Colorado Mesa University and Ƶ expanded their partnership this year to allow students to earn a BS in civil engineering from Ƶ Boulder by taking classes delivered at Colorado Mesa.
Until now, the partnership—which launched in 2008—allowed students to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Ƶ Boulder by taking classes in Grand Junction.
“The mechanical engineering program offered jointly has been quite successful, and the addition of civil engineering will be a benefit to Western Slope students and to employers trying to meet the regional need for civil engineers,” CMU President Tim Foster says.
Demand for engineers on
the Western Slope
A recent CMU survey of 78 businesses and agencies in western Colorado that hire or work with civil engineers showed that 61.5 percent think there is a moderate to high demand for civil engineers in western Colorado. More than half of them said they are interested in hiring students for full-time summer work, and more than 40 percent said they are interested in hiring civil engineering graduates.
Modeled after the CMU-Ƶ mechanical engineering program, students will receive CMU instruction and classes for the first two years and then primarily Ƶ Boulder coursework for their final two years.
By sharing costs and faculty, and collaborating on laboratory and technology needs for this rigorous program, CMU and Ƶ Boulder are better preparing top-tier engineers.