By the Numbers

�� Boulder surplus store marks 1st year of major sustainability impact

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:32:44 +0000

�� Boulder surplus store marks 1st year of major sustainability impact Megan M Rogers Thu, 02/12/2026 - 07:32

Sustainability wins worth celebrating

�� Boulder’s commitment to sustainability took a major step forward this year as the �� Boulder Surplus Store celebrated its first full year of operation—and the numbers show just how much progress the campus has made in waste diversion and reuse.

Opened in January 2025, the Surplus Store was created to give university-owned items a second life while offering affordable options for students, faculty, staff and the community. From clothing and office furniture to electronics and lab equipment, the store has quickly become a resource for those looking to save money, reduce waste and participate in a more circular campus economy.

A year of measurable impact

In its first full year, the Surplus Store saw dramatic growth in both the volume of items redistributed and the materials diverted from the landfill. Compared to the year prior to its soft opening, the number of items moved through direct sales, campus sales and donations increased by 311%—jumping from 3,427 items to 14,086. Total material tonnage diverted from disposal also rose sharply, growing by 262%, from 115.49 tons to 418.6 tons.

To put this impact into perspective, �� Boulder generates nearly 5,000 tons of waste each year, diverting about half through recycling, composting and reuse. The Surplus Store plays a major role in that effort, helping to manage materials that make up nearly 10% of the campus’s total diversion by mass and 20% of the university’s overall waste‑diversion impact. And because reuse gives material a useful second life, it delivers on our goal to build a circular economy for our campus and the region.

“These results show what’s possible when we make sustainability simple and accessible,” said Walter O’Toole, assistant director of Distribution Services. “Every item reused saves resources and supports our campus community.”

“The Surplus Store is a great example of how �� Boulder’s campus serves as a living laboratory for sustainability, turning everyday actions into meaningful impact,” said Andrew Mayock, �� Boulder’s vice chancellor for sustainability. “By extending the life of university materials, we reduce waste, lower our environmental footprint and strengthen our culture of reuse. This progress moves our campus toward a more sustainable future and offers a model for other campuses and communities.”

By the numbers

14,086 items sold/donated—a 311% increase
418.6 tons of material diverted from disposal—a 262% increase

Circularity in action—at an accessible price

Beyond reducing waste, the Surplus Store also supports equity and affordability on campus. By reselling high-quality items at low cost—including sit-stand desks, Windows-11-ready laptops, dorm essentials and clothing—the store makes essential resources more accessible for both students and community members.

This model of reuse is central to �� Boulder’s circularity efforts: keeping materials in use longer, reducing the need for new purchases and ensuring that valuable goods remain available within the campus community rather than ending up in the landfill.

Weekly walkthrough videos on the store’s website help shoppers preview what’s available before visiting in person.

“The growth we have seen is exciting because it shows people really want to participate in reuse,” said Denise Worthington, property services program manager. “Every item that finds a new home makes a difference.”

Supporting �� Boulder's zero waste goals

The store’s mission aligns closely with campuswide zero waste efforts led by the �� Environmental Center (E-Center) programs. To learn more about �� Boulder’s recycling, composting and waste reduction initiatives, check out our zero waste website.

Getting there is easier than ever

Visitors can reach the Surplus Store by using Buff Ride, �� Boulder’s on‑demand transit service, which includes a stop at the Distribution Center.

Celebrate the first year and see what's next

As the Surplus Store marks its one‑year anniversary, the campus community is invited to stop by, explore available items and learn how their purchases help support a more sustainable �� Boulder.

For weekly walkthrough videos, store hours and location details, visit the �� Boulder Surplus Store website.

Questions about the Surplus Store? Contact the store at 303‑735‑0655 or email cubouldersurplus@colorado.edu.

�� Boulder's commitment to sustainability took a major step forward this year as the �� Boulder Surplus Store celebrated its first full year of operation—and the numbers show just how much progress the campus has made in waste diversion and reuse.

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�� Boulder takes proactive measures during extreme wind events

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 18:47:19 +0000

�� Boulder takes proactive measures during extreme wind events Megan M Rogers Fri, 01/09/2026 - 11:47

As the Front Range faced two powerful wind events from Dec. 17 to 20, 2025, �� Boulder coordinated action to protect the campus community and its infrastructure. With gusts peaking between 80 and 113 miles per hour, the university’s proactive administrative closures and rapid emergency response helped reduce the risk of serious injury and mitigated impacts to critical research operations.

