Colorado Heights University#History
{{Short description|Private university in Denver, Colorado, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox university
|name = Colorado Heights University
|image_name =Colorado_Heights_University_Seal.png
|caption =
|established = 1989
|closed = 2016
|type = Private university
|parent = Teikyo University
|officer_in_charge = Fred Van Liew
|city = Denver
|state = Colorado
|country = United States
|campus = Urban
|former_names = Loretto Heights College, Teikyo Loretto Heights University
|colors = Black, Red, Grey, and White {{Color box|black}}{{Color box|red}}{{Color box|grey}}{{Color box|white}}
|students = 400+
|coor = {{coord|39.66151|-105.02767|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:edu_region:US-CO}}
}}
Colorado Heights University was a private university in Denver, Colorado. It was part of the Teikyo University Group. In March 2009, it first changed its name from Teikyo Loretto Heights University (TLHU) to Colorado Heights University and later to Colorado Advanced University in July of the same year.{{cite web|url=http://www.chu.edu/pressreleases.html|title=CHU press releases|publisher=|accessdate=24 May 2018}}
It opened in 1989{{Cite web |title=Colorado Heights University |url=https://www.unipage.net/en/13346/colorado_heights_university |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=www.unipage.net |language=en}} on the former Loretto Highlands College campus.{{Cite web |date=2016-11-29 |title=University housed on historic Loretto Heights campus to close |url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/education/university-housed-on-historic-loretto-heights-campus-to-close/73-358123823 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=KUSA.com |language=en-US}}
History
Image:Loretto Heights Academy.JPG
At the end of the 19th century, Mother Pancratia (Mary Louise Bonfils 1852-1915),{{cite web|url=http://blogs.shu.edu/crra/2013/07/17/mother-pancratia-bonfils-1852-1915/|title=Mother Pancratia Bonfils (1852 – 1915) – Treasures of the Catholic Research Resources Alliance (CRRA)|website=blogs.shu.edu|accessdate=24 May 2018}} of the Sisters of Loretto, had the vision to educate women in the Rocky Mountain region. In 1886, Loretto Heights Academy was founded as a Catholic girls' high school in the building later used as Colorado Heights University's Administration Building.{{Cite web |title=Colorado Heights University {{!}} History {{!}} Plexuss |url=https://plexuss.com/u/colorado-heights-university/history |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=plexuss.com}}
The landmark Administration Building was a Romanesque six-story structure, designed by Denver architect Frank E. Edbrooke (1840-1921). The Administration Building was built from red sandstone and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975.National Register of Historic Places listings in Denver, Colorado - National Register of Historic Places listings in West Denver, Colorado
Over the years, the school became a college and expanded to include teacher education programs, nursing programs, business, dance and more for both men and women.A more detailed history of the CHU campus from its beginning through the 1980s can be found at http://www.chu.edu/images/Section%201/1.2.1_WCHU_HistoryHeights.pdf The campus now has almost 20 structures, including a 1,000-seat theater, an interfaith chapel, a swimming pool, cafeteria, residence halls and recreational amenities.
In 1989, Teikyo Loretto Heights University (TLHU) opened on the campus of the former Loretto Heights College.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-17 |title=Denver City Council approves Loretto Heights development |url=https://www.9news.com/article/money/business/city-counci-approves-loretto-heights-development/73-fc6ebf6d-1645-44ce-8614-463e3d683589 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=KUSA.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Developer set for storied Loretto Heights campus in southwest Denver |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2017/11/01/developer-set-for-storied-loretto-heights-campus.html |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=www.bizjournals.com}} TLHU focused on international students. In 2009, TLHU rebranded to Colorado Heights University. Colorado Heights University was owned by the Teikyo University Group,{{cite web|url=https://www.teikyo-u.ac.jp/english/index.html|title=Teikyo University|website=www.teikyo-u.ac.jp|accessdate=24 May 2018}} a multinational educational foundation based in Japan that operates many undergraduate and graduate universities with more than 70,000 students spread across 46 campuses worldwide.
In November 2016, Teikyo University Group announced that Colorado Heights University would close due to falling enrollment numbers. {{Cite web |date=2018-06-06 |title=Buyer for former Loretto Heights campus falls through, others express interest in the property |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/06/06/loretto-heights-buyer-falls-through/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}
Academics
Colorado Heights University's academic calendar was semester-based.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-29 |title=UNIGO |url=https://www.unigo.com/colleges/colorado-heights-university |access-date=2023-12-22 |language=en}}
Colorado Heights University focused on interdisciplinary business degree programs and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. It offered Intensive English and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) preparation certificate programs, the Bachelor of Arts in International Business, and various specializations in the Master of Business Administration in International Business.{{Cite web |title=Colorado Heights University - Remote Work From Home Jobs & Careers {{!}} FlexJobs |url=https://www.flexjobs.com/remote-jobs/company/colorado_heights_university |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=www.flexjobs.com |language=en}}
Campus
The campus consisted of 20 buildings on a {{convert|74|acre|m2|adj=on}} site, the highest area in Denver.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-06 |title=Buyer for former Loretto Heights campus falls through, others express interest in the property |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/06/06/loretto-heights-buyer-falls-through/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: MSU Denver gains SW Denver campus in partnership with Colorado Heights University |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/09/02/exclusive-msu-denver-gains-sw-denver-campus-in.html |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=www.bizjournals.com}} The Administration Building opened in 1891. Its prominent bell tower could be seen from miles around, serving as a landmark for many Denver residents.
Students
Most of the students at Colorado Heights University were non-traditional college students. This demographic includes international students, students who speak a language other than English as their native tongue.
In addition to the diversity of languages, those students also represented a diversity of cultures, religions and educational backgrounds. Students represented more than 60 countries from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.List of countries represented at Colorado Heights University: http://www.chu.edu/index.php/whychu/about-chu/2-uncategorized/82-country-list.html
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Teikyo University}}
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Category:Sisters of Loretto schools
Category:Universities and colleges in Denver
Category:Universities and colleges established in 1989
Category:Defunct private universities and colleges in Colorado
Category:1989 establishments in Colorado
Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2017