HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher education is the key to a successful future for many Colorado students, but it has become increasingly more unattainable due to cost and other barriers. This year, Colorado Democrats made it a priority to keep the cost of higher education tuition down while creating more pathways for students to enter their field of choice and expertise. Through the measures we passed, we will not only prepare our students for success, we will also help develop our workforce and power our economy.

In-state Tuition For Colorado High School Graduates | HB22-1155 

Gonzales & Moreno / McCluskie & Will

The cost of higher education should not deter Colorado's students from pursuing a post-secondary degree at one of the excellent colleges and universities in the state. Under current law, students who attend high school in the state for at least three years prior to enrolling at a state supported institution of higher education must be classified as in-state for tuition purposes if admitted within one year of graduation. This bill instead requires in-state status be granted if the student graduated in Colorado and has resided in the state for at least one year prior to enrolling at the institution. By expanding the pool of students who qualify for in-state tuition, we can lower the cost of education and  empower students to make decisions for their future based on their goals rather than the price tag.

Veterans Audit Higher Education Courses | HB22-1407

Hinrichsen / D.Valdez & Ortiz

We need to ensure that the brave men and women who have served our country are set up for success and equipped with the tools necessary to transition back to civilian life. This bill requires an institution of higher education that has a program or policy that permits a person to audit a course offered by the institution for no credit to permit a veteran, as part of the institution's program or policy, to audit a course for a fee capped at $10 per course. 

Inclusive Higher Education Opportunities | HB22-1107

Bridges & Cooke / Bradfield & Young

We need to ensure that all Colorado students, regardless of ability, have the opportunity for a high quality, higher education that sets them up for success. This bill creates a grant program in the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) for institutions of higher education to establish or expand programs for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The department must contract with an experienced organization to administer the grant program and evaluate recipients. The General Assembly is required to appropriate $450,000 from the General Fund for the program for 5 years. 

Improve Higher Education For Students With A Disability | HB22-1255

Kirkmeyer & Zenzinger / Bradfield & Ortiz

Every Colorado student deserves a quality, public education, and this bill will help make that dream a reality by making higher education more accessible and accommodating for students with disabilities. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and institutions of higher education to gather data on the success of students with disabilities and to report it to the legislature. It also creates an advisory committee to make recommendations to institutions of higher education and the legislature on necessary services and best practices to improve these outcomes, with reports due to the legislature in 2023 and 2024. 

Higher Education Support For Foster Youth (CYAC bill) | SB22-008

Zenzinger & Priola / McLachlan & McKean

Through no fault of their own, foster children typically face extraordinary challenges, and it’s our duty to help eliminate the ones that we can. Starting in the 2022-23 academic year, this bill requires the state to provide financial assistance to cover the total costs of higher education for students who have been in the foster care system in excess of what financial aid provides. Costs will be split evenly between the state from the General Fund and the institutions of higher education. In order to qualify, the student must apply for federal financial aid, including the Chafee grant, which is specific to students who have been in foster care. In order to assist students in applying for aid and enrolling in higher education, the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) must hire four regional navigators, and institutions of higher education and school districts must designate existing staff for this purpose. 

Opportunities For Credential Attainment (1330 workforce task force bill) | SB22-192

Zenzinger & Simpson / Esgar & Catlin

Colorado students – adults and youth alike – need efficient and effective pathways to gain the experience and training they need to earn a degree and, ultimately, a good-paying job. Expanding stackable credential pathways will set Colorado’s students up for success and help workers upskill and reskill to land the high-paying jobs they are seeking. This bill implements recommendations from the Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force, to expand non-degree credentials to provide opportunities for workers to upskill in in-demand fields. Specifically, it requires the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), in consultation with institutions of higher education and the business community, to implement a process that encourages institutions of higher education to identify incremental achievements on the path to degree completion and organize stackable credentials that build upon each other toward careers in high-demand industries. The department must facilitate the creation of these stackable credentials in growing 3 industries identified in the Colorado Talent Report by January 1, 2024, and two more in the following year. 

Postsecondary Student Success Data System | HB22-1349

Priola & Bridges / Will & Duran

Industries across the state continue to face workforce shortages as they recover from the pandemic’s effects on the economy. Investing in our workers and connecting them with the education and training they need will have a transformational effect on workforce shortages today and well into the future. This bill, which came from the Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force, requires the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) to develop student success measures and an interactive data system for postsecondary student success information. The success measures must include things like completion rates, job placements, and earnings. The data system must have a public interface that allows people to compare different institutions and programs. It is funded with a one-time $3 million investment of federal funds.

Prohibiting Transcript And Diploma Withholding | HB22-1049

Pettersen & Bridges / Bacon & Ricks

Withholding transcripts from students trying to enter the workforce is an unnecessary obstacle that disproportionately impacts low-income students and students of color. The bill prohibits public and private institutions of higher education from withholding transcripts due to an unpaid debt if the transcript is being requested for a job application, financial aid, other higher ed opportunities, or military service. In addition, regardless of the reason the transcript is requested, an institution of higher education cannot withhold a transcript for debts other than tuition, room and board, or financial aid. Institutions of higher education must adopt policies regarding transcript withholding, and must annually report to the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) concerning transcript holds. 

Improving Students' Postsecondary Options | HB22-1366

Bridges / Kipp

We need to ensure that we give students and families the support they need when it comes to filling out financial aid applications. The bill creates grant and stipend programs, requires creation of an online tool kit and training, and makes other changes to improve postsecondary options for students and to increase the number of students completing federal and state financial aid applications. $1.1 million is appropriated to a grant program in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to help schools support students in filling out financial aid applications. The bill also requires CDE to update the financial literacy resource bank, including with financial aid application information, and establishes $500 stipends for 400 educators that complete training in increasing student completion of financial aid applications. It also provides $320,000 for the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) to make specified updates to the state financial aid application, and requires CDHE to create an online toolkit and establish an outreach team for the same purposes. 

Long Bill - Higher Education Institutions | HB22-1329

Hansen / McCluskie

In line with Colorado Democrats overall commitment to preparing students for success, our FY23 budget caps how much Colorado institutions of higher education may increase tuition at 2%. It also provides significant capital investments in institutions of higher education, including investments in Colorado Mesa University’s Robinson Theater, Colorado State University’s Clark Building, Community College of Denver’s Boulder Creek remodel, and Metropolitan State University’s Health Institute.

Tuition Revenue Pledged By Institution Higher Education | SB22-121

Zenzinger & Simpson / Rich & McLachlan

A recent methodology change in Moody’s credit ratings would increase borrowing costs for colleges. This bill responds to that change by allowing colleges to pledge up to 100 percent of tuition revenue when issuing revenue bonds for capital construction, up from 10 percent under current law.