Colorado Commission on Higher Education

C.R.S. tit. 23, art. 1

in effect

C.R.S. § 23-1-101 Legislative declaration

23-1-101. Legislative declaration. The purposes of this article are to maximize opportunities for postsecondary education in Colorado; to avoid and to eliminate needless duplication of facilities and programs in state-supported institutions of higher education; to achieve simplicity of state administrative procedures pertaining to higher education; to effect the best utilization of available resources so as to achieve an adequate level of higher education in the most economic manner; to accommodate state priorities and the needs of individual students through implementation of a statewide enrollment plan; and to continue to recognize the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of duly constituted governing boards of state-supported institutions of higher education in Colorado. In this article, express powers and duties are delegated to a central policy and coordinating board, the Colorado commission on higher education, and the department of higher education is responsible for implementing the duly adopted policies of the Colorado commission on higher education. The ultimate authority and responsibility is expressly reserved to the general assembly, and it is the duty of the Colorado commission on higher education and the department of higher education to implement the policies of the general assembly.

C.R.S. § 23-1-101.1 Definitions

23-1-101.1. Definitions. As used in this article 1, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Commission" means the Colorado commission on higher education created and existing pursuant to this article. (2) "Department of higher education" or "department" means the department of higher education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-114, C.R.S. (3) "Executive director" means the office of the executive director of the Colorado commission on higher education created and existing pursuant to section 24-1-114, C.R.S. (4) "Legacy preference" means a preference given by a higher education institution to certain applicants on the basis of their familial relationship to alumni of that institution.

C.R.S. § 23-1-102 Commission established - terms of office

23-1-102. Commission established - terms of office. (1) Repealed. (2) There is established a central policy and coordinating board for higher education in the state of Colorado, to be known as the Colorado commission on higher education, referred to in this article 1 as the "commission". The duties and powers delegated to the commission by this article 1 apply to all state-supported institutions of higher education, including, but not limited to, all postsecondary institutions in the state supported in whole or part by state funds, and including community colleges, extension programs of the state-supported universities and colleges, local district colleges, area technical colleges, the Auraria higher education center established in article 70 of this title 23, and specifically the regents of the university of Colorado and the institutions it governs. The governing boards and institutions of the public system of higher education in Colorado, including the university of Colorado, are obligated to conform to the policies set by the commission within the authorities delegated to it in this article 1. The commission is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105. (3) (a) The commission consists of the following members, appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate: (I) One member from each congressional district in the state; and (II) Three members from the state at large. (b) The governor shall select the members of the commission on the basis of their knowledge of and interest in higher education. At least one member of the commission must reside west of the continental divide. No more than a minimum majority of the members of the commission may be affiliated with the same political party at any time. (c) The term of each member is four years; except that the terms shall be staggered so that no more than a minimum majority of members' terms expire in the same year. No member of the commission may serve more than two consecutive full four-year terms. (4) At the time of appointment, no member of the commission shall have been an officer, employee, or member of a governing board or an officer or employee of any state-supported institution of higher education in the state for a period of one year prior to his or her appointment. During his or her term of office, no member of the commission shall be a member of the general assembly or an officer, employee, or member of a governing board or an officer or employee of a state-supported institution of higher education. (5) Members of the commission are entitled to receive seventy-five dollars per diem for attendance at official meetings plus actual and necessary expenses incurred in the conduct of official business. (6) The commission shall meet as often as necessary to carry out its duties as defined in this article. (7) The term of any member of the commission who misses more than two consecutive regular commission meetings without good cause shall be terminated and his successor appointed in the manner provided for appointments under this section. (8) (a) Repealed. (b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2000, p. 412, § 2, effective April 13, 2000.)

C.R.S. § 23-1-103 Advisory committee to the Colorado commission on higher education

23-1-103. Advisory committee to the Colorado commission on higher education. (1) There is hereby established an advisory committee to the commission for the purpose of suggesting solutions for the problems and needs of higher education and maintaining liaison with the general assembly and the governing boards for state-supported institutions of higher education. The advisory committee shall consist of not less than thirteen members, to be designated as follows: (a) (I) Six members shall be appointed from the general assembly, including three senators, two of whom shall be from the majority party, appointed by the president of the senate, and one of whom shall be from the minority party, appointed by the senate minority leader, and three representatives, two of whom shall be from the majority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and one of whom shall be from the minority party, appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. Except as provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (a), the six members shall be appointed for terms of two years. (II) The terms of the members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate and who are serving on March 22, 2007, shall be extended to and expire on or shall terminate on the convening date of the first regular session of the sixty-seventh general assembly. As soon as practicable after such convening date, the speaker and the president shall each appoint or reappoint successors in the same manner as provided in subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a). Thereafter, the terms of members appointed or reappointed by the speaker and the president shall expire on the convening date of the first regular session of each general assembly, and all subsequent appointments and reappointments by the speaker and the president shall be made as soon as practicable after such convening date. The person making the original appointment or reappointment shall fill any vacancy by appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term. Members appointed or reappointed by the speaker and the president shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and shall continue in office until the member's successor is appointed. (b) One member shall be selected and designated by the commission to represent the faculty in the state and one member shall be selected and designated by the commission to represent the students in the state. On and after August 5, 2009, the commission shall select and designate one member who, at the time of designation, is a parent of a student who is enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education in Colorado to represent the parents of students. (c) Not more than four additional members representing educational or other groups may be selected and designated by the commission to serve on the advisory committee. (2) Legislative members of the advisory committee shall receive compensation and reimbursement of expenses as provided in section 2-2-326, C.R.S. Members of the advisory committee not otherwise compensated by the state or a public educational institution shall receive thirty dollars per diem for attendance at official meetings plus reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the conduct of official business. (3) All members of the advisory committee shall receive agendas and background material and be notified of all public meetings of the commission and shall be invited to attend for the purpose of suggesting solutions for the problems and needs of higher education and maintaining liaison with the general assembly. (4) In addition to any attendance at commission meetings, the committee shall meet as often as necessary to provide assistance to the commission. (5) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 23-1-103.5 Establishment of annual allowable cash fund revenues and expenditures by general assembly

