Colorado State University

Rams Rise Day of Giving

Rams know there’s power in numbers. On our own, we’re powerful. But together? We’re unstoppable.

Rams Rise is a movement. It’s about raising your hand, and recognizing thousands of others who are doing the same. It shows students that we believe in them: in their dreams, in their ambitions, in their success.

Day of Giving at CSU is special because it touches every part of the student experience. You can support programs of study where students learn. You can strengthen the communities where they find belonging. You can invest in the places where they compete toward athletic excellence. You can expand access and opportunity through scholarships. You can fund basic needs for students who need it most.

This year, in honor of CSU’s founding year, we’re asking 1,870 donors to give what they can, where they care. Today’s Rams stand on decades of traditions and the hundreds of thousands of Rams who have come before them. Through your support, they can stand even taller.

When we get together – and give together – Rams Rise.

Donate today at Colorado State University | Rams Rise 2025!

Give to Your Passions at CSU!

Every Giving Tuesday, Rams rally together to fight food insecurity in our community. By giving to the Rams Against Hunger meal swipe program, you ensure that CSU students are not just surviving – they’re thriving.

Last year, the collective generosity of more than 1,000 donors provided over 10,000 nourishing meals to students in need. This Dec. 3, let’s make it 12,000!

The reality is, 1 in 3 CSU students experiences food insecurity. While anyone can experience it, everyone can fight it. Through food pantries, community programming, and more, Rams Against Hunger meets students where they are to ensure their basic needs are met. With your support, Rams Against Hunger can meet students in the dining hall by providing RamCard meal swipes to the students who need them most.

Thriving means feeding my brain to fuel my success.

Thriving means preparing for my future.

Thriving means paying it forward.

What does thriving mean to you? Any student can answer, but they can only do so when their basic needs are met. When you give what you can on Giving Tuesday, you help students answer in inspiring, powerful ways.

Gifts of every size make a difference. $10 provides one meal swipe, $140 fills a RamCard for a week, and $570 supports a student with nourishing meals for a whole semester. Join in, and help Rams thrive!

Video Credits

 Videography: CSU University Advancement Engagement | YouTube: col.st/llqTe

Marissa Martinez’s stay-curious energy earned her a feature in @natgeotv’s new show, “Science Fair: The Series,” and propelled her all the way to the International Science and Engineering Fair, securing her a full-ride scholarship through the @boettcherfdn to study biology right here at @CSUNaturalSciences 📚🥼

Catch #ScienceFairTheSeries on @hulu and @disneyplus, out now 📺 👀

The trailer | The story | The feature

“Biology graduate student promotes importance of self in lab”

by Allie Ruckman, featuring Mel Morado

“Recognizing and addressing oppression in the sciences”

by Allie Ruckman, featuring Marina Rodriguez, Amir Alayoubi and Beth Wittmann

“Q&A with Boettcher Scholar and International Science and Engineering Fair participant”

by Allie Ruckman, featuring Marissa Martinez

“Amphibian Week Highlights Critical Conservation Research at CSU”

by Elizabeth Rylance, featuring grad student, Katherine Stroh, & Biology professors, Chris Funk, and Rachel Mueller

Course Snapshots

LIFE 102 – Attributes of Living Systems: This course is an introductory biology course that works well for both incoming Freshmen and outgoing Seniors. It not only provides a basis for more-advanced courses in life sciences, but also serves as an effective review for more-advanced students.

BZ223 – Plant Identification: With the ecological and environmental issues we are facing as a society, plant Identification skills are more important than ever. Learn how to identify flowering plants in a way that will serve you no matter where you live/work in the future!

BZ300 – Animal Behavior: For anyone interested in understanding how and why animals do what they do!

