Find relevant campus resources and information for Continuing Education Online Credit students.

Accessing CE Online Courses

If you have a CU login name and Identikey password, you may access your course directly through the Canvas portal.

If you do not have an Identikey:

  • IdentiKey Activation: Go to the CU Boulder Identity Manager and click on the “Activate your Identikey” button next to the red arrow on the left hand side of the page and follow the directions on the next pages.
  • Access your course directly through the Canvas portal using your CU Login and Identikey password.

Please note: It can take up to 48 hours from the time you enroll in a CE online course before the course will be available to you in the learning management system.

If you have questions about online courses, please contact the CE Online Credit Office at cewww@colorado.edu or 303-492-5148.

Buff Portal and IdentiKey

Buff Portal is the online student campus portal and an important tool. It gives you access to credit course enrollment, your CU student email account, campus announcements, semester schedule, tuition bill, book lists, clicker registration, Canvas and your final grades. Learn more about Buff Portal.

You’ll need an IdentiKey, or a unique username, to log in to and access Buff Portal. An IdentiKey allows you to register for CU courses and provides you with access to online services and campus computing facilities. Use your student identification number to activate your IdentiKey at identikey.colorado.edu. It can take up to 15 minutes for our system to recognize your credentials. A social security number (SSN) or CU-assigned PIN is required for account activation. You will receive an additional email containing your PIN if we do not have your SSN on file. Contact the Office of Information Technology (OIT) 303-735-4357 or oithelp@colorado.edu for tech support.

After you have activated your IdentiKey, you will be prompted to enroll in Duo multi-factor authentication. Duo is part of the university’s ongoing effort to secure personal and financial data on campus, and is required when logging into campus services like Buff Portal.

If you have questions, contact us at ceregistration@colorado.edu or 303-492-5148.

Consenting to Do Business Electronically

When you log in to Buff Portal for the first time, you’ll be asked to consent to conduct business electronically at CU Boulder. If you don’t consent, you’ll lose access to the student portal and instead receive information about how to conduct your official university business offline.

If you have questions, contact us at ceregistration@colorado.edu or 303-492-5148.

State Authorization Regarding Online and Distance Education

The following information explains the University of Colorado Boulder’s status with regard to offering online education to students located outside of Colorado. Currently, students located in any state may now enroll in all online courses, programs, certificates or degrees offered by the University of Colorado Boulder.

In February 2015, the University of Colorado Boulder became an official member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and began participating in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). A “State authorization reciprocity agreement” is an agreement between two or more States that authorizes an institution located and legally authorized in a State covered by the agreement to provide postsecondary education through distance education (online) or correspondence courses to students in other States covered by the agreement.

Courses and programs incorporating a “supervised field experience” are also covered by the provisions of SARA. Under SARA a “supervised field experience” means a student learning experience under the oversight of a supervisor, mentor, faculty member or other qualified professional, located in the host state, who has a direct or indirect reporting responsibility to the institution where the student is enrolled. Examples include practica, student teaching, or internships.

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

California. The University of Colorado at Boulder may offer online and supervised field experiences & activities to students in California. The California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education does not regulate out-of-state public institutions, thus Bureau approval for the University of Colorado Boulder to offer educational activities in California is not required.

International Students are advised to understand and be apprised of the rules, regulations and requirements related to online distance education programs in their country of residence, particularly:
  • If the country will recognize an online certificate or degree;
  • Whether the program meets licensure or certification requirements in the country; and
  • If the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

International students are encouraged to contact the International Student and Scholar Services in the Office of International Education if they have any questions.

Further information on SARA and the SARA complaint process:

Professional Licensure Disclosure
While at this time, the University of Colorado Boulder does not offer any programs, certificates or degrees online that lead to professional licensure, prospective and current students should understand their state licensing board’s requirements prior to enrolling in courses that could eventually lead to licensure. SARA does not provide reciprocity for state professional licensing requirements. Academic programs and individual graduates must meet standards set by that state’s licensure requirements in order for a graduate to be eligible for a license.

Students are advised to contact Erika Swain, Assistance Director for Compliance and Authorization about information regarding their specific state of current or intended residence should they have any questions.

CE Online Credit Student Concerns

Have concerns or complaints about your experience with CE Online Credit? 

Online and Distance Education Student Complaint Resolution

The University of Colorado Boulder encourages students initially to address complaints and grievances relating to academics, consumer protection or other University policies with the specific individuals or units most directly connected with the issue at hand unless there are good reasons for not doing so such as a desire to maintain anonymity. Current University policies and procedures on Student Appeals, Complaints, and Grievances can be found in this guide

Students located outside of Colorado: If a student located outside of Colorado has a complaint that involves distance learning education offered under the terms and conditions of SARA, the student must file a complaint with the institution first to seek resolution. If the person bringing a complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of the University’s internal processes, a complaint may be filed with the University’s SARA portal entity at the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

Examples of types of student complaints that may be brought to the SARA portal entity include veracity of recruitment and marketing materials, job placement data, accuracy of information about tuition, fees and financial aid, accuracy of course transfer information. Complaints and appeals involving grades or student conduct violations will not be reviewed by the SARA portal entity.

Although the SARA state portal entity is the correct location for out-of-state students to file a complaint, the University of Colorado Boulder also provides the list of all state contacts for filing complaints should the student wish to inquire there.

Further information on SARA and the SARA complaint process:

If all other avenues provided have been exhausted, unresolved complaints may be filed with the Higher Learning Commission, the University’s regional accreditor.

Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: 800-621-7440
info@hlcommission.org
www.hlcommission.org

Online Composition Hub

The Online Composition Hub is a free tutoring service for writing open to students enrolled in Continuing Education Evening and Online Credit courses. The online platform uses tools to help students access experienced, peer tutors who provide guidance and review student work.

Tutors specialize in helping students with traditional papers, but they can also assist with web design, video, blogging, Prezi, PowerPoint and other projects. Professional materials, such as resumes, cover letters, applications and research projects are also acceptable.

Tutors and students share assignments via Google Docs. Students have the option of communicating with tutors synchronously—online at the same time as a tutor and talking via Google Docs chat or Zoom—or asynchronously—tutors provide feedback within 24 hours of the appointment time.