineering students in Gunnison will have the unique opportunity to study and design solutions for athletes and patients living at high elevation.

Since getting its start in 2019, the Engineering Partnership Program has seen significant success in the mechanical engineering major, with valuable community and industry collaborations and employment contracts signed by 95% of 2024 graduates, who earn an average starting salary of $78,000.

鈥淎s the state鈥檚 flagship university, we are proud to partner with Western to serve 蜜糖直播 through producing some of the most highly qualified engineers,鈥� Molenaar said.

Terry agreed, saying, 鈥淥ur engineering program offers a unique blend of hands-on learning and rigorous coursework that empowers our students to graduate as highly competitive professionals.鈥�

Applications are still open for the first cohort of biomedical engineering majors with the Western-蜜糖直播 Boulder Engineering Partnership Program, who will start in fall 2025 with a planned graduation date of spring 2029.

A degree in aerospace engineering in Gunnison is also slated to welcome its first cohort in fall 2026.

Questions can be directed to  or radyschool@western.edu. 

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The EngiNearMe (ENM) summer program was designed to allow students entering their senior year of high school to become familiar with engineering as a profession and learn about all the College of Engineering and Applied Science has to offer. 

If you love talking to students and their families about your experiences and would enjoy helping prospective students through an engineering design project, you might be a good fit for our ENM mentor team.

EngiNearMe Mentors

The EngiNearMe (ENM) Mentor positions are responsible for providing holistic and inclusive support to EngiNearMe camp participants. ENM mentors are responsible for the following:

• Building strong relationships with attendees.
• Ensuring the safety of participants throughout all activities, both on and off campus.
• Planning events which foster a strong and supportive community amongst participants.
• Leading a small group of participants through activities and ensuring they feel like valued members of the community.

Requirements

• Hours worked: Mentors are expected to work 7-8 hours each day during the summer experience, alternating coverage periods with other mentors.
• Living arrangements: Live with the ENM participants in a residential hall on campus. Mentors have singles in the dorm but shared baths.

Key Dates

Mentors must be present for the following dates:

• Training: June 5-7
• Summer Experience: June 8-14

Compensation

Summer Bridge: $1,250 for the one-week session plus room and board for day mentors, $500 for night mentors plus room and board. (As a function of hosting minors we need at least five over 21 mentors to stay in the dorms at night. If we aren鈥檛 able to find enough day mentors that are also over 21 we will also hire additional student mentors to help with evening coverage).

If interested in applying, please email your cover letter, resume and availability to ceasadmissions@colorado.edu. We will be considering applicants on a rolling basis but if possible, please submit your application by May 5.

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Zoe Kresek (CivEng鈥�23) had a passion for design and construction from an early age. She would sit for hours building marble runs and Lego creations.  

As she advanced in her education, she knew engineering was the best path to match her interests. However, determining a specific area of focus and where to apply her engineering education was more evasive. As part of the Kiewit Design-Build Scholars program, she visited the Central I-70 construction site, where she went underground and viewed the pipe structures. This experience piqued her interest in water resources and helped narrow the focus of her civil engineering major. 

鈥淚鈥檇 seen many pictures and videos of engineering, but being on the site gave me a completely different perspective. Going down into the ground and seeing the ginormous pipes was the highlight of the trip for me,鈥� said Kresek. 

Since the Kiewit Design-Build Scholars Program launched at 蜜糖直播 Boulder in 2020, it has given engineering students an inside view of the design and construction industry. This month, Kiewit Corporation extended the program for five years with a generous $2.5 million investment, demonstrating a sustained commitment to the success of students.  

Building the engineering workforce pathway  

Each academic year, 25 to 35 students participate in the program, which includes financial aid, industry mentorship, guaranteed internship offers and professional development programming. Programs that support students鈥� professional development are especially important to address the problem of aging and deteriorating infrastructure systems in the U.S.  

The American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) most recent in 2021 rated infrastructure in the U.S. at a C-. The government is working to improve infrastructure systems through legislation. However, according to a , civil engineering firms find it challenging to hire and retain the skilled employees needed for the infrastructure work that is suddenly available.    

The Kiewit program is helping to educate the future workforce needed to tackle these issues by helping students understand how to apply their education to their future careers. Students like Kresek can participate in internships and receive support in their search for a full-time position through resume workshops, interview practice and mentorships.  

