Welcome to CU Boulder - Student Life

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Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE)

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to the University of Colorado Boulder and our Center for Academic Success & Engagement. Designed as the gateway to campus, CASE houses student support services, classrooms, and academic departments, including Admissions On-campus Programs, providing daily campus visits and prospective student events, the Veteran and Military Affairs Office, and the Program in Exploratory Studies, which is an undergrad program that helps students discover which major to choose, while also providing them with resources and support as they navigate their academic and career journey. "As we begin the Student Life Tour, let me explain a few of the ways in which you can use the virtual tour to view our campus: -To jump to the next destination, select the ""Next"" button on the right side of your screen. -Or, if you already know where you want to go, simply select that location from the list on the sidebar OR directly on the map below. -And remember to explore each destination in more detail by clicking the interactive icons included throughout each location."

Farrand Field

Tour stop audio transcript

At the foot of the Rocky Mountains with the distinctive Flatirons in the background, is Farrand Field. This popular student hang-out is a great place to take a break between classes; watch the CU Marching Band practice; throw snowballs and build snowmen in the winter; or play a pick-up game of Ultimate Frisbee, football, or soccer. Our back-to-school event called WelcomeFest also takes place here and draws a huge crowd of students for music, fun, and food. Surrounding Farrand Field you’ll find several first-year residence halls as well as Wardenburg Health Center, which provides comprehensive health and wellness services for all CU students.

Center for Community (C4C)

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The Center for Community, known as the C4C, is a dynamic student center featuring centralized key student services and programs on the upper floors including Career Services, International Education, Center for Inclusion and Social Change, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Disability Services, among others. The C4C is also home to an award-winning dining center, which boasts 10 micro-restaurants including: Asian, Italian, Latin, Persian and a full dessert bar. Also inside are a bakery and the perfect spot for night owls – the WeatherTech Cafe which is open until midnight on most nights.

Folsom Field

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Sitting at an elevation of 5,440 feet, Folsom Field is home to one of the most spectacular traditions in all of college sports. More than 50,000 fans can stand shoulder to shoulder to cheer on the Buffaloes and to watch Ralphie – our live buffalo mascot – lead the Buffs onto the field. We compete in the Pac-12 Conference with other prestigious universities such as UCLA, USC, Stanford, Oregon, and Cal. Also part of CU Boulder's commitment to sustainability is Ralphie's Green Stampede. The first NCAA Division-I zero-waste game day operations program converts over 70 percent of the waste generated by the stadium into recyclable or compostable materials.

Recreation Center

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We've now arrived at the Recreation Center. CU Boulder is one of the most active college campuses in the nation. You can choose from dozens of collegiate sport clubs or be one of more than 11,000 students who participate in competitive and recreational programs. The REC is a LEED Platinum building with amenities that include basketball, tennis and racquetball courts; weight rooms and fitness studios; 4 pools, a rock-climbing wall, an ice arena and an indoor turf gym. Unique to CU Boulder is our Outdoor Program which offers trips for students throughout the year, as well as rental gear for hiking, snow sports, and camping.

Macky Auditorium

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Welcome to Macky Auditorium Concert Hall, a multi-disciplinary venue. One of our oldest buildings on campus, Macky Auditorium is named after Andrew J. Macky, a Boulder pioneer, gold-rush settler, carpenter, and founding director of the First National Bank of Boulder. Macky is home to several university centers, including the Center for African and African American Studies, Center of the American West, Center for Humanities and the Arts, and the American Music Research Center. Macky has been the site of commencement ceremonies for thousands of graduates, regular opera performances and concerts by College of Music ensembles, Artist Series concerts, and the Conference on World Affairs, among others.

Old Main

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Known since the 1890s as Old Main, this is CU Boulder's first building. In 1876, when the university opened its doors, Old Main held the entire university, including classrooms, library, labs, and living quarters for the president and caretaker. Today, Old Main houses College of Arts and Sciences offices, the Chapel Theatre, and the CU Heritage Center, which has seven galleries to document the university's history. Visitors to the Heritage Center can peruse exhibits on notable alumni, space research and exploration, the Glenn Miller Gallery, and a LEGO model of our campus.

