There are a lot of metrics that measure how a university is doing. Enrollment numbers, graduation rates, and research output. While those things matter, there’s another measure of institutional health that often goes unnoticed: how well a school takes care of students outside of the classroom.

This month, Colorado State University Pueblo received a Cornerstone Basic Needs Campus Designation from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, recognition that the university has built structured, coordinated support for students navigating food insecurity, housing instability, mental health challenges, and more. The announcement came at the June CSU System Board of Governors meeting.

CSU Pueblo is one of three institutions in the state to receive a Cornerstone designation in this inaugural cohort. It also carries forward two earlier recognitions from CDHE: Hunger Free Campus and Healthy Minds Campus designations that the university earned by demonstrating real, sustained commitment to student well-being.

The Basic Needs Campus Designation was built on years of earlier work, and CDHE has now broadened that framework to include transportation, legal support, financial wellness, and technology access. For a lot of students, they’re the difference between finishing a degree and stopping out.

According to CDHE, 79% of students who leave college before finishing cite basic needs challenges or financial issues as the primary reason.

On the ground at CSU Pueblo, that support is concrete. The Pack Pantry is a free, on-campus resource offering groceries, fresh food, and personal care items to students, faculty, and staff experiencing food insecurity. It operates in partnership with the Care and Share Food Bank and removes the financial and logistical barriers that send students home hungry. The university also provides SNAP enrollment assistance to help students access state food benefits, and mental health resources are woven into campus life through course syllabi, student IDs, and campus-wide events.

The Full Picture of Student Support

  • The Pack Pantry: Free, on-campus food and hygiene resources in partnership with Care and Share Food Bank.
  • SNAP Enrollment Assistance: Connecting students with state food benefits.
  • Mental Health Integration: Resources embedded in course syllabi, student IDs, and campus events.
  • Wellness Programs: Counseling, stress relief activities, and peer support initiatives.
  • Professional Clothing Access: Business attire available to students preparing for internships, job interviews, and career events.
  • Awareness Events: Regular programming focused on food security and mental health.

“I’m incredibly proud of CSU Pueblo for earning this designation. It reflects our shared commitment to supporting students holistically.”

Bonnie Fruland, Assistant Dean of Student Support and Advocacy, Colorado State University Pueblo

Fruland’s words speak to something larger than a single award. The work of student support at CSU Pueblo is cross-departmental and ongoing. This designation acknowledges the staff, advisors, and administrators who show up every day to make sure students have what they need to stay in school.

CSU Pueblo serves around 3,500 students and is the only four-year public university in southern Colorado. Many students who come here are first-generation college students, working adults, parents, and people who don’t have a backup plan. This campus is often the plan and meets them where they are.

CDHE has indicated it will continue expanding the program, and institutions at the Cornerstone level are actively building toward a more comprehensive model.

To learn more about student support services at CSU Pueblo, visit csupueblo.edu.