The Key Community at the CSU Spur campus Denver is a learning community for first-year students designed to honor the strengths of each student enrolled in the CSU Spur Start program. CSU Spur Start is a first-year program, providing Denver metro students the opportunity to live at home while completing their first year of CSU classes before moving to Fort Collins in year 2.

Students who participate in the Key Community at the CSU Spur campus Denver will: 

• Meet with their assigned peer mentor three times per semester.
• Enroll in a 3 Credit Key Seminar course with other students who are participating in the Key Community at the CSU Spur campus Denver during the fall semester.
• Enroll in a 1-credit, 8-week Key Seminar course during the spring semester.
• Have access to participate in academic workshops.
• Participate in Key Community events at the CSU Spur campus Denver throughout the year including but not limited to: Key Connect, Key Signature events, Spring Welcome Back, and the Closing Celebration.
• Participate in Key Community events selected by CSU Spur Start students at the CSU Fort Collins campus throughout the year (transportation will be provided).
• Participate in programming designed to foster students’ transition to the CSU Spur campus Denver and their transition to the CSU Fort Collins campus in year 2.
• Have priority admission into the Key Plus Community. Key Plus is an academically focused learning community that works closely with students to develop strong leadership and career decision-making skills with a focus on transitioning from the CSU Spur campus Denver to the CSU Fort Collins campus.

The Key Learning Community is for students who desire to participate in the Key Communities, have a University Housing exemption, or would like to live in any residence hall on-campus.

Students who participate in the Key Learning community experience will:

• Meet with their assigned peer mentor three times per semester.
• Enroll in a 1-credit First Year Transitions seminar designed to build academic skills, explore campus resources, and successfully transition to college life.
• Enroll in a 1-3-credit Key Seminar Passion course and one 3 credit All University Core Curriculum course with other Key Learning Community students during the fall semester.
• Enroll in a 1-credit, 8-week Key Seminar course during the spring semester.
• Participate in all-Key Community events throughout the year, including but not limited to: Key Connect, Spring Welcome Back, and Closing BBQ.
• Live off-campus with an approved Housing exemption or live-on campus in another hall other than Braiden.

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The Key Communities will be offering a fully virtual Key experience for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Key Virtual experience is for students who desire to participate in a fully virtual learning community. The virtual experience focuses on concepts of diversity and equity. Students will work cooperatively to experientially understand aspects of diversity.

 Students who participate in the virtual Key experience will:

• Meet virtually with their assigned peer mentor three times per semester.
• Enroll in a fully virtual 2-3 Credit Key Seminar course with other students who are participating in the virtual experience during fall semester.
• Enroll in a 1-credit, 8 week virtual Key Seminar course during the spring semester.
• Participate in Key Community virtual events throughout the year.

Live on or off-campus (with approved Housing exemption).

Anna Marie Almanza
Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator
Student Success
CSU Stadium East, room 212
(970) 491-2366 or (970) 491-7095
AnnaMarie.Almanza@colostate.edu

Ahjina Hopkins
Coordinator,  Key Communities
Student Success
CSU Stadium East, room 213
(970) 491-2243 or (970) 491-7095
Ahjina.Hopkins@colostate.edu

The Key Civic Community is a first-year residential learning community located in Braiden Hall serving students from a variety of majors as they transition into their first year at CSU. The Key Civic community focuses on student leadership and civic engagement through service activities, engagement with the Fort Collins and CSU community, and discussions relating to societal issues, both locally and globally.

Students who participate in the Key Civic Community will:

• Meet with their assigned peer mentor three times per semester.
• Enroll in a 2-3 Credit Key Seminar course and 1-2 other All University Core Curriculum courses with other Key Civic students during fall semester.
• Enroll in a 1-credit, 8 week Key Seminar course during the spring semester.
• Participate in two hours of structured study hours each week.
• Complete 1-2 hours of service each week.
• Live with other Key students in Braiden Hall.*
• Participate in five all- Key Community events throughout the year including: Key Connect, Community Challenges, Spring Welcome Back, Dodgeball Tournament, and Closing BBQ.

Key Civic seminar topics include: 1) CityworksEDU: Campus, City, and Civic Engagement; 2) America’s Sacred Ground: Multifaith and Belief Engagement; 3) Ethics of Global Poverty; 4) Education and Diversity; 5) Global Identity and Action; 6) Politics of Equity

* COVID impacts and unknowns may modify designated housing for Learning Communities as University Housing continues to follow the direction of the university and local health officials to determine the best way to move forward with assignments. If we are unable to assign you to the Learning Community’s designated hall, you will still be able to participate in the community, and we will work closely with our University Housing partners in supporting the residential experience of students within their assigned hall.