23-1-103.5. Establishment of annual allowable cash fund revenues and expenditures by general assembly. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-104 Financing the system of postsecondary education - report

23-1-104. Financing the system of postsecondary education - report. (1) (a) Repealed. (b) (I) For the 2010-11 fiscal year and for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2016, the general assembly shall make annual appropriations of general fund money, of cash funds received from tuition income, and of money that is estimated to be received by an institution, under the direction and control of the governing board, as stipends, as defined in section 23-18-102, and through fee-for-service contracts, as authorized in section 23-1-109.7 or 23-18-303.5, whichever is applicable, as a single line item to each governing board for the operation of its campuses; except that, if the general assembly appropriates money, as described in subsection (1)(c) of this section, to the Colorado state forest service, the agricultural experiment station department of the Colorado state university, the Colorado state university cooperative extension service, or to the state board for community colleges and occupational education as described in subsection (1)(c.5) of this section, such money shall not be included within the single line item appropriations described in this subsection (1)(b). (II) For the 2010-11 fiscal year and for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2016, the general assembly shall also make annual appropriations of cash funds, other than cash funds received as tuition income or as fees, as a single line item to each governing board for the operation of its campuses. Each governing board shall allocate said cash fund appropriations to the institutions under its control in the manner deemed most appropriate by the governing board; except that, if the general assembly appropriates money pursuant to section 23-31.5-112 or 27-80-118, that money is not included within the single line item appropriation described in this subsection (1)(b)(II). (c) In addition to any appropriations made pursuant to subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b) of this section, the general assembly may make annual appropriations of general fund money and of money received pursuant to a fee-for-service contract negotiated by the board of governors of the Colorado state university system or the regents of the university of Colorado, whichever is applicable, and the department of higher education, as described in section 23-18-303.5, as separate line items to: (I) The Colorado state forest service described in part 3 of article 31 of this title 23; (II) The agricultural experiment station department of the Colorado state university described in part 6 of article 31 of this title 23; (III) The Colorado state university cooperative extension service described in part 7 of article 31 of this title 23; and (IV) The center for research into substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support strategies created in section 27-80-118. (c.5) In addition to any appropriations made pursuant to subsection (1)(b) or (1)(c) of this section, the general assembly may make annual appropriations of general fund money as separate line items to the state board for community colleges and occupational education for the in-demand short-term credentials program created in section 23-60-1201. ry support strategies created in section 27-80-118. (c.5) In addition to any appropriations made pursuant to subsection (1)(b) or (1)(c) of this section, the general assembly may make annual appropriations of general fund money as separate line items to the state board for community colleges and occupational education for the in-demand short-term credentials program created in section 23-60-1201. (d) In accordance with the provisions of section 5 of article VIII of the state constitution, the governing boards of the state institutions of higher education shall have control and direction of any moneys received by their respective institutions in addition to the moneys appropriated pursuant to this subsection (1), unless otherwise provided by statute. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, beginning in the 2011-12 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter through the 2020-21 fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate moneys to the governing board of the Colorado school of mines in accordance with section 23-41-104.7, through fee-for-service contracts, as authorized in sections 23-1-109.7 and 23-18-303, and as stipends, as defined in section 23-18-102, as a single line item to said governing board. (3) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 24-75-102, the governing boards are authorized to retain all money appropriated pursuant to this section or otherwise generated from fiscal year to fiscal year. (b) All moneys raised by a governing board shall be available for expenditure by such governing board and shall not be transferred or otherwise made available for expenditure by any other governing board or by a state entity or state agency; except that said moneys may be transferred to the department of higher education or the Colorado commission on higher education to the extent required to pay indirect cost assessments, as defined in section 24-75-112 (1)(f), C.R.S. (3.5) Each governing board shall report to the Colorado commission on higher education, using approved forms, the institution's plans for any tuition or other proposed increases for the following fiscal year. The commission shall review the plans and make recommendations to the general assembly during the annual budget process. (4) (a) On or before November 10, 2010, each governing board shall submit to the commission and to the joint budget committee of the general assembly a report describing, with regard to each institution under its governance, the governing board's plans to fund the institution in the following fiscal year if the general assembly reduces overall state funding for higher education by fifty percent. (b) Each governing board's report prepared pursuant to this subsection (4) shall specifically address the manner in which the institutions governed by the governing board shall serve students who graduate from Colorado high schools and are enrolling as first-time freshmen students and meet one or more of the following criteria: (I) The student's family is low-income and the student is likely to incur significant student debt in attending an institution of higher education; (II) The student's parents did not attend postsecondary education and may not have graduated from high school; (III) The student is a member of an underrepresented population; or (IV) The student has limited access to technologies to support learning.

C.R.S. § 23-1-105 Duties and powers of the commission with respect to appropriations

23-1-105. Duties and powers of the commission with respect to appropriations. (1) The commission shall prescribe uniform financial reporting policies, including policies for counting and classifying full-time equivalent students, for the institutions and governing boards within the state-supported system of higher education. (2) to (3.7) Repealed. (4) The commission may seek, receive, and disburse federal, state, and private grants, gifts, and trusts for statewide or multiinstitutional purposes. (5) The commission, after consultation with the governing boards of institutions, shall establish policies for the public system of higher education for determining student residency status for tuition classification purposes within statutory guidelines established in article 7 of this title. (6) and (7) Repealed. (8) The funding recommendations made by the commission for state-supported institutions of higher education and by the executive director for the divisions of the department of higher education shall be made to the governor and the general assembly as a part of the budget request for the department of higher education and shall be submitted in accordance with the budget procedures of part 3 of article 37 of title 24, C.R.S., and in conformance with section 24-75-201.1, C.R.S. (9) to (11) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 23-1-105.5 Duties and powers of the commission with respect to student fees - report on tuition and fees