“I am deeply grateful to the �� Boulder staff members who worked through dangerous conditions to keep our campus safe and operational,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “Their preparation and coordination protected people, preserved critical research and reflected the dedication our staff bring to this campus every day. I also want to thank our students, faculty and staff for their flexibility as operations were adjusted ahead of the holiday break to prioritize safety.”

A strategy of preparation

Preparation began days before the first gusts hit. Following forecasts of extreme winds and elevated fire danger, campus leaders and operational teams conducted briefings on anticipated conditions, potential power-loss scenarios and secondary risks, including elevated fire danger and infrastructure impacts. Units coordinated through the Emergency Management Policy Group (EMPG) and the Incident Management Team (IMT), with teams across public safety, facilities and IT aligning closely with city, county and utility partners to prepare for worst-case scenarios, including widespread power loss and airborne debris.

"Our decisions were guided by a single priority: keeping people safe," said Jack Briggs, associate vice chancellor for public safety operations. "Closing campus reduced the number of people exposed to risk and allowed our teams to focus on monitoring conditions and securing hazards."

As high winds arrived Dec. 17, the university implemented a series of proactive operational adjustments to reduce exposure to sudden and unpredictable hazards. These included an administrative closure on Dec. 17, a two-hour delayed start on Dec. 18 and a second administrative closure on Dec. 19. Decisions were guided by National Weather Service forecasts and red flag warnings and coordinated planning among campus leadership, the Joint Information Center (JIC), Division of Public Safety, Infrastructure and Resilience and local emergency partners.

Protecting critical systems and research

Ahead of the storm, teams across campus focused on protecting essential systems and operations, including:

Verifying backup generator readiness for critical facilities
Ensuring building security through access-control systems
Prioritizing essential research activities and safeguarding sensitive materials
Communicating through �� Boulder Alerts and the �� Boulder Safe app

Facilities Management, Division of Public Safety, Housing and Dining, Emergency Management and the Office of Information Technology worked together to protect irreplaceable research and maintain continuity during power disruptions.

On the front lines

Throughout the wind events, essential employees worked under challenging conditions to protect the campus community and maintain critical operations. Their professionalism and rapid response were critical to identifying hazards and securing unsafe areas during a period of elevated risk.

By the numbers

27 fallen trees
Dozens of trees with significant or minor canopy damage, 33+ requiring major cleanup
300+ essential employees deployed across campus operations
328 hours of in-house cleanup labor (more ongoing)
171 hours of trades labor
3,280 lbs of dry ice deployed to protect research freezers

�� Boulder Police provided a strong on-the-ground presence, identifying hazards and supporting the coordinated campus response. Simultaneously, Facilities Management and Environmental Health and Safety focused on stabilization, dedicating their efforts to preparation and mitigating further damage following specific incidents while the campus remained closed.

The impact was visible across campus, particularly to trees and landscaping. Vincent Aquino, Facilities Management arboriculture supervisor, noted the intensity of the event.

“This was one of the most severe wind events I’ve experienced in almost 30 years on campus,” said Aquino. “When winds reach this level, even large, healthy trees can fail quickly and unpredictably. Having fewer people on campus significantly reduced the risk of serious injury.”

While most of Main Campus maintained power, the university managed a planned outage in the Grandview area and an unplanned disruption at Williams Village and parts of East Campus, ensuring residents, university operations and research were supported throughout the recovery.

Recovery and preparedness moving forward

Following the wind events, Facilities Management initiated damage assessments, including inspections of roofs, rooftop equipment and landscaping. Cleanup and repairs continued through winter break.

�� Boulder remains committed to preparedness, safety and clear communication during severe weather events and will continue coordinating with regional partners to guide future operational decisions. Campus community members are encouraged to monitor �� Boulder Alerts and download the �� Boulder Safe app for timely updates.

As the Front Range recently faced two powerful wind events, �� Boulder officials coordinated action to protect the campus community and its infrastructure. Get a by-the-numbers on the impacts.

