Prospective Students
Scholarship Opportunities
Community • Cohort • Culturally Responsive Curriculum
We believe in the possibility of a just and sustainable world.Ìý We develop community leaders who engage in compassionate action as a lifetime commitment.ÌýINVST is an academic program that admits up to 16Ìýstudents each year in order to foster a small, interactive environment. The program combines practical skills training, meaningful community-based action, and theory in a unique, participatory model. Students who successfully complete The INVST Program can earn the Leadership Studies Minor from ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder.
Change your life, while learning to change the world, in INVST.
INVST is open to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder undergraduates from all majors and departments. You may be a freshman, sophomore, or junior when you apply. You may also apply to INVST while you are in the process of applying to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder, either as a freshman or a transfer student.
Inclusion Commitment:
We actively seek and support the participation of individuals and communities that reflect diversity of ability status, age, color, documentation status, ethnicity, gender, gender variance, life experience, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and veteran status.
Commitment to Anti-oppressive Education:
INVST Community Studies is committed to anti-oppressive education. We acknowledge the importance of examining not only how groups are oppressed but also how groups are privileged and how these two processes maintain social structures. We are dedicated to challenging dominant ideologies and systems, centering traditionally underrepresented voices, questioning the assumption that information is unbiased, and critiquing what is thought of as normal.
All interested students should contact us at invst@colorado.edu.Ìý
The specific skills and experiences that will be part of INVST will last a lifetime.Ìý
First of all, INVST is a cohort-based learning journey. You will be admitted with up to 17 others and you'll travel with them on the Climate Justice Summer, take INVS 4931-4932 with them, and work with them to bring about racial justice and climate justice in ourÌýcommunity. Life-long relationships often develop among members of a cohort, which is important because in this kind of work, we need each other. The INVST family of alumni stretches across the nation,Ìýremaining connected longÌýafter graduation. Ìý
"INVST's cohort-based learning model and emphasis on leadership skills are the foundation of my career. These experiences have reached far into my life -- informing how I understand the world and how to contribute to positive change. I can say confidently that I would never have experienced such richness without INVST. "
-INVST graduate, class of 2014
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"As a woman in a field that presents significant barriers to diversity and inclusion, the tools, mindset, and resilience I gained from INVST have been indispensable. No other program at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder prepared me for the complexities of adult life and professional challenges as INVST did. The program is more than an educational curriculum; it is a lifeline for students who seek to make a meaningful impact in their professional fields and the broader community."Ìý
INVST graduate, class of 2011
INVST students are multidisciplinary, passionate, and engaging. Everyone comes from different academic backgrounds and passions, which allows for creative and multifaceted problem-solving and collaboration, as people can bring their own unique insights and life experiences. INVST students also deeply care about the world around them and use their resources and ingenuity to connect with and improve our communities.Ìý
"I would describe INVST staff as deeply empathetic and compassionate towards their students but also challenge everyone to be the best version of themselves. They provide seemingly endless resources and care about cultivating long-term relationships that transcend students' time in INVST and at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. Staff are always there to listen and support their students, willing to address any concerns or questions in order to make students' time in the program the best it can be."
--Jordan Camp, Former INVST StudentÌý
Being a part of INVST feels like being part of a community that's hard to find at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder. As an INVST student, you'll feel challenged, supported, and encouraged by your community. Students form close relationships with their peers and don't leave simply INVST once they graduate the program, but remain connected to the community years into the future. Being an INVST student also feels hopeful.Ìý
We offer scholarships to those with financial need. Please apply to The INVST Program first, and then seek financial support if you need it.
We provide Summer Financial Aid!
Summer Lost Wage Reimbursement: For students who would otherwise be unable to participate in INVST due to lost wages from missed summer work, INVST can provide up to $1,500 in lost wage reimbursement.ÌýWe determine eligibility based on financial need and weÌýcompare your financial need with that of others in your cohort. Our goal is to offer the funding that we have to as many students as possible, while prioritizing those who have the highest levels of need.Ìý
Additional scholarship opportunities for the academic year available for INVST students:
The Dreamer Scholarship (both summer and annual funding): Scholarship applicants with active Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) status are encouraged to apply for an award of up to $5,000 to help cover tuition and life expenses. Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate financial need and scholarships are eligible for renewal based on criteria established by INVST. This scholarship will be granted to those who are ineligible for federal aid, and they demonstrate financial need. If more than one person in the incoming cohort is eligible, funds will be split between them.Ìý
ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ In-State Financial Aid: The ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) gives aid to students who have resided in the state for at least three years before graduating from a ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ high school or passing a high school equivalency exam. Students who are eligible for Federal Title IV aid by completing the FAFSA shouldÌýnot complete the CASFA. More information here:Ìý
The Jim Downton Community Leadership Scholarship: up to $3,000 towards ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Boulder tuition will be awarded to two students in the incoming INVST cohort. This scholarship will be granted to those who demonstrate need and are residents of the state of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. A separate application is required. The dollar amount received in year one is not necessarily the same amount you will receive from INVST in year two, and re-applying will be necessary if you hope to receive this award for both years of INVST.Ìý
Everyone admitted into INVST is expected to complete the entire sequence of required courses, but especially those who receive financial aid from INVST. If you fail to complete the program in its entirety, you may be asked to return the funding that you were granted.Ìý
Students are encouraged to email invst@colorado.edu as soon as they know they will need financial support, so there is plenty of time to consider the options listed above. Requests for financial support madeÌýafter June 15th will not necessarily be fulfilled.