About College Works

Portrait of cute mixed race student with curly hair and in turtleneck sitting in cafe and studying for exams.

College Works provides recent high school graduates planning to attend MSU Denver the opportunity to work on campus and get a jump-start on their college journey the summer before their freshman year.

We encourage all incoming MSU Denver freshman to apply, regardless of immigration status. If you have any questions regarding eligibility please contact the coordinator.

College Works will help you start school with the skills to navigate college, a campus job, a peer mentor, and a team of people to support you.

Program Benefits

If you participate, you will:

  • Have a paid job with an MSU Denver department over the summer.
  • Be paired with a peer mentor to answer questions and support you.
  • Weekly educational & professional development workshops
  • Connection with campus resources

Student Experience

Watch our student testimonial on the College Works program.

The College Works summer program will be on-campus from June through August.  Support will continue after the summer and throughout your time at MSU Denver.

To take advantage of this unique opportunity, watch for our upcoming College Works application.

Participation Requirements

Program eligibility is based on where you live. Please review eligibility requirements below:

Students Living in Denver

If you participate in College Works, you will be paid $17.29/hr for time working for an MSU Denver department.

Payment is provided by the Denver Youth Employment Program, so you must meet their qualifications:

  • Be a resident of Denver OR attend high school in Denver
  • Be age 16 to 21
  • Meet one income requirement such as:
    • Be enrolled at a Title 1 school (you can find a list of Title 1 schools on the TI School List)
    • You or a family member receives SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid benefits
    • You or a family member receives free or reduced price lunch at school
    • You live in one of the following neighborhoods: East Colfax, Elyria Swansea, Globeville, Montbello/Gateway/Parkfield, Northeast Park Hill, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood or Athmar Park.

Students Living Outside of Denver

We will connect you to a job with one of the departments at MSU Denver where you can work up to 30 hours per week over the summer.

You will be paid through Adams County Workforce programs, so must meet their qualifications to participate:

  • Ages 16 to 24

Experience one or more of the following challenges:

  • Homeless or housing-insecure
  • Have a disability (physical, mental, and learning)
  • Parenting or pregnant
  • Foster youth or former foster youth
  • Have been involved in the criminal justice system (including misdemeanor, felony, probation, parole, etc.)

OR

  • Eligible for SNAP, TANF, or free or reduced lunch andone of the following:
    • Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers
    • New American
    • Medicaid Recipient
    • Gender Minority (trans, non-cis, etc.)
    • Child Protective Services referred
    • Never worked before (taxable income job- have not received a W-2 or 1099) or unemployed 27+ weeks
    • Section 8
    • Enrolled in an English Language Learner (ELL) program

To verify or ask questions about eligibility please email [email protected] or call 720-523-6898.

Questions about College Works?

Contact: Vel Arellano

Phone: (303) 605-5075 | Classroom to Career Hub - JSSB 230W

Send Vel an Email

C2 Hub Information:

  • Phone: (303) 615 – 1333
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Office Location: Administration Building (AD) 270 & JSSB 320 / Window #2