23-1-105.5. Duties and powers of the commission with respect to student fees - report on tuition and fees. (1) (a) The commission shall adopt policies concerning the collection and use of student fees by the governing boards of the state institutions of higher education, as defined in section 23-5-119.5. The policies may address, but need not be limited to, the purposes for student fees categories of student fees, the distinctions between tuition revenue and student fee revenue, accounting for student fee revenue, student fee fund balances, the minimum level of student involvement in the processes for establishing, reviewing, changing the amount of, and discontinuing student fees, and student fees that apply to a student concurrently enrolled pursuant to article 35 of title 22. In preparing the policies, the commission shall seek input from the governing boards, the state institutions of higher education, and the student representative to the advisory committee created pursuant to section 23-1-103 and representatives of the student governments at the state institutions of higher education. (b) The commission may waive the requirements of the policies adopted pursuant to this subsection (1). (2) (a) On or before January 15, 2018, and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the joint budget committee and the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, concerning the governing boards' fee policies, the collection and use of student fees, and tuition rates. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I) to the contrary, the report required pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section continues indefinitely.

C.R.S. § 23-1-106 Duties and powers of the commission with respect to capital construction and long-range planning - legislative declaration - report - definitions

23-1-106. Duties and powers of the commission with respect to capital construction and long-range planning - legislative declaration - report - definitions. (1) Except as permitted by subsection (9) of this section, it is declared to be the policy of the general assembly not to authorize any activity requiring capital construction or capital renewal for state institutions of higher education unless approved by the commission. (2) The commission shall, after consultation with the appropriate governing boards of the state institutions of higher education and the appropriate state agencies, have authority to prescribe uniform policies, procedures, and standards of space utilization for the development and approval of capital construction or capital renewal programs by institutions. (3) The commission shall review and approve facility master plans for all state institutions of higher education on land owned or controlled by the state or an institution and capital construction or capital renewal program plans for projects other than those projects described in subsection (9) of this section. The commission shall forward the approved facility master plans to the office of the state architect. Except for those projects described in subsection (9) of this section, no capital construction or capital renewal shall commence except in accordance with an approved facility master plan and program plan. (4) The commission shall ensure conformity of facilities master planning with approved educational master plans and facility program plans with approved facilities master plans. (5) (a) The commission shall approve plans for any capital construction or capital renewal project at any state institution of higher education regardless of the source of funds; except that the commission need not approve plans for any capital construction or capital renewal project at a local district college or area technical college or for any capital construction or capital renewal project described in subsection (9) of this section. (b) The commission may except from the requirements for program and physical planning any project that requires two million dollars or less if the capital construction project is for new construction and funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project is funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, or ten million dollars or less if the project is not for new construction and is funded solely from cash funds held by the institution. (6) (a) The commission shall request annually from each governing board of each state institution of higher education a five-year projection of capital construction or capital renewal projects to be constructed but not including those projects described in subsection (9) of this section. The projection must include the estimated cost, the method of funding, a schedule for project completion, and the governing board-approved priority for each project. The commission shall determine whether a proposed project is consistent with the role and mission and master planning of the institution and conforms to standards recommended by the commission. ribed in subsection (9) of this section. The projection must include the estimated cost, the method of funding, a schedule for project completion, and the governing board-approved priority for each project. The commission shall determine whether a proposed project is consistent with the role and mission and master planning of the institution and conforms to standards recommended by the commission. (b) The commission shall request annually from the governing board of each state institution of higher education a two-year projection of capital construction projects to be undertaken pursuant to subsection (9) of this section and estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding two million dollars if the capital construction project is for new acquisitions of real property or new construction and funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project is funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, or exceeding ten million dollars if the project is not for new acquisitions of real property or new construction and is funded solely from cash funds held by the institution. The projection must include the estimated cost, the method of funding, and a schedule for project completion for each project. A state institution of higher education shall amend the projection prior to commencing a project that is not included in the institution's most recent projection. (7) (a) The commission annually shall prepare a unified, five-year capital improvements report of projects to be constructed, but not including those capital construction or capital renewal projects to be undertaken pursuant to subsection (9) of this section, coordinated with education plans. Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the office of the state architect, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable, together with a recommended priority of funding of capital construction or capital renewal projects for the system of public higher education. The commission shall annually transmit the recommended priority of funding of capital construction or capital renewal projects to the capital development committee no later than November 1 of each year. (b) Except as provided in subsections (5) and (15) of this section, it is the policy of the general assembly to appropriate funds only for capital construction or capital renewal projects approved by the commission. (c) (I) (A) The commission annually shall prepare a unified, two-year report for capital construction or capital renewal projects described in subsection (9) of this section that are not for new acquisitions of real property or new construction and are estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding ten million dollars, coordinated with education plans. The commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the governor, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable. (B) The commission annually shall prepare a unified, two-year report for capital construction projects