Welcome to the Senior Auditors Website
What is the Senior Auditor program?
Created in 1973 by the Board of Regents, this program gives Colorado’s senior citizens the opportunity to attend classes on the CU-Boulder campus. Any Colorado resident, age 55 or older, may sit in on most regularly scheduled daytime classes, tuition-free. The program is available for the fall and spring semesters. You do not have to be an alumnus of CU to participate. Auditors do not receive academic credit for courses taken.
Why audit?
Learn new skills. Enrich your life. Be energized and intellectually stimulated. Expand your horizons. Make new friends. Attend class with bright young minds. Have fun. These are some of the reasons given by past senior auditors.
What is the cost?
We are happy to assist with this valuable community service. There is a per semester fee of $10 to help defray our administrative costs. Alumni Association membership is not required.
How do I choose courses?
A recent survey told us that favorite courses for auditors include: history, astronomy, literature, art, film, law and music. Decisions are most often made according to the individuals’ interest and time availability. Auditors commented that they took courses “they never took in college,” “ones that will expand my horizon” or ones that they just have been “yearning to take.”
The schedule of courses is available on-line at http://registrar.colorado.edu/. Click on Spring 2009 Course Listings or visit the Koenig Alumni Center and look through the copies we have printed out for your convenience.
Talk to other auditors at registration about courses they have enjoyed. Most auditors attend classes the week before registration to sample a particular course and then they register.
What courses are NOT included?
Most instructors welcome senior auditors in the classroom, however it is a courtesy to introduce yourself and ask permission to attend class. The program does not include courses in the Division of Continuing Education program. Spanish and Portuguese language courses are not available.
How do I sign up?
Registration is normally the second week of class.
Registration is held at:
Koenig Alumni Center, 1202 University Avenue, Boulder. (directions)
For the Spring 2009 term registration takes place on:
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 8:00am-3:00pm
and
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 8:00am-noon
Past auditors will be there to answer your questions and help you select classes. All Senior Auditors are expected to register! Besides being the right thing to do, registration entitles you to an ID card that gives access to the CU Library system and offers other information about the program.
Where do I buy books?
The CU Book Store is located on the ground floor of the University Memorial Center (UMC) and Colorado Book Store is located at 1111 Broadway.
Books can be very expensive. Often you can save money by buying used book, but wait until after your first class to buy since there are sometimes last minute changes. Also different sections of the same course may use different texts. Boulder Book Store on the Pearl Street Mall offers new and used books at a 10 percent discount if you join their book club. Books also can be ordered online at www.amazon.com or www.bn.com.
How do I get to campus?
By bus:
RTD offers good bus service to campus from many parts of Boulder via the SKIP, the STAMPEDE, the DASH and the HOP; the HOP is operated by Go Boulder. Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes during the day. Several routes serve the campus directly, while others connect to the HOP, the SKIP and the STAMPEDE. The regular fare is $1.50 (75 cents for seniors) each way and includes transfers. Ten-ride books are available at King Soopers, Safeway and at the RTD Transit Center, 1400 Walnut Street (Walnut & 14th Street); the cost for these is $11.25 ($6.00 for seniors). A monthly pass costs $54 ($29 for seniors and those with disabilities). RTD designates senior age as 65. Several regional routes serve Louisville, Lafayette and Longmont. For more information call RTD at 303 299-6000 or go online at http://rtd-denver.com. For HOP shuttle information call 303 447-8282. Maps and schedules are also available at the UMC information desk.
By car:
Off campus parking is limited and expensive. There are several public lots on campus and metered parking at various locations.
NOTE: No complimentary parking passes will be available due to applicable tax regulations.
What is auditor etiquette?
A friendly reminder: auditors are guests in the classroom and regular tuition-paying students have priority. Most instructors are happy to have senior auditors in their classroom and we want to keep it this way, therefore:
- Ask the instructor for permission to audit the class.
- If you wish to complete assignments and take exams, verify that the instructor has time to grade them (no academic credit is available).
- Come to class on time.
- If seating is limited, sit in the back of the room.
- If you wish to speak to an instructor, wait until students have finished their business. Your real life experiences and wisdom can add to the class discussion, but you should not monopolize the class time.
- Stay until the end of the class.
- Thank the instructor for the opportunity to audit the class.
In other words, be your normal courteous self.