Who We Are and What We Do

Student Engagement and Wellness is comprised of an array of departments, programs and services that help students be their best selves and succeed in school, career, and life. We believe that wellness is more than just earning good grades or having a good job; it also means taking care of our minds, bodies and spirits. We recognize that life can be challenging at times, so our team of professionals is here to offer resources and support. Also, college is the perfect time to try something new, make new friends and explore new activities and interests, and we have a wide variety of programs to keep you engaged. Read on to learn more about all of the programs and services available to MSU Denver students!

 

The Access Center recognizes disability as an integral part of diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable educational environment for students with disabilities.  Our office intentionally provides an equitable learning experience through collaboration, services and accommodations.

 

Campus Recreation provides high-quality and innovative co-curricular experiences through comprehensive recreation, fitness and leisure services that foster personal, academic and professional success for the students, faculty and staff of MSU Denver and the Auraria community. Their purpose is to foster individual and community well-being through the power of engagement, leadership, partnership and recreation. They envision a community where healthy living and lifelong learning intersect to support personal, professional and institutional success.

 

The Center for Equity and Student Achievement’s (CESA’s) mission is to support and educate students throughout their MSU Denver journey and to advocate for a campus community that promotes equity and inclusion. To achieve this, the center supports a wide variety of support services and programming.

 

The Center for Multicultural Excellence and Inclusion (CMEI) empowers students of color through mentorship, academic support and programming to thrive at MSU Denver. CMEI also houses many other programs and services, including:

 

The LGBTQ Student Resource Center is a tri-institutional office serving students, faculty, and staff of all genders and sexualities on the Auraria Campus. They are a resource for those experiencing issues with sexuality, gender identity, and discrimination or harassment.

 

Immigrant Services is an academic and social support program that aims to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation of undocumented, DACA, immigrant, and refugee students. Through academic counseling, ESL support, scholarship application assistance, and access to campus and community resources, the program’s mission is to address the most common challenges and barriers to education that this underserved, underrepresented student population faces. Also, the program aims to serve as a representative for these students on campus, helping staff and faculty alike to support, empathize with, and effectively serve these student populations.

 

TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) is committed to creating a campus community where students’ goals are nurtured through individualized support and the development of an inclusive culture. Participants have access to services including academic support, tutorial assistance, peer mentoring, skill-building workshops, graduate school and career prep, financial aid application assistance, scholarship opportunities, a computer lab, events, and leadership development.

 

Veteran and Military Student Services is a one-stop-shop for all programs, and support services for military-affiliated students on campus. Veterans and military service members are a valued and vital component to the MSU Denver learning community as they broaden the diversity of staff, faculty, and student body.

 

First-Generation Initiatives serves as a resource hub for current first-generation students as they navigate campus. The program encourages and empowers the Roadrunner community to embrace and celebrate the multiplicity of identities the first-generation college student population holds. Their mission is to increase the retention and graduation rates of first-generation students. They achieve this by building community, serving as advocates, providing education on the first-generation experience, influencing university policies and practices to be more inclusive of the first-generation identity, and developing meaningful programs and university initiatives that support first-generation students.

 

The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) is a grant-funded scholarship program by the US Department of Education that’s meant to support the completion of the first year of college for eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children. The program provides comprehensive outreach and enrollment assistance, academic support, financial aid and social opportunities. While the program provides its most intensive assistance during the first year of college, the CAMP team is available to assists students throughout their college experience.

 

The Counseling Center can help you balance the demands of college life, which are plentiful: in addition to academic requirements, there are financial pressures, relationship issues, and job stressors that can leave you feeling beat up and worn out. The staff can help you find ways to manage difficult times and provide you with a comforting place to examine your life and learn more about yourself so you can realize your potential. The center provides mental health counseling, crisis intervention assistance, sexual assault resources, individual counseling, therapy and support groups, workshops (substance abuse, academic, personal effectiveness and diversity), mind and body activities and self-help resources.

 

The Health Center at Auraria offers physical and mental health services, and is open to all AHEC, CCD, MSU Denver and CU Denver students, faculty and staff regardless of their insurance plan. From primary and preventative care to treatment for illnesses and injuries, the Health Center at Auraria provides comprehensive health services. They are committed to enhancing student success through innovative health services and the services provided are designed to keep students, faculty and staff healthy so that they can thrive personally and professionally.

 

The Dean of Students Office provides student support and is committed to student safety and well-being while fostering a University community of integrity and respect. It is a hub for students who need support with personal matters or difficult situations impacting their University experience. The office provides referrals and resources for students in need, helps students navigate University processes, addresses student behavior via the Student Code of Conduct, coordinates the CARE Team and more!

 

Student Conflict Resolution Services (SCRS) provides a variety of programs and services to support students experiencing conflict in both individual and group settings, and through skill-building and facilitation support. SCRS recognizes that individuals have differing needs and interests when approaching conflicts. SCRS also acknowledges that our personal experiences and social identities are fundamental to how we do and see conflict, and therefore we cannot ignore, undervalue, or avoid talking about identity when we are in conflict. SCRS helps students navigate these situations in a way that works for them.

 

The Student Care Center houses MSU Denver’s case management services. The Student Care Center provides holistic, non-clinical case management support to MSU Denver students who are facing challenging life circumstances that may prevent them from otherwise pursuing their educational goals. Case managers do outreach out behalf of the CARE Team, while the Center also supports:

  • Rowdy’s Corner provides assistance to students who are struggling to pay for snacks or food for meal preparation, and also provides school supplies and community space for connection. Staff are also available to discuss and complete SNAP applications to get food assistance.
  • Single Stop, which aims to connect students to local community and governmental resources for which they may be eligible. Single Stop is an online screening tool that can estimate in minutes what public benefits students might be eligible to receive. Student Care Center staff are available to assist students in discussing eligibility, applying and follow up on these benefits and resources.
  • The Student Emergency Fund, an emergency stipend for students dealing with unanticipated and/or catastrophic life events.
  • The DREAMer Emergency Fund an emergency stipend for MSU Denver students who have; undocumented, DACA or TPS status.

 

The Epic Scholars Program provides academic and personal supportive services to students with experience in different systems of care, (foster care, kinship care, legal guardianship, division of youth services), and students who self-identify as unaccompanied youth, emancipated minors, and independent students through the Financial Aid office.

 

The Justice Impacted Student Initiative is developing and advisory board to help build supports for justice-impacted students at MSU Denver. Justice impacted students are Individuals who have been impacted by the juvenile/criminal justice system – through policing, courts, probation, parole, incarceration, and other correctional strategies – or who have loved ones or family members who have been impacted by the justice system. The board will identify and discuss how to address the host of challenges justice impacted students have when enrolling and completing their education.