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Key Plus is an academically focused learning community that works closely with students to develop strong leadership and career decision-making skills. Key Plus is an optional second year and continuing student program for students who are or have participated in the Key Communities or Community for Excellence program.

The Key Health Professions Community engages students who are interested in pursuing Human or Animal Health professions.

Students who participate in the Key Health Professions Community will:

• Participate in workshops and activities focused on health professions, academic and personal development.
• Engage in pig hearts dissection project at a local elementary school.
• Enroll in a 2 Credit Key Seminar course and 2 other All University Core Curriculum courses with other Key Health Professions Students during fall semester.
• Enroll in a 1-credit, 8 week Key Seminar course during the spring semester.
• Meet with their assigned peer mentor three times per semester.
• Participate in two hours of structured study hours each week.
• Live with other Key Health Professions students in Braiden Hall.*
• Participate in five all- Key Community events throughout the year including: Key Connect, Community Challenges, Spring Welcome Back, Dodgeball Tournament, and Closing BBQs.

Key Health Professions courses options include: Bridging the Biology and Chemistry Gulf (Key Seminar), Biology, Chemistry, Math, Psychology and Sociology (All University Core Curriculum courses).

* COVID impacts and unknowns may modify designated housing for Learning Communities as University Housing continues to follow the direction of the university and local health officials to determine the best way to move forward with assignments. If we are unable to assign you to the Learning Community’s designated hall, you will still be able to participate in the community, and we will work closely with our University Housing partners in supporting the residential experience of students within their assigned hall.

The Key Explore Community is a first-year residential learning community located Braiden Hall serving Undeclared students as they transition into their first year at CSU. The Key Explore Community focuses on self-exploration and student leadership. Within the Key Explore Community, we have designated spaces for declared students who are interested in exploring.

Key Explore courses options include: Create Your Story (Key Seminar Required).

Students who participate in the Key Explore Community will:

• Learn more about who they are, how they make decisions, and how they work with others who are different from themselves.
• Meet with their assigned peer mentor three times per semester.
• Enroll in one 3-credit All University Core Curriculum course and a 3-credit Key Seminar class during the fall semester.
• Enroll in a 1 credit, 8 week Key Seminar course during the spring semester.
• Live with other Key Explore students in Braiden Hall.*
• Participate in one hour of structured study time each week.
• Participate in five all- Key Community events throughout the year including: Key Connect, Community Challenges, Spring Welcome Back, Dodgeball Tournament, and Closing BBQ

Key Explore courses options include: Create Your Story (Key Seminar Required).

* COVID impacts and unknowns may modify designated housing for Learning Communities as University Housing continues to follow the direction of the university and local health officials to determine the best way to move forward with assignments. If we are unable to assign you to the Learning Community’s designated hall, you will still be able to participate in the community, and we will work closely with our University Housing partners in supporting the residential experience of students within their assigned hall.

The Key Academic Community engages students in weekly one hour mentor-led modules focusing on academic excellence, service engagement, leadership development, and diversity awareness. The Key Academic Community provide students from a variety of majors interdisciplinary seminar options, while also providing major specific seminar options for students in the College of Engineering, College of Business, and College of Agricultural Sciences.

Students who participate in the Key Academic Community will:

• Meet with their assigned peer mentor three times per semester.
• Enroll in a 1-3 Credit Key Seminar course and up to two 3 credit All University Core Curriculum courses with other Key Academic Students during the fall semester.
• Enroll in a 1 credit, 8 week Key Seminar course during the spring semester.
• Live with other Key students in Braiden Hall.*
• Have access to participate in week study hours and academic workshops.
• Participate in five all- Key Community events throughout the year including: Key Connect, Community Challenges, Spring Welcome Back, Dodgeball Tournament, and Closing BBQ.

Key Academic seminar topics include: 1) Who Am I? Discovering Our Stories; 2) Rebels, Outcasts, and Society; 3) The Faces of Evil in Literature & Creative Writing; 4)Design Thinking: Invitation to Innovate; 5) Whose Story; 6) Discover, Reflect, Xplore: Socialization & Superpowers; 7) Engineering (open to Engineering majors only); 8) Business (Open to Business majors only); and 9) Agricultural Sciences (open to Agricultural Sciences majors only).

* COVID impacts and unknowns may modify designated housing for Learning Communities as University Housing continues to follow the direction of the university and local health officials to determine the best way to move forward with assignments. If we are unable to assign you to the Learning Community’s designated hall, you will still be able to participate in the community, and we will work closely with our University Housing partners in supporting the residential experience of students within their assigned hall.