Pre-College Engineering
Engineering…because dreams need doing!
At CU Boulder, our Pre-College Engineering program sparks curiosity and builds confidence in the next generation of innovators. Our mission is simple: empower K–12 students to explore engineering, develop real-world skills, and discover their potential in STEM careers.
Through dynamic partnerships with schools, community organizations, and CU Boulder programs, we deliver hands-on, interactive experiences that make engineering and related STEM concepts come alive—whether it’s after-school programs, campus visits, summer camps, or community events.
As part of the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Research Support Office, we’re committed to creating opportunities that inspire. We welcome collaborations with on- and off-campus partners to fund, design, and implement innovative K–12 STEM programming that makes a lasting impact.
Let’s build the future—together. Ready to collaborate? Connect with us today!
Jennifer Taylor
Director
Pre-College Engineering
ITLL 2B03
The Pre-College Engineering program promotes K-12 engineering education by:
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Engaging students in the engineering design process while deepening their understanding of fundamental STEM concepts and interrelationships;
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Improving student learning through hands-on and project-based engineering activities that are connected to everyday STEM applications;
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Raising the level of technological literacy of students through building their engineering skills and comprehension of our dynamic modern world;
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Introducing exciting career paths in engineering and opening students’ eyes to how our lives are enriched by the valuable work of engineers.
What we offer:
Partner Programs
The ASPIRE ERC is an innovative NSF-funded engineering research center dedicated to advancing sustainable, equitable electrified transportation to improve health and quality of life through the development of new shared infrastructure for seamless charging. CU Boulder is a key university partner in the ASPIRE ERC, and the Pre-College Engineering program is collaborating on developing ASPIRE-themed K-12 curricula, teacher workshops, summer engineering design camps, and many more exciting initiatives.
The Teach Engineering Digital Library (TE) is a searchable collection of standards-based engineering curricula for use by K-12 educators that is funded primarily by the National Science Foundation. TE is a collaboration among faculty and teachers from around the country who are passionate about K-12 engineering education. The online TE digital collection provides over 1,700 free STEM engineering-focused lesson plans, hands-on activities, and maker challenges, as well as more than 250 engineering activity videos.
DSST Public Schools are one of the nation’s top STEM-focused choice schools, and the highest performing and highest growth secondary schools in Denver Public Schools. DSST’s mission is to transform urban public education by eliminating educational inequity and preparing all students for success in college and the 21st century.
The ITL Pre-College Program partners with the Boulder County chapter of the "I Have A Dream" Foundation (IHDF) and several of their Dreamer Scholar cohorts through our after-school engineering education program. IHDF provides individualized social, emotional, and academic support to young people from resource-limited communities from 1st grade through college, along with guaranteed tuition support. IHDF believes in the power of equal access to resources that students need to succeed, and that all children can ignite their innate potential and achieve their dreams.
CU Teach is a nationally renowned secondary math and science teacher education program that is a collaborative effort between the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Engineering and Applied Science. In partnership with Teach Engineering and the Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) program co-host professional development workshops for K-12 teachers focused on teaching engineering design and building technical skills.
