Published: Dec. 5, 2016

“The Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility program has been an exceptional experience – the instructors are top notch, the material is informative and relevant, and I have had the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with my fellow students. I would highly recommended the program to anyone passionate about CSR and mission-driven business.”
– Brian Lichtenheld, Director of Accountability/Giving at

CCSR Program, Center for Education on Social Responsibility

The Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR) was thrilled to expand our focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by piloting a professional certification program in Fall 2016. With positive reviews from current students and proven content, the course has become a staple of CESR's offerings.

The Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility is designed for business professionals seeking to further themselves and their companies in the practice of socially responsible business through a comprehensive, practical, and collaborative learning experience. We are proud to partner with , a Colorado-based nonprofit of professionals, business leaders and for-profit companies focused on CSR and civic philanthropy.

The program’s structure is the result of combining proven academic content with direct input by CSR professionals into curriculum development. Students are learning about CSR strategy and performance; management, measurement and ROI; CSR standard practices and procedures; and acquiring tools for evaluating CSR and corporate philanthropy. Through knowledgeable instructors and guest speakers, CCSR students are getting practical, applicable best practices that will help them deliver maximum value back to their companies and society.

The course is collaborative and experiential, with dialogue-based learning involving the instructors, cohort members and CSR experts.

Full details about the CCSR

Center for Education on Social ResponsibilityHere’s what Fall 2016 students hadto say about their experience:

"If you've been trying to find the perfect professional development course on Corporate Social Responsibility, look no further. 񱦵’s CCSR class gives you relevant readings, tools, benchmark studies, and worksheets to use in your current (or future) position. And with smart, experienced instructors who keep you on task but still allow for collaboration and sharing, you'll get the best of the professional-meets-academia worlds."
– Lora Ledermann, Founder of Scream Agency

“The CSR Certification course is perfect for professionals already working in the field of CSR and for anyone that may be making a career shift in that direction. The course outline and material are relevant and thoughtfully selected, the professors and guest speakers are exceptional, and the network that we are developing will be invaluable in the future.I'm proud to be in the first CSR Certification course offered west of the Mississippi and I look forward to watching this program expand, grow and develop incredible CSR experts in our community.”
– Karen Spencer, Senior Channel & Field Marketing Manager, Ciena

“Geri and David [CCSR instructors] have helped me to expand my vision for what CSR entails and realize the importance in this global climate to nurture the internal and external cultures associated with our teams. They have helped me to rethink relationship challenges and see differences as opportunities. My fellow students have added a new layer of optimism to my outlook with their passion and commitment to implementing positive change. I feel a renewed sense of purpose in the work that I have been doing for Odell Brewing Company for the past 10 years.”
– Karla Baise, Community Outreach Coordinator, Odell Brewing Company

“Geri and Dave have done a great job showing that CSR is more than corporate philanthropy. We’ve learned how CSR embodies employee engagement, ethics and compliance, as well as sustainability efforts and how such work really gets done. Because I’m making a career change to CSR, it’s been great for me to combine this knowledge with the real-life experiences of my classmates already working in the field.”
– Robin Fleischmann, Urban Planning Consultant, Community Allies

“I highly recommend this engaging program to CSR professionals and those interested in the field. The content is of a high caliber and encompasses a breadth of CSR-related topics. The instructors are very knowledgeable, approachable, and excel at facilitating. The program includes excellent professional tools, resources, and guest speakers."
– Sarae Kurth, Community Relations Coordinator, Denver Community Credit Union

“Coming from a non-CSR role, I have found this course to be thorough in delivering a greater understanding of how important CSR practices are, from developing a workable program to getting buy-in from the top and implementing strategies. The insight and collaboration from classmates and David and Geri creates a well-rounded learning environment.”
– CCSR student