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�� Boulder gets high marks in US News & World Report 'best colleges' rankings

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:28:50 +0000

�� Boulder gets high marks in US News & World Report 'best colleges' rankings Megan M Rogers Tue, 09/23/2025 - 10:28

Several �� Boulder undergraduate programs rank in the top 25 or better nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 "best colleges" publication.

Among public institutions, �� Boulder's College of Engineering and Applied Science is ranked No. 15 nationally (or No. 28 overall—including private universities). Aerospace engineering is No. 6 (or 10 overall); environment/environmental health engineering is No. 8 (or 13 overall); civil engineering is No. 10 (or 14 overall); chemical engineering is No. 11 (or 18 overall); and computer science is No. 14 (or 30 overall).

�� Engineering ranked No. 15 among public peers

Boldly Moving Business Forward: Leeds Climbs in U.S. News & World Report Rankings

�� Boulder’s business program at the Leeds School of Business landed the No. 21 spot (or 32 overall).

The psychology program came in at No. 15 (or 33 overall), the undergraduate teaching program at No. 21 (or 58) and economics at 23 (or 54 overall).

Overall, �� Boulder ranks No. 46 in the nation among public institutions (or No. 97 overall).

U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on measures of academic peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

The full rankings are posted on the U.S. News website. U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings for graduate programs are issued in the spring.

Several �� Boulder undergraduate programs rank in the top 25 or better nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 "best colleges" publication.

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Buffs continue to serve—Ranked No. 2 nationally for Peace Corps volunteers

Megan M Rogers — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:24:33 +0000

Buffs continue to serve—Ranked No. 2 nationally for Peace Corps volunteers Megan M Rogers Wed, 07/23/2025 - 10:24

�� Boulder is ranked No. 2 in the nation for graduates serving as Peace Corps volunteers, with 39 alumni currently serving around the world, according to the recently released Peace Corps 2025 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list.

Forever Buffs are currently serving in 28 countries around the world, including Albania/Montenegro (one post), Belize, Cambodia, Colombia, Eastern Caribbean (one post), Ecuador, Eswatini, Fiji, Georgia, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

"This top ranking recognizes that �� Boulder students are passionate about making a difference, growing their perspectives and transforming lives,” said Internship Coordinator Eva Schwartz, who oversees the Peace Corps recruiting office on campus.

"Peace Corps allows our alumni to create a lasting impact by taking their knowledge and skills globally to build relationships, culture and global impact. We are proud that so many Buffs are making a difference in communities worldwide.”

�� Boulder has a long history of turning out civically engaged graduates, having ranked No. 1 for Peace Corps volunteers twice—in 2011 and 2012—and No. 5 all time, with 2,298 volunteers since the Peace Corps’ founding in 1961.

Peace Corps Prep

�� Boulder is one of 143 schools across the country that offers Peace Corps Prep, a partnership program dedicated to preparing undergraduates for service abroad.

Housed within the �� Boulder Center for Leadership, the undergraduate certificate program offers future U.S. Peace Corps volunteer applicants sector-specific job skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence and professional leadership development skills. As an official Peace Corps Prep program, earning the certificate is excellent preparation, and a likely advantage, for future Peace Corps volunteer applicants.

Launched in fall 2018, the program is open to all �� Boulder undergraduates, regardless of their major, minor, department, academic year or participation in other programs.

By the numbers

2025 Top Large Colleges and Universities

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison (46)
2. University of Colorado Boulder (39)
3. University of Florida (34)
4. University of Maryland, College Park (28)
4. University of Virginia (28)
4. Virginia Tech (28)

*More than 15,000 undergraduates

Historical, Since 1961

1. University of California, Berkeley (3,163)
2. University of Wisconsin-Madison (3,074)
3. University of Washington (2,700)
4. University of Michigan (2,528)
5. University of Colorado Boulder (2,298)

*All rankings are calculated based on fiscal year 2024 data as of September 30, 2024, as self-reported by Peace Corps volunteers.

Volunteer spotlight: �� alumna Julia Leone

�� Boulder alumna Julia Leone spent two years with the Peace Corps in Madagascar as a health volunteer.

What was your biggest surprise when it came to your service?

