News + Student Spotlight

Senior Vice Provost of Online and Extended Education celebrates accomplishments and shares future goals for online education

CU Boulder Online has made great strides to extend CU Boulder’s reach over the last three years, prioritizing the needs of these learners by offering career-relevant knowledge, flexibility, access and equity to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.

Learn more about CU Boulder Online. 

Rupert Ward Kicks Off New BoulderTalks: Insights from Education Innovators Series

Join us for AI for Personalized Education as leading edtech innovator Rupert Ward taskes us on a journey into the fascinating intersection of AI and personalized learning—the inaugural event of the new BoulderTalks: Insights from Education Innovators speaker series. 

Discover the future of online education with BoulderTalks: Insights from Education Innovators. Join visiting experts as they delve into quality online education at scale, exploring current themes like learning excellence, innovative credentials, expanding access and opportunity, brand strategy, and ensuring success across various modalities. Sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL),  the Office of Academic and Learning Innovation (ALI), the Office of Information Technology (OIT), Continuing Education (CE), University Libraries, Office of Digital Education (ODE) and the College of Engineering & Applied Science (CEAS).

Learn more about BoulderTalks: Insights from Education Innovators.

In-Person Open House Builds Community Among Online Graduate Students

On October 6, 2023, more than 80 students, community members, and guests gathered at the University of Colorado Boulder's Discovery Learning Center for an open house. Learners and their guests heard from Dean of Engineering and Applied Science Keith Molenaar and faculty directors before interacting with faculty and staff, networking with industry professionals, and sharing stories with peers. The interdepartmental networking event was specifically tailored for students enrolled in the fully online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MS-EE), Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM), Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS), and Master of Science in Computer Science (MS-CS) programs accessible on the popular Coursera platform.

Learn more and see photos from the event.

Dr. Charles Nuttelman receives 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award

On April 19, 2023, the Boulder Faculty Assembly presented Dr. Charles (Charlie) Nuttelman with their coveted Excellence in Teaching award for outstanding classroom teaching and student mentorship. An online learning innovator long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Nuttelman has proven himself to be a top instructor, continual innovator, and student favorite. Over 347,000 learners have taken his massive open online courses (MOOCs), accounting for 12% of CU Boulder's non-credit enrollments on the Coursera platform. In fact, Inc.com ranked the first courses in his Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving and Everyday Excel specializations at #2 and #5, respectively, on their 30 Best Courses of 2020 list

Learn more about the 2023 Boulder Faculty Assembly Excellence Awards.

Dr. Karen Gebhardt Receives UPCEA Excellence in Teaching Award

UPCEA, the leader in online and professional continuing education, announced that Karen Gebhardt, PhD, as the winner of its annual Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Gebhardt is an instructor in the Masters of the Environment Graduate Program, the Director for Undergraduate Learning with the Office for Academic and Learning Innovation, and the Director of the Online Economics Program in the Department of Economics at the University of Colorado Boulder.  

Watch Dr. Gebhardt's acceptance speech.

Public talk on future of higher education and online learning with Dr. Zvi Galil

The University of Colorado Boulder and the Office of Academic and Learning Innovation invite you to watch a public talk delivered at CU by Dr. Zvi Galil on Georgia Tech’s scaled Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS). Dr. Galil describes the history of the OMSCS, how the program has evolved since launching in 2014, and lessons learned from the OMSCS experience. Dr. Galil also shares his vision for the future of higher education and online learning. Learn more about Dr. Galil and the OMSCS.

Watch Dr. Galil talk about GA Tech's OMSCS degree.

Sriram Sankaranarayanan wins Coursera’s Innovation Award

May 23, 2022 – CU Boulder Computer Science Professor Sriram Sankaranarayanan has been honored with Coursera's Innovation Award for his groundbreaking design of the "Data Structures and Algorithms" specialization in the online Master of Science in Data Science program. Recognized for integrating Jupyter Notebook and innovative teaching methods, the specialization has attracted over 10,000 students globally, earning a 4.7 average star rating. Sankaranarayanan's approach, catering to diverse backgrounds, has garnered praise for its accessibility. The award underscores the program's quality, with over 1,000 students enrolled since its 2020 inception, and signals a promising future for online education. 

Note: This specialization was renamed to “Foundations of Data Structures and Algorithms” and cross-listed with the Master of Science in Computer Science program in Fall 2023.  

Learn more about Dr. Sankaranarayanan's Innovation Award. 

Master of Science in Data Science: New graduate program in data science shows tremendous growth and proves popular with global audience

“I live and work in remote and wild parts of the country, which means sometimes no Internet (or even power!). Having the ability to set my own schedule and interact remotely allows me to keep exploring the west coast while I’m studying,” said John McKay, a student who is completing the program while living on a boat off Vancouver Island, British Columbia. “I’m not aware of any other program from a prominent university that will let me live the lifestyle I love while I pursue a Master’s degree.” 

Read more about the Master of Science in Data Science.

Meet Sophie. Sophie made the bold step to change her life after enrolling in the Coursera specialization Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation.

"The courses gave me the confidence to communicate everything I needed to say in a professional and productive way and then make a decision about my future.” - Sophie, data curator and non-credit Coursera learner

Watch Sophie talk about her experiences with instructor Dr. Quentin McAndrew.