Norlin Quad

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We've now arrived at the Norlin Quadrangle. Placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1980, it was the original University of Colorado campus. Many important buildings form its perimeter including the University Theatre, Hale Science, Eaton Humanities, Old Main, and Norlin Library.

Norlin Library

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Norlin Library, named after the university's most famous president George Norlin, is one of six libraries on campus. Our research collections include over 4.5 million volumes and 2.5 million e-resources, and are the largest in the Rocky Mountain region. Students can take advantage of the many collaborative work and study spaces, the Writing Center, IT support centers, and coffee shops. For undergrads, Norlin houses many programs, including A&S Honors, Presidents Leadership Class, Norlin Scholars, and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

University Memorial Center (UMC)

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Our next stop, the University Memorial Center, is the official state veterans memorial and a campus multicultural center. Inside the UMC you will find the CU Book Store, many dining options, Boulder’s only bowling center, a bank and ATMs, the Veterans Memorial Lounge, and a ballroom named after bandleader Glenn Miller, one of CU's most famous students. It is also home to many offices that offer student services, including the Center for Student Involvement, the Volunteer Resource Center, student government, and the Environmental Center. Outside you'll find the Fountain Court, which is a popular gathering and study spot that is named to honor writer and CU student Dalton Trumbo.

Williams Village Center Dining & Community Commons

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Welcome to Williams Village, or as we call it, Will Vill. Williams Village is home to some of the newest buildings on campus with modern amenities. The Village Center Dining and Community Commons serves as the hub of activity for the Will Vill Neighborhood and houses a number of services and features for students. Some of these include: a state-of-the-art dining center, showcasing local and regional foods; a late-night cafe; the Wardenburg Health Center Annex; the Innovation Station entrepreneurial and makerspace; academic tutoring office; study and lounge areas; and a UPS Store. Nearby you’ll also find the Williams Village Rec Center, offering convenient fitness services.

Williams Village North Residence Hall

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CU Boulder campus housing is home to 24 residence halls and two apartment style living halls, all of them co-ed and offering different living experiences. Our residence halls are primarily for first-year students as they are required to live in campus housing. Most upper year students live in the houses and apartments that surround our campus. First-year students will live in one of three neighborhood communities: Williams Village, Kittredge or Central. Each student living in the residence halls is required to have a meal plan, which includes a specified number of meals and often extra Munch Money, which can be used in cafes and retail outlets around campus.

Bear Creek Apartments at Williams Village

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CU Boulder has two apartment style living halls for non first-year students, returning undergrads and transfer students. Bear Creek and Weber Hall are located within the Williams Village Neighborhood. These two options combine the independence of apartment living with the support of community staff engagement and on-campus convenience. For upper year and graduate students, Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations helps students find housing in Boulder and surrounding communities. They help with all aspects of living off campus, including: searching for an apartment and roommate, understanding housing options, providing free lease reviews with a staff attorney, navigating roommate disagreements, understanding Boulder ordinances and advocating for tenants rights.

Pearl Street

Tour stop audio transcript

A visit to CU Boulder wouldn't be complete without setting aside time to explore the city of Boulder. An eclectic mix of urban and natural, Boulder is considered one of the country's most desirable places to live because of its 300 days of sunshine, beautiful mountain setting, plentiful outdoor recreation, and rich cultural atmosphere. You can experience many activities such as a concert at the Boulder Theater, cycling on the Boulder Creek Path, hiking in the nearby Flatirons, or strolling on the Pearl Street Mall, which is the location of this stop. The four-block pedestrian mall is a mile from campus and home to locally-owned and operated businesses and restaurants.

Chautauqua Park

Tour stop audio transcript

Just up the hill from campus is Chautauqua Park, which sits at the base of the Flatirons. The Flatirons are the striking, slanted, reddish-brown sandstone formations that make up a portion of Boulder's foothills. You'll find students and residents hiking the trails, climbing the rock slabs, and relaxing on the grassy lawn between classes and after work. Trails will take you around and up to the Flatirons, and many of them start from the Chautauqua Trailhead. Hike to the top of First and Second Flatiron and you'll be rewarded with views of campus and the city of Boulder to the east and views of the Rocky Mountains to the west.

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