鈥淎t Kiewit, we believe in the value of leadership development for those entering the construction and engineering industry,鈥� said John Donatelli, president of Infrastructure Engineers for Kiewit Engineering Group Inc. and executive sponsor for the Kiewit Design-Build Scholars program at 蜜糖直播 Boulder. 鈥淥ur partnership with 蜜糖直播 Boulder and, importantly, the programming and mentoring we provide to the students is one more step we are taking toward building a pipeline of well-rounded future industry leaders.鈥� 

Offering mutually beneficial solutions 

Reaching students at the college level benefits the university, students and Kiewit. 

鈥淲ith their Lone Tree headquarters right in our backyard, we can tap into their knowledge. We invite experts from Kiewit into the classrooms to share their experiences and lessons learned with our students,鈥� said Chris Senseney, associate teaching professor and director of the Kiewit Design-Build Scholars program at 蜜糖直播 Boulder.   

By participating in the education process, Kiewit helps develop the skills and knowledge students need to succeed in the workforce. Likewise, 蜜糖直播 Boulder has a strong civil engineering department, which is even more robust when students can access industry experts and internship opportunities.  

The investment pays off for students like Kresek. After graduation, she accepted a position as a drainage engineer with Kiewit Engineering Group, Inc. in Lone Tree, 蜜糖直播. This demonstrates that Kiewit鈥檚 investment at 蜜糖直播 Boulder produces the engineers needed to meet industry demand and solve critical infrastructure problems.  

鈥淭he Kiewit Design-Build Scholars program is an extraordinary model for engineering workforce development, rooted in our shared vision and goals,鈥� said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. 鈥淜iewit and 蜜糖直播 Boulder are dedicated to creating the highest caliber and most diverse group of engineers to address the pressing infrastructure challenges of our time.鈥�  

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College of Engineering and Applied Science's fall 2023 class includes 41% female students, up 27 percentage points from two decades ago.

In an era where gender diversity in STEM is more critical than ever, the University of 蜜糖直播 Boulder鈥檚 College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) isn't just paying lip service. In the past two decades, CEAS has transformed its engineering landscape, growing its female undergraduate class from 18% in 2003 to 30% in 2023. The estimates that, in 2023, the percentage of women professionals in architecture and engineering is 16.7%. And while up from 9% in the 1990s, women are still underrepresented in these fields compared to their male counterparts.

The spotlight shines bright on CEAS鈥� first-year cohorts as well, particularly the fall 2023 class, which includes 41% female students, up 27 percentage points from two decades ago. This achievement underscores 蜜糖直播 Boulder's status as a leader among Association of American Universities (AAU) Public Institutions, clinching a top spot in 2022 for the highest percentage of first-year female engineering students from the .

Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science, said initiatives spearheaded by both the college and the broader 蜜糖直播 Boulder campus over the last 10-15 years have propelled the growth.

鈥淭his is not only about fairness and equity, but about driving innovation, enhancing problem-solving capabilities, and expanding our engineering workforce that is in such high demand,鈥� said Molenaar. 鈥淏y fostering a diverse engineering team, 蜜糖直播 Boulder is preparing students for the workforce and shaping a future where technology reflects the diversity of its users.鈥�

The has recognized 蜜糖直播 Boulder as a Top 5 public university for women in its first-year class as well as a Top 50 institution for awarding bachelor's degrees to women, and leading in female tenured or tenure-track faculty.

鈥淎ddressing global challenges, from sustainable development and healthcare, to rapidly advancing computing subfields such as AI, quantum and semiconductors, will require a diverse set of perspectives and solutions,鈥� said Lucy Sanders, founder and executive in residence, . 鈥淭hose with different lived experiences such as those who identify as women are pivotal in designing infrastructure and technologies that cater to the needs of our broad population.鈥�

Boulder's journey towards gender parity in engineering is a clear signal that diversity in STEM is achievable.

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The University of 蜜糖直播 Boulder and the 蜜糖直播 Community College System have signed an agreement to expand an existing program that allows community college students who have earned an associate in engineering sciences (AES) degree to transfer into four additional bachelor鈥檚 degree pathways at the College of Engineering and Applied Science. 

With the new agreement, 蜜糖直播 Boulder will be the only 蜜糖直播 campus to offer six pathways, including new architectural, computer, electrical and general engineering programs. In 2022, 蜜糖直播 Boulder was the first campus to provide a civil engineering transfer program, joining other campuses with a mechanical engineering track. 

