University of the Rockies

[EduCativ]

Master the talents to transform lives and inspire others to raise the bar with your degree from the University of the Rockies, an accredited graduate school where learners become leaders. Explore degrees in programs such as psychology, organizational leadership, education, and learn from faculty members who are also professionals with decades of experience. Through your studies, you will reach a higher understanding and embrace the values, attitudes, and self-knowledge that can transform lives. Become the expert and influencer people will turn to, and follow your career path to professional practice, non-profit, or public service.
University of the Rockies provides high-quality, accessible learning opportunities globally for diverse groups of individuals seeking life goals, professional practice, service, and distinguished leadership.
University of Rocky's mission and core values are anchored in the desire to serve our valued students' needs, contribute to the public good, and support the long-term health and well-being of our institution.
Our mission and core values are at the center of all that we do as an institution and are intimately related to every strategy, planning, and effectiveness initiative we develop and undertake.
With a focus on serving the valued student, our approach is comprehensive and institutionally holistic, accounting for all key stakeholders, the diverse range of communities we so proudly serve, and all programmatic offerings in both the online and on-ground modalities.
The extent to which the University is actively pursuing its mission fulfillment is re-examined on an annual basis through its strategic planning, program review, educational effectiveness, and assessment of student learning cycles. Continuous improvement efforts at the University of the Rockies rest on its strategy, planning, and effectiveness model, which is focused on the coordinated efforts of operations, finance, and academics. These three critical functional areas' efforts are driven by key performance indicators defined and measured through the structured framework of the Institutional Strategic Plan and Institutional Effectiveness Plan. Performance and outcomes are guided by critical strategic objectives of growth, prosperity, and accreditation.
At the University of the Rockies, the Master's and Doctoral degree programs are designed with distance learners like you in mind. Through your studies, you will reach a higher understanding and embrace the values, attitudes, and self-knowledge that can transform lives.
With programs that focus on human interaction and leadership within business, preparing counselors and psychologists to work with others, and developing professionals in the fields of education, human services, sociology, and human development, you can become the expert and influencer people will turn to, and follow your career path to professional practice, non-profit, or public service.
Diversity at the University of the Rockies means we encourage students of all cultures and experiences to seek higher learning opportunities and learn from one another. At the University of the Rockies, we define diversity by the difference we make in people's lives. Diversity is more than just our mission statement — it is who we are.
The precursor to the University of the Rockies, the Colorado School of Professional Psychology (COSPP), was founded on June 18, 1998, in Colorado Springs. It was established to provide professional graduate education in psychology to individuals seeking licensure as psychologists or practitioners in other professions. A Board of Directors was established in 1999, and COSPP was granted Preliminary State Authorization by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE). The next year COSPP gained Category II Authorization, which allowed COSPP to enroll students, begin instruction, award credits, and degrees, and maintain a place of business in Colorado. In 2003, COSPP was granted initial accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and Category I status by the CCHE.
Some of COSPP's founding members, practicing psychologists in the Colorado Springs community and educators at Chapman University, provided leadership for establishing the Switzer community counseling center. The Counseling Center provided supervised practica and internships for COSPP students and particular community mental health needs.
In 2004, the institution moved to the ground level of a historic Santa Fe Railroad station constructed circa 1917. In 2005, a Licensed Professional Counselor curriculum, a Marriage and Family Therapy curriculum, an Organizational Leadership curriculum, and several specializations were added to existing degree programs to broaden the institution's service perspective.
Bridgepoint Education, Inc. acquired the institution in 2007 and renamed it the University of the Rockies. The following year, the University sought permission to offer online courses and began the online delivery of two degrees: the Master of Arts in Psychology and the Doctor of Psychology. Three more programs—the Master of Arts in Organizational Development and Leadership, the Master of Arts in Human Services, and the Doctor in Organizational Development and Leadership—were approved by the HLC in 2010. That same year, the counseling center was renamed the Rockies Counseling Center.
In 2012, HLC extended the University's accreditation to include the Master of Arts in Education, Doctor of Philosophy in Education, and Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services. The next year, the University opened facilities in downtown Denver, received approval to add the School of Organizational Leadership (in addition to the School of Professional Psychology), and began offering ground classes in Denver. HLC also extended the University's accreditation to include the Master of Arts in Counseling for the former Master of Arts in Psychology specializations related to counseling.
A third school, the School of Social, Human, and Educational Development, was established in 2014. Following a successful HLC visit in early 2015, the University was granted continuous accreditation with the Reaffirmation of Accreditation set for 2024‒2025. Three Master's programs—the Master of Arts in International Leadership, Master of Arts in Public Sociology, and Master of Arts in Human Development—were also approved by the HLC at that time.
In mid-2015, the University of the Rockies announced the teach-out of its campus in Colorado Springs. In early 2016, the University combined the three schools into one and implemented an Executive Dean model to streamline the student experience and enhance academic quality.

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