The Pre-Collegiate Development Program (PCDP), sponsored by the University of Colorado Denver Downtown Denver Campus, is an institutionally funded academic enhancement program for high school students. This program has been in existence on the Denver Campus since January of 1988. The program's objective is to motivate and prepare first-generation students (grades 9 thru 12) who attend thirteen Denver-Metro area high schools, to successfully complete high school on a timely basis and possess the necessary skills, to successfully enter and graduate from their choice post-secondary institution.

The Pre-Collegiate Development Program is designed to increase the number of first-generation secondary students who aspire to attain a post-secondary education. This is achieved by providing essential and timely academic advising, in cooperation with parents and high school guidance counselors, to assure a timely graduation and meet the students desired successful admission to their choice college/university.

Pre-Collegiate Health Careers Program

The Pre-Collegiate Health Careers (PCHCP) at the University of Colorado denver-Anschutz medical Campus (AMC), is an academic, enrichment and support program designed to motivate first generation college bound students to successfully graduate from high school, complete a college preparatory curriculum and to pursue a college education leading to a career in a healthcare profession.

The program will offer students in grades 10th through 12th the opportunity to engage in a wide range of pre-college activities throughout the academic year. The academic year component will provide students monthly Saturday Academies consisting of health career options, study skills, and academic/financial aid workshops.

Pre-Collegiate Middle School Academic Program

The Pre-Collegiate Middle School Academic Program (PCMSAP) at the University of Colorado Denver is an academic enhancement program.  The program is designed to adequately prepare potential first-generation college students in grades seven to eight to successfully complete their pre-secondary school career, enroll in a college preparatory high school curriculum, and ultimately enroll to their choice college/university with the necessary skills and academic preparation to succeed at and graduate from that institution. The Pre-Collegiate Middle School Academic Program serves as a precursor to the Pre-Collegiate Development Program (high school).  Students who successfully complete the PCMSAP with a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 or better will then be admitted to the Pre-Collegiate Development Program at the end of their 8th grade year.

CU-Denver Scholars Program

The UC Denver Scholars Program is an early college enrollment program for college bound, high-achieving students in their senior year of high school. This program enables students to begin their college studies by enrolling in one course on the Downtown Denver Campus during the fall/spring semesters of their senior year. Credit earned in this course can be applied towards a bachelor’s degree at UC Denver or another higher education institution of the student’s choice. Prior to and during their fall enrollment, Scholars and their parents must attend an orientation, admissions and financial aid workshops, and a series of seminars intended to have students acclimate to the university thus preparing them for full-time college study.

 Upward Bound-Power Up Program

The Upward Bound Power-Up (UBPU) Program at the UC Denver, a federally funded TRIO program, is an educationally pre-college program for selected 9th grade students from Sheridan and Jefferson High Schools. Upward Bound's mission is to prepare and help motivate students with potential for success in post-secondary education. Participants are selected base on their academic performance, motivations for success, recommendations from teachers and counselors and additional criteria. UBPU aims to provide program participants with the necessary skills needed to successfully graduate from high school and complete a 4-year college degree.  Students participate in after-school and weekend programs which include supplemental education, academic themed workshops, field trips and college campus tours. Additionally, all students participate in a shadowing program with current college students and working professionals in the Denver-Metro area.

Denver Transfer Initiative

The Denver Transfer Initiative (DTI) is a cooperative project between the Community College of Denver (CCD) and the Univeversity of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) at increasing the graduation rate and completion of Bachelor degrees for traditionally underserved populations, specifically first generation, low income and Hispanic. The project is designed to provide assistance and support to students throughout their coursework and educational career while attending their first two years at the CCD, on through the transfer process, allowing their continuance of their last two years of coursework to be completed at the UC Denver.

Housed in the Transfer Success Center at 1027 Ninth Street Park, DTI students receive continuous assistance in the form of: support, guidance and advocacy; financial aid and scholarship application assistance; two-year to four-year transfer degree planning; career assessment, exploration, and counseling; peer mentoring and tutoring services; connection to campus and community resources; attendance to informational workshops; and the opportunity to attend student events and multicultural activities to name a few.

DTI is a Title V grant project funded by the Department of Education’s, "Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program" which helps eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) enhance and expand their capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional stability, management, and fiscal capabilities of eligible institutions.

For more information regarding the Denver Transfer Initiative program, please see our broucher.

Programs offered by the Center serve to motivate high school students to pursue post-secondary education and provide them the academic skills needed to be successful in their college endeavors.  The Center is located in the Administration Building Suite 360, (303) 556-2322.

To contact the Center for Pre-Collegiate and Academic Outreach Programs:                                                               E-mail pcdp@cudenver.edu