This is a tricky question. I think I was shocked by how quickly my life in Madagascar started to feel so normal. When you first arrive, everything is so overwhelming you start to panic a little about whether or not you'll ever find your footing. But, comfort and routine come surprisingly fast.

What tools did you gain from your time at �� Boulder that helped you in your service?

I graduated from �� in 2022 after double majoring in Jewish studies and international affairs. For me, my �� experience was largely marked by community, mentorship and learning how to navigate difficult and unexpected obstacles. Being able to come up with creative and collaborative solutions to big and small problems, especially across cultural and language divides, is vital to Peace Corps service.

What was your main takeaway from your experience serving?

There's a lot I could say about the lessons learned from Peace Corps service, but the main takeaway was being confronted with how wasteful I had been in the U.S. and how damaging overconsumption and immediate gratification culture is in the U.S.

What advice would you give to a student thinking about serving?

Two years sounds like a long time, and it is, but two years will pass no matter what you do, so you might as well go do something that scares you and pushes you. Making connections, learning about a culture different from yours, helping where you can and when you can is a worthwhile effort more important now than ever.

What was your favorite part about going to �� Boulder?

Boulder is beautiful, that's an easy one. But on a deeper level, my involvement in the Program in Jewish Studies at Boulder was invaluable. The program is tight-knit, with the most supportive and engaging professors. I had classes as small as three people. At a school as big as ��, I really appreciated finding a “home.”

Where are you now?

I just completed my service a few months ago, so I'm still finding my footing (reverse culture shock is real, and almost more difficult to deal with than culture shock). I'm currently working for the Jewish Language Project in their development and communications sector, helping to strengthen their messaging and preserve the diverse sociocultural and linguistic history of Jewish languages.

Getting involved at �� Boulder

�� Boulder has a part-time Peace Corps strategic campus recruiter during the academic year. Stop by UMC, Room 122, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. during the school year to learn more, or reach out at peacecorps@colorado.edu.

�� the Peace Corps

President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, and more than 240,000 Americans have served in 144 countries worldwide. Peace Corps volunteers work alongside community members across the globe on projects in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development and youth development.

�� Boulder is ranked No. 2 in the nation for graduates serving as Peace Corps volunteers, with 39 Forever Buffs currently serving in 28 countries around the world.

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Vaccine distribution walk in Madgascar. Photo courtesy of Julia Leone.

Leeds School builds momentum in faculty research excellence with rankings jumps

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:44:39 +0000

Leeds School builds momentum in faculty research excellence with rankings jumps Megan M Rogers Tue, 04/08/2025 - 10:44

Leeds School of Business

Faculty research at the Leeds School of Business earned its highest standings ever in the latest University of Texas at Dallas rankings—a gold standard for evaluating the research productivity of business schools nationally and worldwide.

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�� Boulder graduate programs ranked among nation’s best by US News

Greg B Swenson — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:35:09 +0000

�� Boulder graduate programs ranked among nation’s best by US News Greg B Swenson Tue, 04/08/2025 - 06:35

Numerous �� Boulder graduate level programs are among the top 10 of their kind in the United States, according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings released today.

“�� Boulder continues to rank among the top institutions nationally for graduate studies, and that couldn’t be accomplished without the exemplary work of our faculty and staff,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “We are appreciative of all that they do to support our ongoing commitment to preparing our graduate students to not just succeed but to thrive.”

U.S. News does not update its rankings for every program each year. In the publication’s 2026 issue, �� Boulder maintained previous rankings or took new positions in a number of disciplines.

�� Boulder programs ranking in the top 10 nationally include: atomic/molecular/optical physics (4); environmental law (7); geology (7); aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering(8); physical chemistry (8); and clinical psychology (8).

�� Boulder’s graduate offerings in the following areas rank in the teens nationally: quantum physics (11); audiology (12); condensed matter physics (13); Earth sciences (14); law schools with the most graduates in public interest law (14); environmental or environmental health engineering (15); chemical engineering (17); and physics (17); and education policy (19).

A full list of �� Boulder graduate rankings is available on the U.S. News website (U.S. News College Compass subscription required for full access).