for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction, estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding two million dollars, coordinated with education plans. The commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the governor, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable. rojects for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction, estimated to require total project expenditures exceeding two million dollars, coordinated with education plans. The commission shall transmit the report to the office of state planning and budgeting, the governor, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, consistent with the executive budget timetable. (II) (A) The commission shall submit the two-year projections prepared by each state institution of higher education for each two-year period to the office of state planning and budgeting and the capital development committee. The capital development committee shall conduct a hearing in each regular legislative session on the projections and either approve the projections or return the projections to the state institution of higher education for modification. The commission and the office of state planning and budgeting shall provide the capital development committee with comments concerning each projection. (B) A state institution of higher education may submit to the staff of the capital development committee, the commission, and the office of state planning and budgeting an amendment to its approved two-year projection. The capital development committee shall conduct a hearing on the amendment within thirty days after submission during a regular legislative session of the general assembly or within forty-five days after submission during any period that the general assembly is not in regular legislative session. The capital development committee shall either approve the projections or return the projections to the state institution of higher education for modification. The commission and the office of state planning and budgeting shall provide the capital development committee with comments concerning each amendment. (8) Repealed. (9) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (9), a capital construction or capital renewal project for an auxiliary facility initiated by the governing board of a state institution of higher education that is contained in the most recent two-year projection approved pursuant to subparagraph (II) of paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of this section, as the projection may be amended from time to time, and that is to be acquired or constructed and operated and maintained solely from cash funds held by the institution is not subject to additional review or approval by the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee; except that, if the capital construction or capital renewal project for an auxiliary facility is to be acquired or constructed in whole or in part using moneys subject to the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, then the governing board of a state institution of higher education must obtain approval from the general assembly as specified in that section. at, if the capital construction or capital renewal project for an auxiliary facility is to be acquired or constructed in whole or in part using moneys subject to the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, then the governing board of a state institution of higher education must obtain approval from the general assembly as specified in that section. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (9), a capital construction or capital renewal project for an academic facility initiated by the governing board of a state institution of higher education that is contained in the most recent two-year projection approved pursuant to subparagraph (II) of paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of this section, as the projection may be amended from time to time, and that is to be acquired or constructed solely from cash funds held by the institution and operated and maintained from such funds or from state moneys appropriated for such purpose, or both, is not subject to additional review or approval by the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee; except that, if the capital construction or capital renewal project for an academic facility is to be acquired or constructed in whole or in part using moneys subject to the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, then the governing board of a state institution of higher education must obtain approval from the general assembly as specified in that section. Any capital construction or capital renewal project subject to this paragraph (b) must comply with the high performance standard certification program established pursuant to section 24-30-1305.5, C.R.S. (c) Each governing board shall ensure, consistent with its responsibilities as set forth in section 5 (2) of article VIII of the state constitution, that a capital construction or capital renewal project initiated pursuant to this subsection (9) is in accordance with its institution's mission, be of a size and scope to provide for the defined program needs, and be designed in accordance with all applicable building codes and accessibility standards. (d) (I) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2016.) (II) A plan for a capital construction or capital renewal project is not subject to review or approval by the commission if such project is: (A) Estimated to require total expenditures of two million dollars or less if the capital construction project is for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project is funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139; or (B) Estimated to require total expenditures of ten million dollars or less if the project is not for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and is funded solely from cash funds held by the institution. (e) A capital construction or acquisition project approved and appropriated prior to January 1, 2010, may be contained in the most recent unified two-year capital improvements project projection approved pursuant to subparagraph (II) of paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of this section. The projection may be amended from time to time and is not subject to additional review or approval by the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee. ined in the most recent unified two-year capital improvements project projection approved pursuant to subparagraph (II) of paragraph (c) of subsection (7) of this section. The projection may be amended from time to time and is not subject to additional review or approval by the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee. (f) The governing board of a state institution of higher education that enters into an agreement to lease a building from a school district, as authorized in section 22-32-110 (1)(f.5), C.R.S., shall notify the capital development committee of the existence of the agreement and provide to the committee a summary of the terms of the agreement. (10) Repealed. (10.2) (a) (I) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary and except as provided in subsection (10.2)(a)(III) of this section, all academic facilities acquired or constructed, or an auxiliary facility repurposed for use as an academic facility, solely from cash funds held by the state institution of higher education and operated and maintained from such cash funds or from state money appropriated for such purpose, or both, including, but not limited to, those facilities described in subsection (9)(b) of this section, that did not previously qualify for state controlled maintenance funding will qualify for state controlled maintenance funding, subject to funding approval by the capital development committee and the eligibility guidelines described in section 24-30-1303.9. (II) For purposes of this subsection (10.2)(a), the eligibility for state controlled