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UMC Mission Statement

We are the heart of campus providing an exciting gathering place to celebrate diversity, explore individuality, build community, and pursue big ideas.

Our welcoming environment encourages CU students and the community to develop and use life skills to enrich the human experience.

Your UMC (University Memorial Center) is named in honor of U.S. veterans of war and serves as a living memorial to the courage and sacrifice of Colorado veterans. Next time you are in the UMC, be sure to visit the Veterans Memorial on the 2nd floor by the reception desk. More >>

As a cost center of UCSU, and in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs, we seek and value student involvement in everything we do to provide outstanding programs, facilities, and services.

We are a living memorial honoring the courage and sacrifice of Colorado veterans.

Diversity Statement

As the heart of campus, the UMC provides an atmosphere of inclusiveness that allows for free and open exchange of ideas, as well as the development of significant relationships and understanding between all cultures in the university and the community at large.

The UMC creates and maintains an atmosphere where diversity is valued among us by maximizing the interaction of the diverse peoples in the University community. Through our experiences, programs, and events, the UMC values education and exposing the campus to new ideas.

Acknowledging that there is always room for continual improvement, the UMC commits to ongoing training and education for our staff and students.

The UMC’s definition of diversity is all-inclusive, encompassing ethnicity, race, gender, age, class, sexual orientation, national origin, religion/belief, ability, political views, and veteran’s status. It is a definition that includes the valuing of individual and group differences, respecting the perspectives of others, and communicating openly.

The Dennis Small Cultural Center, a special place in the UMC, is primarily dedicated to providing a gathering place for students of color and underrepresented student groups. Its programming and existence are in support of the UMC's commitment to cultural diversity.

Revised 8/2007

UMC Statement of Ethics

We, the employees of the UMC, support the mission, purpose and values of our institution as articulated in the UMC Mission Statement.  We do this by adhering to these principles: 

• Honesty:  we define this as a necessary attribute of good character and effective leadership.

• Fairness:  we believe in the importance of objective and impartial treatment of all people and we respect their dignity.

• Diversity:  we value individual difference by creating a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment.

• Support:  we strive to foster a spirit of cooperation by helping one another and acknowledging one another’s contribution.

• Responsibility: we are accountable to our community for our actions and we have a responsibility to act. 

The History of the UMC

In 1947, Colorado Governor Lee Knous proclaimed the planned University of Colorado student union a memorial to “those who served in these great wars.”

After remarkable fundraising efforts by thousands of Coloradoans, the University Memorial Center opened its doors in October 1953 with President Robert L. Stearns presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The UMC quickly became the central jewel of the Boulder campus.

The university continued to grow with Colorado's healthy economy, and so did the UMC. A 1964 addition, financed by student fees, created a new bookstore, conference facilities, additional dining facilities, and offices to house the rapidly growing student activities and organizations.

The UMC saw much student activism in the 1960’s and ‘70’s as students staged strikes, grape boycotts, love-ins, sit-ins, and walk-outs. The UMC Fountain Court (now the Dalton Trumbo Fountain Court) became a familiar sight to network television news watchers as the famous and notorious promoted their cause at CU-Boulder.

The UMC’s Glenn Miller Ballroom has played host to a truly impressive list of entertainers, including B.B. King, The Association, Warren Zevon, Carla Bonhoff, Taj Mahal, The Band, Chubby Checker, Del Shannon, The Grass Roots, Don McClean, Stanley Turrentine, Les McCann, Tommy Bolin, Zephyr, Firefall, Woody Herman, Chuck Mangione, Steve Miller, and Ozark Mountain Daredevils are among the extensive list of performers who played to sold-out audiences in the ballroom.

In 1986, students passed another bond issue to remodel the food services area. The Alferd Packer Grill was transformed to the current food court concept and students have since enjoyed the addition of other vendors including Subway, Dominos, and Celestial Seasonings Teas and Coffees.

Through the changes of 50 years, the UMC remains the University's living room. With the Expansion and Renovation Project completed in spring, 2002, the UMC continues to remain the place where students come to relax, eat and meet people.