�� Boulder enrollment driven by record retention

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:58:53 +0000

�� Boulder enrollment driven by record retention Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/19/2024 - 11:58

Record retention rates propelled �� Boulder’s total fall enrollment up 3.4% (1,275 students) to 38,428—higher than recent projections—according to new enrollment data published today.

�� Boulder staff and faculty have been intentional over the last several years to implement new and innovative strategies that help students complete their degrees, and the latest data demonstrate that those efforts are working.

Record-breaking retention

�� Boulder’s fall 2024 census data reports all-time high record-breaking retention and graduation rates:

Fall 2023 first-year cohort’s second-fall retention rate is 90.2%, up from 89.1% (the first time the university has ever reached 90%).
Fall 2022 first-year cohort's third-fall retention rate is 83.9%, up from 81.7%.
Fall 2021 first-year cohort’s fourth-fall retention rate is 80.1%, up from 78.7%.
Fall 2020 first-year cohort’s fourth-year graduation rate is 59.2%, up from previous high, 57.8%, set by the fall 2017 cohort.

Record-breaking in-state undergraduate cohort

Additionally, �� Boulder welcomed its largest-ever number of Colorado residents in a new fall term undergraduate cohort. �� Boulder enrolled 4,017 Colorado resident first-year students and 1,046 resident transfer students, for a total of 5,063 new Colorado resident undergraduate students.

By the numbers

Additional highlights include:

Moderate gains were reported among Asian American (9.5% to 9.8%) and Hispanic/Latiné students (12.6% to 12.9%).
Students who identify as Black or African American also increased from 2.7% to 2.9%.
Female students continue to represent roughly half of �� Boulder’s enrollment, up from 46.2% to 46.8%.
In light of consistent improvements in retention since 2021, �� Boulder intentionally decreased the size of the first-year class, 1.5% (or 116 students) over fall 2023, to ensure dedicated resources for retention and graduation. The university’s acceptance rate was 76%, a 30-year low.

“Moving forward, �� Boulder will continue its efforts to reflect the diversity of Colorado, including efforts to diversify the student body and support all those who join our campus through to graduation,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “While we still have work to do in addressing recruitment and retention gaps among minoritized populations, it’s evident that �� Boulder remains a destination of choice for thousands of students across Colorado and beyond.”

FAFSA impacts

First-year, first-generation students declined from 16.1% in fall 2023 to 14%, however, the first-generation transfer cohort—composed primarily of residents (64.5%)—increased from 18% to 20.1%.

“We believe the decline in first-generation, first-year students was due to FAFSA delays in spite of ��’s reallocation of additional resources to support students,” said Amy Hutton, �� Boulder associate vice chancellor of enrollment management, who also noted this belief is reinforced by the increase in first-generation transfer students whose previous FAFSA experience likely helped them weather the uncertainty of last year. “Our campus will continue to invest in our precollegiate and other development programs, which have supported more than 42,000 first-generation scholars and their families to prepare for and access higher education in the past 40 years.”

Enrollment changes will result in an increase in preliminary budget projections, which will be reassessed with the new census data. Additional one-time fiscal year 2025 revenue from enrollment increases will flow through the campus budget model. �� Boulder’s budget model dictates net tuition revenue, which funds mandatory costs, a strategic fund, schools/colleges and administrative support units.

Record retention rates propelled �� Boulder’s total fall enrollment up 3.4%, according to new enrollment data.

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�� Boulder ranked No. 4 all time for Peace Corps volunteers

Anonymous — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:26:21 +0000

�� Boulder ranked No. 4 all time for Peace Corps volunteers Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/25/2024 - 08:26

�� Boulder has been recognized as one of the all-time top Peace Corps volunteer-producing universities in the nation, coming in at No. 4. In all: 2,131 �� Boulder alumni have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers since the agency’s founding in 1961.

�� Boulder has a long history of exceptional Peace Corps service, and for Pamela Civins, �� Boulder’s campus Peace Corps recruiter, the fit is a natural one.

By the numbers

2024 top large colleges and universities* historically producing the most Peace Corps volunteers:

University of California, Berkeley: 2,862
University of Wisconsin-Madison: 2,766
University of Washington: 2,342
University of Colorado Boulder: 2,131
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: 2,065

*More than 15,000 undergraduates enrolled. Rankings are based on Peace Corps data as of Sept. 30, 2023.