maintenance funding commences on the date of the acceptance of the construction or repurposing of the facility or the closing date of any acquisition. The date of the acceptance of construction or repurposing shall be determined by the office of the state architect. (III) If an academic facility is acquired or constructed, or if an auxiliary facility is repurposed for use as an academic facility, solely from cash funds held by the state institution of higher education and operated and maintained from such cash funds, then as of the date of the acceptance of construction or repurposing that occurs on or after July 1, 2018, the facility is not eligible for controlled maintenance funding. (b) (I) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that the classification of facilities as academic facilities or auxiliary facilities can be difficult, and such classifications often change as academic needs, student needs, and new construction and design practices emerge. Therefore, the office of the state architect, in collaboration with the department of higher education and the office of state planning and budgeting, shall develop guidelines in order to assist such classification. The guidelines shall be annually reviewed and approved by the capital development committee. The guidelines must address the following two factors that have historically been considered when classifying academic facilities and auxiliary facilities: (A) The funding source for the facility; and (B) The nature and use of the facility. (II) The guidelines established pursuant to this paragraph (b) must use the definitions set forth in subsection (10.3) of this section. (10.3) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Academic facility" means any facility, including any supporting utility infrastructure and site improvements, that is central to the role and mission of each state institution of higher education as set forth in this title. Examples include, but are not limited to, classrooms, libraries, and administrative buildings. on. (10.3) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Academic facility" means any facility, including any supporting utility infrastructure and site improvements, that is central to the role and mission of each state institution of higher education as set forth in this title. Examples include, but are not limited to, classrooms, libraries, and administrative buildings. (b) "Auxiliary facility" means any facility, including any supporting utility infrastructure and site improvements, funded from an auxiliary source such as housing or parking revenue or any facility that has been historically managed as an auxiliary facility and is accounted for in financial statements of state institutions of higher education as a self-supporting facility. Examples include, but are not limited to, housing facilities, dining facilities, recreational facilities, and student activities facilities. (c) "Capital construction" has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (2), C.R.S. (d) "Capital renewal" has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (3), C.R.S. (e) "Facility" has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (8), C.R.S. (e.5) "Real property" has the same meaning as set forth in section 24-30-1301 (15), C.R.S. (f) "State institution of higher education" means a state institution of higher education as defined in section 23-18-102 (10), and the Auraria higher education center created in article 70 of this title. (10.5) (a) For any project subject to subsection (9) of this section, if, after commencement of construction, the governing board of the state institution of higher education receives an additional gift, grant, or donation for the project, the governing board may amend the project without the approval of the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee so long as the governing board notifies the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee in writing, explaining how the project has been amended and verifying the receipt of the additional gift, grant, or donation. (b) For any project subject to subsection (9) of this section, the governing board may enhance the project in an amount not to exceed fifteen percent of the original estimate of the cost of the project without the approval of the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee so long as the governing board notifies the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee in writing, explaining how the project has been enhanced and the source of the moneys for the enhancement. of the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, or the joint budget committee so long as the governing board notifies the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee in writing, explaining how the project has been enhanced and the source of the moneys for the enhancement. (c) For any project subject to subsection (9) of this section, the governing board of the state institution of higher education implementing the project is not required to submit for the project quarterly expenditure reports as described in section 24-30-204 (2), C.R.S. The governing board shall submit for the project annual expenditure reports as required in section 24-30-204 (1), C.R.S. (11) (a) Each state institution of higher education shall submit to the commission on or before September 1 of each year a list and description of each project for which an expenditure was made during the immediately preceding fiscal year that: (I) Was not subject to review by the commission pursuant to subsection (9) of this section; (II) Repealed. (III) Was estimated to require total expenditures of two million dollars or less if the capital construction project is for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and was funded solely from cash funds held by the institution or the project was funded through the higher education revenue bond intercept program established pursuant to section 23-5-139, or was estimated to require total expenditures of ten million dollars or less if the project was not for new acquisitions of real property or for new construction and was funded solely from cash funds held by the institution; or (IV) Was amended or enhanced after commencement of construction pursuant to subsection (10.5) of this section. (b) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the commission shall submit a compilation of the projects to the office of the state architect and the capital development committee on or before December 1 of each year. (12) Each state institution of higher education shall submit to the commission a facility management plan or update required by section 24-30-1303.5 (3.5), C.R.S. The commission shall review the facility management plan or update and make recommendations regarding it to the office of the state architect. (13) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2014.) (14) With the commission's approval, beginning July 1, 2017, a state institution of higher education is not subject to facility master plan approval described in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, so long as the governing board of the institution approves each plan, notifies the commission of its approval, and makes the plan available to the commission. Such institution is also exempt from the provisions of subsection (5) of this section for a project the cost of which does not exceed two million dollars. (15) With the commission's approval, beginning July 1, 2017, and notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (7)(b) of this section, a state institution of higher education is not required to submit projects for facilities to the commission for approval pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section so long as the institution annually submits a report to the capital development committee that is substantially similar in content to the report concerning capital construction projects described in subsection (6)(b) of this section.

