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The ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Rural Network (CUBRN)

At CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß, undergraduate students from Colorado’s rural communities and small towns contribute a rich diversity of experiences, perspectives, and ideas to our campus. Their presence strengthens our university community and enriches learning for all.

According to data from CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß’s Office of Data Analytics (Fall 2025), using the CDHE Rural Classification guidelines and the CCDC’s NCHS Urban–Rural Classification Scheme:

• Total rural undergraduate students: 1,615
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• 4.8% of all full-time, undergraduate students
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• 24.7% identify as students of color
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• Students come fromÌý47 U.S. states

The ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Rural Network MissionÌý

TheÌýCU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Rural Network (CUBRN) exists to increase access and support for students from rural and small-town communities across the country enrolled at CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß. We are committed to fostering student success, strengthening campus connections, and supporting CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß’s mission to serve the entire state of Colorado.

The CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß Rural Network is a cross-campus group of CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß professionals who support access to and success through the ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß for students from rural communities, as well as promote the University’s charge to serve the entire state.Ìý CUBRN focuses on issues of access and recruitment, retention and student success, and advocacy and awareness of rurality across the CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß community.

The goals of these engagement opportunities are to spread awareness of rural students as an important population at CU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß, amplify the unique perspectives and contributions of rural students, provide a space to engage and make connections with other rural students, and make students aware of the support offered through CUBRN and other university resources.

Our Commitment

CUBRN is a cross-campus coalition of faculty, staff, and campus leaders who:

• Advocate forÌýequity and belonging for rural and small town students
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• Build awareness ofÌýrural and small town identity as an underrepresented experience
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• Focus onÌýaccess and recruitment,Ìýretention and success, andÌýcampus advocacy

CUBRN launched inÌýApril 2020 following university-wide conversations that identified the need for a coordinated approach to supporting rural students and recognizing rurality as an important and often overlooked identity in higher education.

What We Offer

CUBRN provides a range of opportunities and resources, including:

• Support forÌýCU ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß students who self-identify as rural or small-town
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• AÌýcampus network of students, faculty, staff, and allies with shared rural experiences or commitments
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• Resources and programming forÌýfamilies, educators, and community supporters
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• Events and engagement that fosterÌýcommunity, visibility, and belonging

Shared Responsibility

CUBRN is grounded inÌýShared Equity Leadership (SEL), where responsibility for equity is distributed across students, staff, and faculty. Together, we work to build a university culture where:

• Everyone’s voice is valued
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• Equity-deserving* communities receive intentional support
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• All participants help shape the network’s vision and values

*"Equity-deserving" refers to communities that have historically faced and continue to face barriers to equal opportunities, access, and resources due to systemic disadvantage and discrimination.