ELEVATE 2024
Monday, July 15, 2024 – Friday, August 9, 2024
4 Weeks of In-Person Instruction
M-F 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Deadline to Apply is Monday, July 8, 2024 by 12:00 PM MST
ELEVATE
ELEVATE is the ALVS’ Summer Bridge Program designed to ease nontraditional students’ transition into Colorado State University (CSU) by providing academic support through Math & English/Comp instruction, social engagement opportunities, and introduction to campus resources needed to be successful on CSU’s campus.
ACADEMICS
Elevate has an academic focus on preparing students for the following courses:
- MATH 100-Level courses
- ENGL/COMP 150 or 130
This is a 0 Credit preparation opportunity.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Elevate participants will have access to a Peer Advisor and weekly pre-planned social engagements.
Previous social engagements have consisted of:
- Local scavenger hunt
- Brewery Tour
- Hike the ‘A’
- Rec Center Visit
- CliftonStrengths (formally known as StrengthsQuest) Workshops
- Graduation
PERKS
- A stipend for completing the program: $2,000.
- On-Campus parking for the duration of the program.
Meet our Instructors
KYLE SALOIS: Math Instructor
Kyle Salois is currently completing his graduate degree in Mathematics! His research is in combinatorics, which means that he answers questions of the form “How many ways are there to…”. In particular, he’s focusing on symmetric functions, which are functions that don’t change if their variables are swapped around, since the combinatorics of these functions mirror structures seen in Algebraic Geometry and Representation Theory. In his teaching, he has primarily been working with MATH 155 and MATH 255, Calculus for the Biological Sciences, and enjoys convincing folks in a wide variety of research areas that (a) they can do math and (b) math can be applicable to what they’re studying. Outside of the math world, he splits his time between biking on the gorgeous trails around Fort Collins, playing a lot of board games with friends, and enjoying all kinds of music!
Erin Dawson: Math Instructor
Erin Dawson is a 5th year mathematics graduate student. She studies questions in Tropical Geometry that look like “how many lines pass through 2 points?” and questions about higher degree curves satisfying more conditions. She grew up in Minnesota and came to Colorado to get a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education at CSU. She has taught math at middle school, high school and undergraduate levels. Her favorite things about teaching are getting to know her students and watching as their confidence in their math abilities grow. Outside of math, Erin enjoys cross country skiing, rock climbing, running, gardening, and hiking with her dog.
VIRGINIA CHAFFEE: Writing Instructor
Virginia Chaffee is a Senior Instructor in the English Department and has taught at CSU since 2013. She began teaching in the Elevate program in 2017. Currently, she also serves as a First-Year Composition Specialist in the English Department, training and supporting the GTAs who teach first-year composition. She earned her master’s degree in Teaching Writing from Humboldt State University in 2010 and her bachelor’s degree in English Education from Missouri State University in 2004. As a first-generation college student and Army veteran, Virginia also strives to support learners of all capacities and experiences in their education journey as she has experienced how unique and varied those experiences can be. She has three daughters, loves anything related to the great outdoors, and spends her free time in the garden or chasing after her kids.
Who is eligible to participate?
Incoming nontraditional students wanting prepare for their math and english/composition courses.This includes, but is not limited to Adult Learners, Student Veterans, and Student Parents.
Cost?
FREE!
COVID-19 Regulations:
We will be following CSU’s Pandemic Response Team’s guidance.
Interested in participating in Elevate?
Apply!
Questions?
Email Brianna Ridenour @ brianna.ridenour@colostate.edu
“ELEVATE helped me to feel more comfortable around campus and gave me a really good support system/friend group going into Fall semester. I realized that I haven’t forgotten everything and that I’ll be okay.”
Lauren H., ELEVATE 2021
“I personally loved Elevate and found it immensely beneficial in getting acclimated to CSU. It helped in meeting new people, understanding what the classes would be like, as well as helped me understand how to get around campus.
Ryan H., ELEVATE 2018