C.R.S. § 23-1-106.3 Duties and powers of the commission - capital construction projects - federal mineral lease revenues fund - higher education institutions financed purchase of an asset cash fund

23-1-106.3. Duties and powers of the commission - capital construction projects - federal mineral lease revenues fund - higher education institutions financed purchase of an asset cash fund. (1) (a) As soon as possible after May 12, 2008, the commission, after consultation with the appropriate governing boards of state-supported institutions of higher education, shall submit to the office of state planning and budgeting and to the capital development committee of the general assembly, established pursuant to section 2-3-1302, a prioritized list of capital construction projects at the state-supported institutions of higher education to be constructed using financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements funded through the higher education federal mineral lease revenues fund established pursuant to section 23-19.9-102 (1) and referred to in this section as the "revenues fund". As soon as possible after receipt of the list from the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting shall submit to the capital development committee a prioritized list of capital construction projects at state-supported institutions of higher education to be constructed using financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements funded through the revenues fund. (b) (I) As soon as possible after receipt of the prioritized list from the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee shall review the prioritized lists submitted by the commission and the office of state planning and budgeting and shall submit to the joint budget committee of the general assembly a prioritized list of capital construction projects at state-supported institutions of higher education to be constructed using financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements funded through the revenues fund. (II) As soon as possible after receipt of the prioritized list from the capital development committee, the joint budget committee shall review the prioritized list submitted by the capital development committee and shall sponsor a joint resolution specifying a prioritized list of capital construction projects at state-supported institutions of higher education to be constructed using financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements funded through the revenues fund. The resolution shall contain a listing of the maximum amount of principal to be raised through financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements to be paid from the revenues fund, the minimum amount of principal to be contributed by the institution, and the total anticipated cost of the project. (III) If approved by the general assembly, the joint resolution shall be presented to the governor in accordance with section 39 of article V of the state constitution. (IV) The anticipated annual state-funded payments for the principal and interest components of amount payable under all financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements on the projects listed in the joint resolution adopted and approved pursuant to this subsection (1)(b) entered into during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2008, shall not exceed an average of sixteen million two hundred thousand dollars per year for the first ten years of payments and sixteen million eight hundred thousand dollars per year during the second ten years of payments. ion agreements on the projects listed in the joint resolution adopted and approved pursuant to this subsection (1)(b) entered into during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2008, shall not exceed an average of sixteen million two hundred thousand dollars per year for the first ten years of payments and sixteen million eight hundred thousand dollars per year during the second ten years of payments. (V) To the extent that any projects on the prioritized list contained in the joint resolution introduced and approved pursuant to this subsection (1) are not the subject of financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements entered into pursuant to subsection (3) of this section and to the extent that the state treasurer determines that there is sufficient money in the revenues fund to enter into an additional financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement or agreements during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2009, the remaining projects on the prioritized list in the joint resolution shall be the prioritized list for financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements entered into during the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2009. (2) (a) On or before August 15, 2009, and on or before August 15 of each year thereafter through August 15, 2015, the state treasurer shall notify the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee of the amount of money in the revenues fund and whether the treasurer determines that there is sufficient money in the revenues fund to enter into additional financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements to be funded from the revenues fund. On and after April 14, 2016, the state shall not enter into any additional financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements to be funded from the revenues fund. (b) After the notification required by subsection (2)(a) of this section is received, and the treasurer has determined that there is sufficient money in the revenues fund to enter into additional financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements, the commission, the office of state planning and budgeting, the capital development committee, and the joint budget committee, pursuant to the procedures established in subsection (1) of this section, may promptly consider a new prioritized list of capital construction projects at state-supported institutions of higher education to be constructed using financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements funded through the revenues fund. A joint resolution introduced pursuant to this subsection (2)(b) shall also include a statement of the maximum average anticipated state-funded payments under all financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements to be authorized through the joint resolution. cted using financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements funded through the revenues fund. A joint resolution introduced pursuant to this subsection (2)(b) shall also include a statement of the maximum average anticipated state-funded payments under all financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements to be authorized through the joint resolution. (3) (a) (I) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 24-82-102 (1)(b) and 24-82-801, the state of Colorado, acting by and through the state treasurer, is authorized to execute financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements each for no more than twenty years of annual payments on the projects listed in the joint resolution adopted and approved pursuant to subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b) of this section. The financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements authorized pursuant to this subsection (3)(a) may be for the total amount of the project cost as reflected in the joint resolution. A state-supported institution of higher education may either contribute the full amount of its share of the cost of the project at the commencement of the project or may have its share of the cost of the project included in the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement. Based upon the total amount of money that one or more financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements is able to raise, the treasurer shall enter into financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements in the order of the prioritized list contained in the joint resolution; except that, if, after funding all previous projects on the list, the amount of money is insufficient to fund the entire project that is next on the list, the treasurer may enter into a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement on the next project or projects on the list that may be completely funded. (II) The state treasurer shall ensure that each state-supported institution of higher education submits a certificate of completion no later than August 1, 2012, for each project funded in whole or in part by the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement entered into by the state treasurer in 2008 pursuant to this section. After such certificates of completion are received by the state treasurer, the state treasurer and the state controller shall calculate the amount of unspent proceeds raised through the 2008 financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement. The state treasurer and the state controller shall also calculate the amount of the unspent institutional shares of the total project costs. The state treasurer and state controller shall provide these amounts to the capital development committee in writing no later than August 15, 2012. No later than thirty days after receiving such amounts, the capital development committee shall hold a public meeting during the interim between the second regular session of the sixty-eighth general assembly and the first regular session of the sixty-ninth general assembly to decide, by majority vote, what the unspent proceeds raised through the 2008 financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement and the unspent institutional shares of the total project costs should be used to fund. The capital development committee's decision shall be limited to funding capital construction projects at state-supported institutions of higher education or, so long as such projects are identified as eligible by bond counsel, controlled maintenance projects at state-supported institutions of higher education and the unspent institutional shares of the total project costs should be used to fund. The capital development committee's decision shall be limited to funding capital construction projects at state-supported institutions of higher education or, so long as such projects are identified as eligible by bond counsel, controlled maintenance projects at state-supported institutions of higher education. The capital development committee shall communicate the decision to the state treasurer in writing, and the state treasurer shall ensure that the approved project or projects are funded from the unspent proceeds raised through the 2008 financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement and the unspent