“This 2024 ranking by the Peace Corps shows that �� Boulder students are invested in community service and helping make positive change in the world,” said Civins, a �� Boulder alumna and returned Peace Corps volunteer.

“College is a time for students to become lifelong learners, and the Peace Corps provides an opportunity for �� Boulder graduates to learn about a new culture, to learn a new language and to learn new skills,” Civins said. “It's an experiential learning opportunity that, in my opinion, is priceless.”

Peace Corp Prep

�� Boulder is one of nearly 150 schools across the country that offers Peace Corps Prep, a partnership program dedicated to preparing undergraduates for service abroad.

Housed within the �� Boulder Center for Leadership, the undergraduate certificate program offers future U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer applicants sector-specific job skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence and professional leadership development skills. As an official Peace Corps Prep program, earning the certificate is excellent preparation, and a likely advantage, for future Peace Corps volunteer applicants.

Launched in fall 2018, the program is open to all �� Boulder undergraduates, regardless of their major, minor, department, academic year or participation in other programs.

�� Boulder also has a part-time Peace Corps strategic campus recruiter. Set up a meeting or learn more about hosting an information session by contacting Pamela Civins. She works part-time, and you can visit her in the UMC, Room 122, or email peacecorps@colorado.edu.

�� the Peace Corps

In 2024 the Peace Corps updated its tracking technology, resulting in changes to the numbers of volunteers recorded over time from U.S. colleges and universities.

�� Boulder has been recognized as one of the all-time top Peace Corps volunteer-producing universities in the nation. More than 2,000 �� Boulder alumni have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers since the agency’s founding in 1961.

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US News & World Report: �� Boulder graduate programs rank among nation’s best

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 22:41:44 +0000

US News & World Report: �� Boulder graduate programs rank among nation’s best Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/09/2024 - 16:41

Numerous �� Boulder graduate level programs are among the top 25 of their kind in the United States, according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings released today.

Highlights include:

Environmental law has improved by eight points to No. 7.
Atomic/molecular/optical physics, geology and physical chemistry continue to be ranked within the top 10.

“These rankings have shown, year after year, that �� Boulder is among the top institutions nationally for graduate studies—and that couldn’t be accomplished without the exemplary work of our students, faculty and staff,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “We are appreciative of all that they do to support our ongoing commitment to preparing our students to not just succeed but to thrive.”

U.S. News does not update its rankings for every program each year, and this year there is also a delay announcing the rankings for engineering and clinical psychology, which �� Boulder has historically scored well on.

In the publication’s 2025 issue, �� Boulder maintains previous rankings or has taken new positions in a number of disciplines. These rankings are among public and private institutions combined.

Programs ranking in the top 10 nationally include: atomic/molecular/optical physics (4); environmental law (7); geology (7); and physical chemistry (8).

�� Boulder’s graduate offerings in the following areas rank in the teens nationally: quantum physics (11); psychology (12); condensed matter physics (13); Earth sciences (14); audiology (15); physics (17); sociology of population (17); and education policy (19).

Several other �� Boulder departments and programs are ranked in the top 25 nationally for graduate-level offerings in the categories of: speech-language pathology (21); education curriculum and instruction (22); and fine arts (23).

A full list of �� Boulder graduate rankings is available on the U.S. News website (U.S. News College Compass subscription required for full access). Additional graduate rankings in engineering and clinical psychology are forthcoming.

Programs in the top 20

Atomic/molecular/optical physics, 4
Environmental law, 7
Geology, 7
Physical chemistry, 8
Quantum physics, 11
Psychology, 12
Condensed matter physics, 13
Earth sciences, 14
Audiology, 15
Physics, 17
Sociology of population, 17
Education policy, 19

�� Boulder graduate programs ranking in the top 10 nationally include atomic/molecular/optical physics, environmental law, geology and physical chemistry. See more top rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

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Full Triceratops skeleton now calls Boulder home

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 04:36:46 +0000

Full Triceratops skeleton now calls Boulder home Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/16/2024 - 21:36

Daniel Strain

This week, a new horned animal is coming to the �� Boulder campus. No, not a buffalo, but a full-sized skeletal reconstruction of a Triceratops dinosaur.

