Enrollment

Enrollment in High School ACCESS

Before applying, talk to your parent or guardian and your high school counselor about your interest in the High School ACCESS program. When you are ready, be sure to follow the specific application process outlined by your school district as well as the following steps:

Step 1: Get the Information and Apply

  • Review application materials with your parent/guardian.
  • Meet with your HS Counselor to get district approval applications (if applicable).
  • Go to the CU Boulder Class Search to search for courses.
  • Submit the application:
    • Summer 2024 Application
    • Fall 2024 Application
      Once you’ve applied and received your student ID you may be eligible to apply for our needs-based scholarship.
    • If you’re under 16 years of age, you’re required to complete an advising session with a CE academic advisor. Please schedule a phone or video appointment with a CE academic advisor by following the steps on our advising website.
    • We encourage all students to meet with a CE academic advisor at least once a term for additional guidance.

Step 2: Complete the Supplemental Application Forms (prior to registration)

  • Submit the Enrollment Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): This MOU must be on file each term to be eligible to enroll.
  • Submit High School District Approval Forms, if applicable:
    1. Boulder Valley School District students must also submit BVSD’s application in order to receive district assistance.
    2. If you attend any other district, check with your high school counselor to see if you’re eligible for tuition assistance. If approved by your school, please complete the District Approval Form and submit no later than a month after the term starts.

Send completed forms to hsaccess@colorado.edu.

Step 3: Complete Assessments or Submit Documentation for restricted courses

  • Students planning to take courses with prerequisites must provide proof that they have completed the prerequisites. Prerequisites may be satisfied via courses taken for college credit, AP or IB (test scores required), or CU Boulder language placement exams. Send email copies of your transcripts and/or test scores to hsaccess@colorado.edu.

Step 4: Apply for the College Opportunity Fund

If you are a resident of Colorado and are 13+ years old, you can apply for a stipend that will cover a portion of the tuition for CU Boulder main campus courses. Review and apply for COF. Your social security number or identification number is needed to connect COF to your student account. If you didn’t provide this number on your application, please call us at 303-492-5148 to add it to your file. When you enroll in courses, you will have the opportunity to AUTHORIZE the stipend. You must complete BOTH steps to receive your stipend.

COF Restrictions

The COF stipend is not applicable for CE Evening Credit, CE Online Credit, Applied Music, Individualized Instruction, Extraordinary, or International English Center courses. The tuition rates for many of these programs are based on the tuition paid by Colorado residents after the COF stipend is applied.

Step 5: Enroll in Courses

Summer registration into main campus and Continuing Education courses for high school students starts on Monday, March 11.

Fall registration into Continuing Education courses opens on Monday, April 1. Fall registration into main campus courses opens on Monday, August 19.

  • Once we’ve received and processed your application, we will send you a Welcome Message email. The Welcome Message will guide you through online enrollment via Buff Portal, the CU online student portal.
  • You can add courses to a “shopping cart” as soon as you receive your Welcome Message.

Step 6: Go to Class

  • If taking classes in person, take some time prior to the first day of class to familiarize yourself with the campus, including the UMC Student Center, the Norlin Library, and most importantly, the buildings on campus in which your classes will be held. See the Campus Map.
  • If you are waitlisted for a class, plan to attend starting on the first day. This way you will not miss any of the information, and you can talk to the instructor about your chances of getting in.

Step 7: Pay your bill

  • You will NOT receive a paper bill. Your bill will be available online in Buff Portal. This is also where you will manage your course schedule, check grades, etc.
  • If you will be receiving district tuition assistance, it may take additional time to process before you see it added to your account.
  • Questions about your bill? Call the CE Accounting team at 303-492-2212.


The priority deadline to submit summer application materials is May 10. The final deadline for summer is July 5.
The priority deadline to submit fall application materials is August 1. The final deadline for fall is September 6.

Buff Portal and IdentiKey

Buff Portal is the online 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.

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. If you don’t consent, you’ll lose access to the 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.

Now that you’ve selected your favorite Continuing Education courses, email or print the information, including class number, to more easily search Buff Portal and enroll. Still have questions? Contact an advisor.

Hours

Monday – Friday
8:00am to 5:00pm

Location

We are located at the corner of University Avenue and 15th Street in a white brick building.

Map

1505 University Avenue
University of Colorado Boulder
178 UCB
Boulder, Colorado
80309-0178