institutional shares of the total project costs as soon as possible. (b) (I) The state of Colorado, acting by and through the state treasurer, at the state treasurer's sole discretion, may enter into one or more financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements authorized by subsection (3)(a) of this section with any for-profit or nonprofit corporation, trust, or commercial bank as a trustee, as lessor, including but not limited to the Colorado educational and cultural facilities authority created pursuant to section 23-15-104. (II) (A) Any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement authorized pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section shall provide that all of the obligations of the state under the agreement shall be subject to the action of the general assembly in annually making money available for all payments thereunder. Payments under any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement shall be made from the revenues fund and any money in the higher education institutions financed purchase of an asset cash fund established in subsection (4) of this section. (B) Each agreement must also provide that the obligations of the state shall not be deemed or construed as creating an indebtedness of the state within the meaning of any provision of the state constitution or the laws of the state of Colorado concerning or limiting the creation of indebtedness by the state of Colorado and shall not constitute a multiple fiscal-year direct or indirect debt or other financial obligation of the state within the meaning of section 20 (4) of article X of the state constitution. In the event the state of Colorado does not renew a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement authorized pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section, the sole security available to the seller shall be the property that is the subject of the nonrenewed financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement. (III) Any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement authorized pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section may contain such terms, provisions, and conditions as the state treasurer, acting on behalf of the state of Colorado, may deem appropriate, including all optional terms; except that each financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement shall specifically authorize the state of Colorado or the governing board of the applicable state-supported institution of higher education to receive fee title to all real and personal property that is the subject of the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement on or prior to the expiration of the terms of the agreement. Any title to such property received by the state on or prior to the expiration of the terms of the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement shall be held for the benefit and use of such governing board. operty that is the subject of the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement on or prior to the expiration of the terms of the agreement. Any title to such property received by the state on or prior to the expiration of the terms of the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement shall be held for the benefit and use of such governing board. (IV) Any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement authorized pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section may provide for the issuance, distribution, and sale of instruments evidencing rights to receive rentals and other payments made and to be made under the financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement. The instruments may be issued, distributed, or sold only by the seller or any person designated by the seller and not by the state. The instruments shall not create a relationship between the purchasers of the instruments and the state or create any obligation on the part of the state to the purchasers. The instruments shall not be notes, bonds, or any other evidence of indebtedness of the state within the meaning of any provision of the state constitution or the law of the state concerning or limiting the creation of indebtedness of the state and shall not constitute a multiple fiscal-year direct or indirect debt or other financial obligation of the state within the meaning of section 20 (4) of article X of the state constitution. (V) Interest paid under a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement authorized pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section, including interest represented by the instruments, shall be exempt from Colorado income tax. (VI) The state of Colorado, acting through the state treasurer and the governing board of the institutions of higher education, is authorized to enter into ancillary agreements and instruments as are deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement, including but not limited to deeds, ground leases, sub-leases, easements, or other instruments relating to the real property on which the facilities are located or an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (5) of this section. (c) The provisions of section 24-30-202 (5)(b) shall not apply to a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement authorized pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section or any ancillary agreement or instrument entered into pursuant to subsection (3)(b) of this section. The state controller or his or her designee shall waive any provision of the fiscal rules promulgated pursuant to section 24-30-202 (1) and (13) that the state controller deems to be incompatible or inapplicable with respect to said financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements or any such ancillary agreement or instrument. pursuant to subsection (3)(b) of this section. The state controller or his or her designee shall waive any provision of the fiscal rules promulgated pursuant to section 24-30-202 (1) and (13) that the state controller deems to be incompatible or inapplicable with respect to said financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements or any such ancillary agreement or instrument. (4) (a) A local government or the governing board of a state-supported institution of higher education may pay to the state treasurer an amount to assist the state in making payments on any financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section. State-supported institutions of higher education, including but not limited to the Auraria higher education center and its constituent institutions, are authorized to transfer money to the state treasurer pursuant to this subsection (4) for the projects for which the state treasurer executes a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement pursuant to subsection (3) of this section without an appropriation from the general assembly. The state treasurer shall credit any money received pursuant to this subsection (4) to the higher education institutions financed purchase of an asset cash fund, referred to in this subsection (4) as the "fund", which fund is hereby created in the state treasury. Except as provided in subsection (3)(a)(II) of this section, money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the state treasurer to make payments on financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements executed pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section. Any money in the fund not expended for the purpose of this section shall be invested by the state treasurer as provided by law. All interest and income derived from the investment and deposit of money in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Except as provided in subsection (4)(b) of this section, any unexpended and unencumbered money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or another fund. (b) (I) Within thirty days of the state treasurer's receipt of the certificate of completion for the academic building on the Craig campus of Colorado Northwestern community college, the state treasurer shall transfer no more than two million one hundred thousand dollars of such institution's cash assistance payment to the Colorado community college system. (II) Within thirty days of the state treasurer's receipt of the certificate of completion for the science building addition and renovation at the Auraria higher education center, the state treasurer shall transfer no more than one million dollars to the Auraria higher education center. (5) (a) Prior to executing a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, in order to protect against future interest rate increases, the state of Colorado, acting by and through the state treasurer and at the discretion of the state treasurer, may enter into an interest rate exchange agreement pursuant to article 59.3 of title 11. A financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall be a proposed public security for the purposes of article 59.3 of title 11. Any payments made by the state under an agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection (5) shall be made solely from money made available to the state treasurer from the execution of a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement or from money appropriated from the revenues fund or the higher education institutions financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation cash fund created pursuant to subsection (4) of this section. to this subsection (5) shall be made solely from money made available to the state treasurer from the execution of a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement or from money appropriated from the revenues fund or the higher education institutions financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation cash fund created pursuant to subsection (4) of this section. (b) Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection (5) shall also provide that the obligations of the state shall not be deemed or construed as creating an indebtedness of the state within the meaning of any provision of the state constitution or the laws of the state of Colorado concerning or limiting the creation of indebtedness by the state of Colorado and shall not constitute a multiple fiscal-year direct or indirect debt or other financial obligation of the state within the meaning of section 20 (4) of article X of the state constitution. (c) Any money received by the state under an agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection (5) shall be used to make payments on financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements entered into pursuant to subsection (3) of this section or to pay the costs of the project for which a financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreement was executed.