BZ572 – Phytoremediation: Our planet faces numerous environmental risks stemming from industrial development, including mining, gas emissions, chemical fertilizers, pesticide applications, and municipal waste generation. The accumulation of these contaminants in soil, water, and air harms plants, animals, humans, and the environment. Various strategies, such as chemical-based, physicochemical, and biological methods, have been employed to remediate these pollutants. Among these, the biological methods, especially phytoremediation, are the most accepted strategy because they are energy efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly. It is important to understand the sources of different pollutants and how we can reduce their accumulation at both the generation and decontamination levels. In this course, we will cover the different types of pollutants and their sources, the various strategies to remediate them, and the pros and cons of each approach with emphasis on bioremediation. This limited seats, 3-credit course will provide each student with the opportunity to practice searching databases, preparing reports or reviews, creating presentations, presenting to a group, and participating in scientific discussions in addition to acquiring knowledge about the course subject. Graduate and undergraduate students from biology, horticulture, soil and crop science, forestry, ecology, chemistry, and engineering will benefit from this course.

Course Snapshots

LIFE 102 – Attributes of Living Systems: This course is an introductory biology course that works well for both incoming Freshmen and outgoing Seniors. It not only provides a basis for more-advanced courses in life sciences, but also serves as an effective review for more-advanced students.

BZ320 – Biogeographic Approaches to Conservation: This is an opportunity to learn about the dynamic field of conservation biogeography!

BZ415 – Marine Biology: This course explores marine life from the microscopic single cell organisms to the largest whales and describes how they are all connected.

BZ440 – Plant Physiology: Who is this course for?

• Students who are interested in understanding various facets of plant functions at cellular, organellar and whole plant level during its life time.
• Students who also want to learn various physiological aspects at the molecular level and how these processes regulate the plants response to changing environment conditions which in turn influences their growth and productivity.
• The main target groups are upper-division undergraduate students with backgrounds/career interests in Biology, Horticulture, Soil and Crop Science, Forestry, Rangeland Ecology, and related areas. Graduate students conducting research in similar fields are also welcome.
• Those students who want to pursue plant research related jobs in private sector, federal and state institutions are encouraged to enroll as this course fulfils their basic requirements.

BZ460 – Genome Evolution: For upper-level undergraduates interested in the synthesis and evolutionary biology and molecular biology.

Our Education Abroad programs are as diverse as they are enticing! Check out our programs and learn more about these incredible opportunities here: CSU | Education Abroad | Recommended CNS Programs Abroad

Learn more about CSU’s Education Abroad Programs here: CSU | Education Abroad

Speak with an advisor to see if these programs are right for you!: CSU | Biology | Advising

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Behavior and Biology of African Mammals in Kenya: Summer Break – APPLY

• Early Deadline: December 1st
• Final Deadline: February 15th

Dolphin Behavior & Physiology in Honduras: Winter & Summer Break – APPLY

• Winter 2025

  • Priority Deadline: May 1st
  • Final Deadline: September 15th

• Summer 2025

  • Priority Deadline: December 1st
  • Final Deadline: March 30th

Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation of Biodiversity in Ecuador: Winter Break – APPLY

• Priority Deadline: May 1st
• Final Deadline: September 15th

Field Biology & Behavior of Primates in Madagascar: Summer Break – APPLY

• Priority Deadline: December 1st
• Final Deadline: March 23rd

First Year Seminar Abroad: Biology in Australia: August – APPLY

• Priority Deadline: April 15th
• Final Deadline: May 6th

Marine Biology in Mexico: Fall Break – APPLY

• Early Deadline: March 1st
• Final Deadline: April 15th

A successful specimen prep day! These ground squirrels are ready to be used for instruction in BZ330: Mammalogy. Keep an eye out for these specimens in our teaching collection.

Learn more about specimen prep here: YouTube | Museum Prep 101

Warning: The linked video explains the process of preparing museum specimens. The content may be considered graphic by some.

“Pursuing new educational frontiers” – by Allie Ruckman, Elements

A brand-new course in the Department of Biology, Behavior and Biology of African Mammals, brought 16 students to Kenya summer 2023 to practice fieldwork and observational skills in an environment very unlike that of Northern Colorado.