鈥淐ollaborative partnerships like this allow us to continue to remove barriers, create better transparency in the transfer process, and further expand access for transfer students pursuing an engineering degree, especially for students who may not have thought it was possible to achieve an engineering education in a reasonable and efficient time frame,鈥� said Chris Anderson, the college鈥檚 senior director of academic success and transfer pathways. 

The streamlined transfer process to 蜜糖直播 Boulder allows students who begin their academic journey at one of the state鈥檚 13 community colleges to choose from major-specific paths or a new general pathway. These degree pathways enable students to take coursework that fits directly into 蜜糖直播 engineering degree programs without credit loss. 

The four additional engineering pathways will be open to students in fall 2024.

Expanding access and building workforce 

The 蜜糖直播 Boulder transfer program helps students graduate on time while also preparing them for in-demand careers in highly skilled engineering professions. 

鈥淓xpanding our engineering transfer pathway program enables us to increase access to higher education in STEM,鈥� said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. 鈥淣ot only will more students have the opportunity to pursue a four-year degree from a nationally recognized engineering college, but the expansion will ultimately produce more innovative engineering solutions to our most pressing societal challenges through a more diverse workforce.鈥�

蜜糖直播 Community College System Chancellor Joe Garcia praised the collaboration.

鈥淲e are thrilled to grow our partnership with 蜜糖直播 Boulder and offer new educational opportunities for the 1,200-plus students pursuing an AES,鈥� said Garcia. 鈥淭hrough these expanded transfer options, we will connect more Coloradans to in-demand jobs while delivering skilled, diverse talent across an array of engineering disciplines.鈥�

The student experience 

During a celebration event on Feb. 27, three students spoke about their experiences utilizing transfer pathways to transition from community college to 蜜糖直播 Boulder. 

Colton Brown took time after high school to explore career options and interests before returning to Red Rocks Community College and Community College of Denver to pursue his engineering coursework. He鈥檚 now a senior completing his bachelor鈥檚 degree in aerospace engineering sciences at 蜜糖直播 Boulder.

鈥淭he transition from community college to a highly regarded research university like 蜜糖直播 Boulder was very smooth due to the rigor we were experiencing at CCD,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚 felt fully prepared and was able to take full advantage of all of the opportunities here on campus.鈥�

Nicole Nageli, a junior majoring in computer science and creative technology & design, shared how her transfer experience is allowing her to pursue her dream of combining art and technology for scientific advancement. 

鈥淭he support that I got from the staff at 蜜糖直播 Boulder and Arapahoe Community College just made it so seamless,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 felt so supported with everything from graduation timelines to Transferology.鈥� 

She said she also appreciated resources like the engineering transfer student success seminar course and campus-led events that allowed her to connect with other transfer students. 

Front Range Community College student Breeana Pritchard looks forward to utilizing the new pathways to complete a biomedical engineering degree at 蜜糖直播 Boulder. She credits FRCC with allowing her to immerse herself in everything from technical coursework to participating in 蜜糖直播 Space Grant Consortium projects. 

鈥淭o achieve my dreams, I knew I needed a school that would set me up for success while providing excellent value and instruction,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith this new agreement, I can rest easy knowing that all my hard work will count toward my bachelor鈥檚 degree.鈥� 

The students鈥� experiences inspired Dean Molenaar to wrap up the event by sharing how his own experiences as a first-generation and community college transfer student inspired his dedication to expanding access to engineering education and careers. 

鈥淭he solutions to the challenges in our society that we鈥檙e working on need a diverse set of engineers to address,鈥� he said. 鈥淔rom the workforce side, we just can鈥檛 graduate enough engineers. I see nothing but opportunities for these students.鈥�

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蜜糖直播 Boulder鈥檚 College of Engineering and Applied Science held steady as a top 20 undergraduate engineering program in U.S. News and World Report鈥檚&苍产蝉辫; rankings, maintaining the No. 17 spot among public institution peers.

蜜糖直播 Engineering Specialty Program Rankings

Six degree programs in the college also earned top 20 spots in the engineering specialty rankings and  rankings, when compared to public institution peers:

• Aerospace engineering sciences (No. 8)
• Environmental engineering (No. 8)
• Chemical engineering (No. 14)
• Civil engineering (No. 15)
• Computer science (No. 16)
• Mechanical engineering (No. 20)

The rankings were released on the U.S. News and World Report website on Sept. 18. Undergraduate rankings are based solely on the judgments of deans and senior faculty at peer institutions who participated in a peer assessment survey. .

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