Grand Junction – Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has finalized a partnership with Aurora Public Schools (APS) that will guarantee admission for qualified students from the Aurora district. The agreement, made official on Wednesday, marks the sixth direct-admission partnership APS has established with higher education institutions in Colorado, according to a news release from APS officials.
Under the new agreement, APS senior students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher will receive guaranteed admission to Colorado Mesa University, which is located here in Grand Junction. The partnership also extends guaranteed admission to APS juniors who achieve a GPA of 3.2 or higher, with these students also qualifying for a scholarship from CMU. For students whose GPAs fall below these specified thresholds, the university will still consider their applications for admission, the release stated. Beyond guaranteed acceptance, APS students will also benefit from waived application fees and will receive “significant support” from the university once enrolled.
CMU, a “first-generation serving” university, reports that more than 45% of its approximately 11,000 students are the first in their families to attend college, according to university officials. This focus on first-generation students aligns with the goals expressed by APS Superintendent Michael Giles Jr., who is a graduate of Colorado Mesa University himself.
Superintendent Giles stated in the release that the school district is “relentlessly pushing to open more doors” for its students. He also remarked that, as a CMU alum, he knows APS students will receive an education there that will prepare them for success in their chosen careers. Giles further highlighted the partnership as an additional incentive for families to choose Aurora and consider APS a leading district.
The agreement with Colorado Mesa University expands APS's network of direct admission programs. The school district already holds similar partnerships with five other Colorado institutions: the University of Colorado Denver, Metro State University Denver, Colorado State University Pueblo, the University of Northern Colorado, and the Community College of Aurora. This new collaboration with CMU further solidifies a pathway for Aurora students seeking higher education opportunities, including those on the Western Slope. The initiative aims to streamline the college application process and provide clear pathways for students to pursue post-secondary education in Grand Junction.
