GSBC at CU Boulder: Then & Now - Graduate School of Banking at Colorado

The University of Colorado Boulder has served GSBC well since the school’s founding in 1950, and has provided GSBC students an immaculate campus to learn and network. GSBC’s connection to the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder came about when the Colorado Bankers Association and the CU Boulder Board of Regents partnered to co-sponsor the organization and operation of the then-Colorado School of Banking. On December 18, 1959, the Regents of CU Boulder approved the request of the GSBC Board of Trustees to host the Annual School Session on campus indefinitely for two weeks every summer.

GSBC’s use of CU Boulder facilities has evolved throughout the years. Throughout GSBC history, classrooms were dispersed across campus and many students stayed in local hotels. Upon his hiring in 2001, GSBC President Tim Koch prioritized finding a method to centralize the school’s presence on campus in terms of classrooms and housing. Today, nearly all classes are held in the state-of-the-art Wolf Law building, with the exception of Bank Management Simulation classes which are held in the Kittredge Central, next door. Housing facilities available to GSBC students now include the newly renovated Kittredge Complex (adjacent to Wolf Law), Bear Creek Apartments and Williams Village East.

Explore below GSBC’s evolution on CU Boulder’s campus, the place the school calls home.

Darley Hall, situated center, was a common place for GSBC students to attend classes and eat meals from 1951-2010.
Former GSBC Director Joe Frascona (retired in 1980) addresses a group of students in Darley.
Upon accepting his role as president of GSBC in 2001, Tim Koch, along with the board of trustees, began the process of securing Wolf Law, a new, central classroom facility for students.
Upon Wolf Law's completion in 2008, the state-of-the-art building became the primary classroom facility of GSBC in 2010.
Sterns Hall served as GSBC's primary housing facility from the 1950s to the late 1990s.
Beginning in 2020, the state-of-the-art, newly constructed Williams Village East housing option will be made to students. GSBC also utilizes the newly renovated Kittredge Complex, adjacent to Wolf Law, and Bear Creek Apartments.
On the first night of the Annual School Session, the welcome barbecue was held at Flagstaff Mountain, where students gathered around to listen to live music and get acquainted.
Today, GSBC's "Welcome Celebration" is hosted at Folsom Field in the Touchdown Club.
Chip, the University of Colorado Boulder's mascot, hangs out with students in the end zone at Folsom Field.
GSBC's graduation celebration was previously held on the University Memorial Center patio. (Photo taken in 1986)
Graduation was held at the University Memorial Center. (Photo taken in 1991)
Since 2004, GSBC has hosted its graduation celebration and ceremony at Folsom Field, in the club level. (Photo taken 2019)
The class members of 1986 receiving their diplomas.
A class of 2019 Bank Management Simulation group.
The first graduating class had 43 members. (Photo taken in 1953)
Graduating class of 2005.
In 2019, GSBC graduated 156 community bankers from its Annual School Session.

GSBC’s “Celebrate 70” campaign aims to engage the school’s students, alumni, faculty and supporters in a year-long commemoration of its history, accomplishments and traditions.

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