If you go

Who: Open to the public
What: Full-scale Triceratops skeletal reconstruction
When: Weekdays 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (not open weekends or holidays)
Where: SEEC Building, East Campus

The �� Museum of Natural History unveiled an exhibition today in the lobby of the Sustainable, Energy and Environment Community (SEEC) building on East Campus.

The skeleton is a testament to the sheer size of Triceratops, an herbivore that roamed Colorado during the Cretaceous Period around 68 to 66 million years ago.

“This is an exciting time to expand the museum’s impacts, sharing research about our region’s ancient past and a sense of wonder about evolutionary innovation,” said the �� Museum of Natural History’s new director, Nancy J. Stevens. “This exhibition cultivates curiosity about the world around us, engaging the next generation to explore science, and encouraging reflection on environmental change through time.”

Students, staff and members of the public can view the exhibit for free on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (SEEC is closed on weekends and holidays). Members of the public can also learn more about Colorado’s dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals by visiting the Paleontology Hall in the museum’s Henderson Building on Main Campus.

5 things to know about Triceratops

The Triceratops exhibit represents the �� Museum of Natural History’s first complete dinosaur skeleton on display, ushering in a new chapter for the research institute. The exhibit dovetails with the museum’s mission to foster exploration and appreciation of the natural world and promote engaging educational experiences for campus and community alike.

Karen Chin, professor in the Department of Geological sciences and curator of paleontology at the museum, can’t wait for visitors to get a look at the massive Triceratops.

“Everybody knows about Triceratops,” Chin said. “But it's not common in museums to see the whole animal. To see the scale of this dinosaur, and such a weird dinosaur, is very exciting.”

A plaster cast of a life-size Triceratops being installed in the lobby of the SEEC building at �� Boulder. Photo by Casey Cass/University of Colorado.

A Coloradan dinosaur

�� Museum curator of fossil vertebrates and professor of geological sciences Jaelyn Eberle added that, like the American bison, Triceratops was uniquely at home in the West. These dinosaurs grazed on plants from Colorado north into western Canada.

A Colorado schoolteacher unearthed the first documented Triceratops fossils, little more than a pair of horns, from near Denver in 1887. Paleontologist O.C. Marsh originally attributed the horns to an extinct giant relative of bison. Soon thereafter, more complete fossils were discovered, and he named a new dinosaur Triceratops, which means “three-horned face.”

Ralphie and Triceratops:
By the numbers

Adult female bison

Weight: Around 1,000 pounds
Length: 7–10 feet

Adult Triceratops

Weight: 12,000 pounds and up
Length: As much as 30 feet

“Museums want to exhibit complete skeletons, but the chances of finding a perfect, pristine skeleton of these kinds of animals are exceedingly small,” said Eberle.

The skeletal reconstruction in the exhibit measures 22 feet long and 9 feet tall and is a high-resolution cast comprised of plaster, fiberglass and foam. It was cast from the bones of not one but several partial Triceratops specimens found in the late 1800s. Scientists at the Smithsonian Museum assembled these fossils into a single composite skeleton in the 1900s, and a cast of the full composite skeleton is featured in this exhibit.

“We thank colleagues and collaborators at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the dedicated team of experts that worked to assemble the exhibition, and our friends at SEEC for graciously welcoming the exhibit,” said Stevens.

Indeed, bringing the skeletal reconstruction to Boulder was no easy feat. The Triceratops rode in pieces by truck in 2022 from Washington, D.C., to Boulder, where a crew painstakingly put it back together off site. To fit it through the doors of SEEC, a team rolled its body, skull and limbs inside separately.

Eberle said the heavy lifting will be worth it to introduce a new generation of Coloradans to the state’s ancient past—when Triceratops strode the landscape alongside other dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, and an inland sea covered parts of the American West.

“Colorado has such a fascinating history, and it has a spectacular prehistory, too,” Eberle said. “I hope the Triceratops exhibit encourages folks to find out more about Colorado’s ancient past.”

A full-scale skeletal reconstruction of a Triceratops—cast from the bones of several partial specimens found in the late 1800s—is now on display at �� Boulder's East Campus.

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