C.R.S. § 23-1-106.5 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to advanced technology - fund created

23-1-106.5. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to advanced technology - fund created. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-106.7 Duties and powers of the department with respect to technology transfers

23-1-106.7. Duties and powers of the department with respect to technology transfers. (1) The department, in consultation with the office of information technology created in the office of the governor, shall: (a) In all its program efforts, endeavor to facilitate the transfer of newly created technologies from the laboratory to the private sector for the start-up of new businesses, to add product lines to established firms, or to introduce technologies into mature industries in order to strengthen the state's existing economic base; and (b) Assess the technology transfer potential of all academic programs targeted for investment and development. (2) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2008, p. 1472, § 6, effective May 28, 2008.)

C.R.S. § 23-1-107 Duties and powers of the commission with respect to program approval, review, reduction, and discontinuance

23-1-107. Duties and powers of the commission with respect to program approval, review, reduction, and discontinuance. (1) A governing board of a state-supported institution of higher education is not required to submit a proposal to or obtain approval from the commission to create, modify, or discontinue academic or vocational programs offered by the institution, so long as the creation, modification, or discontinuance of the academic or vocational program is consistent with the institution's statutory role and mission. (2) (a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2008, p. 1472, § 7, effective May 28, 2008.) (a.5) Repealed. (a.6) The commission shall develop and employ uniform standards for the comparative evaluation of duplicate programs offered at the graduate level by more than one institution. In all cases where there is duplication of graduate programs among multiple institutions, the commission shall make an evaluation of all such programs with a view to eliminating duplication. The evaluation of the programs shall include an analysis of the number of degrees granted in each institution's programs in the last five years, the number of duplicate degree programs within the Colorado public system of higher education, the role and mission statements for each institution, the interconnections of a program with other programs on a campus, the national recognition given to existing programs, the cost of continuing such programs, and other criteria as determined by the commission. In program discontinuance, the commission shall consider balance among institutions. It is the intent of the general assembly that there shall be a presumption in favor of the elimination of duplicate graduate programs where the need for duplication is not clearly justified by special excellence, geographical and other particular needs served, or the unique contribution of duplicate programs. (a.7) Repealed. (b) The governing board of a state-supported institution of higher education directed to discontinue an academic or vocational degree program area pursuant to this subsection (2) shall have not more than four years to discontinue graduate and baccalaureate programs and not more than two years to discontinue associate programs following the commission's directive to phase out said program area. (c) If the commission directs the governing board of an institution to discontinue an academic or vocational degree program area, and the governing board refuses to do so, the commission may require such governing board to remit to the general fund any moneys appropriated for such program area. (3) Each governing board of the state-supported institutions of higher education shall submit to the department a plan describing the procedures and schedule for periodic program reviews and evaluation of each academic program at each institution consistent with the statewide goals specified in section 23-1-108 and further articulated in the master plan adopted pursuant to section 23-1-108 and the role and mission of each institution. The information to be provided to the department shall include, but shall not be limited to, the procedures for using internal and external evaluators, the sequence of such reviews, and the anticipated use of the evaluations. (3.5) The commission may waive the provisions of subsections (2) and (3) of this section. (4) Prior to the discontinuance of a program, the governing boards of state institutions of higher education are directed, subject to commission approval, to develop appropriate early retirement, professional retraining, and other programs to assist faculty members who may be displaced as a result of discontinued programs. (5) The department shall ensure that each institution has an orderly process for the phaseout of programs. (6) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 23-1-108 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to systemwide planning - reporting - definitions

23-1-108. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to systemwide planning - reporting - definitions. (1) The commission, after consultation with the governing boards of institutions and as a part of the master planning process, shall have the authority to: (a) Establish a policy-based and continuing systemwide planning, programming, and coordination process to effect the best use of available resources; (b) Establish such academic and career and technical education planning as may be necessary to accomplish and sustain systemwide goals of high quality, access, diversity, efficiency, and accountability. Such planning must include identification by each governing board of programs of excellence at institutions under their control and plans for enhancement and improvement for those programs. (c) Determine the role and mission of each state-supported institution of higher education within statutory guidelines; (d) Establish enrollment policies, consistent with roles and missions, at state-supported institutions of higher education as described in statute and further defined in paragraph (c) of this subsection (1); (e) Establish state policies that differentiate admission and program standards and that are consistent with institutional roles and missions as described in statute and further defined in paragraph (c) of this subsection (1); (f) Adopt statewide affirmative action policies for the commission, governing boards, and state-supported institutions of higher education. Responsibility for implementation of such policies shall be reserved to the governing boards. (g) Repealed. (h) Establish systemwide policies concerning administrative costs. (1.5) (a) On or before September 1, 2012, the commission shall develop and submit to the governor and the general assembly a new master plan for Colorado postsecondary education. The commission shall collaborate with the governing boards and chief executive officers of the state institutions of higher education in developing the master plan. In addition, the commission shall take into account the final report of the higher education strategic planning steering committee appointed by the governor. In drafting the master plan, addressing the issues specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection (1.5), and establishing the goals as described in paragraph (c) of this subsection (1.5) for the state system of higher education, the commission shall also take into consideration the data collected pursuant to subsection (1.7) of this section. (b) At a minimum, the commission shall address the following issues in developing the master plan: (I) The needs of the state with regard to the system of higher education and the top priorities for the state system of higher education in meeting those needs; (II) Alignment of the state system of higher education with the system of elementary and secondary education and increasing the rate at which students who graduate from Colorado high schools enroll in and complete postsecondary and career and technical education; (III) Accessibility and affordability of the state system of higher education, including consideration of methods to reduce the student debt load and increase need-based financial aid funding; (IV) Funding for the state system of higher education and strategies for stabilizing and sustaining an adequate funding level; (V) The role and mission of the state institutions of higher education and the governance structure of the state system of higher education; (VI) The role of two-year and four-year local district colleges and area technical colleges in helping to address the workforce and economic development needs of the state within the system of higher education; and (VII) The importance of private and proprietary institutions with regard to higher education in the state, although consideration of said institutions in the plan in no way implies control or state authority over their operations. district colleges and area technical colleges in helping to address the workforce and economic development needs of the state within the system of higher education; and (VII) The importance of private and proprietary institutions with regard to higher education in the state, although consideration of said institutions in the plan in no way implies control or state authority over their operations. (c) The commission shall design the master plan to achieve, at a minimum, the following goals: (I) Increasing the overall number of baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, and career and technical education certificates issued by the public institutions of higher education in the state, while maintaining accessibility to the institutions, to provide support for economic development and a well-educated workforce for the business community in the state; (II) Implementing systemic approaches, including coordinated and proven transitional programs, that strengthen the continuity of public education from elementary and secondary through postsecondary education for traditional and nontraditional students; (III) Ensuring the long term fiscal stability and affordability of the state system of higher education and ensuring the efficient allocation of available state resources to support institutions of higher education while protecting the unique mission of each institution. The allocation shall take into consideration, but need not be limited to, tuition capacity, tuition rates relative to competitive institutions, the state resources available to institutions, funding for high-cost programs, the student and family incomes of students enrolled at institutions, enrollment levels, geographic access to educational opportunities throughout the state, and other issues deemed relevant by the commission. (IV) Reducing the educational attainment gap between majority and underrepresented populations throughout the state; (V) Reducing the geographic disparities in access to and opportunity to complete a broad array of quality higher education and career and technical education programs; (VI) Addressing opportunities for students with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, to participate in postsecondary education; (VII) Implementing strategies that strengthen the link between higher education and economic development and innovation in the state; and (VIII) Improving and sustaining excellence in career and technical education and undergraduate and graduate degree programs. (d) (I) The commission shall ensure that the master plan prepared pursuant to this subsection (1.5) specifically addresses providing coordinated and proven programs that support and help ensure the success of students who graduate from Colorado high schools and are enrolling as first-time freshmen students and meet one or more of the following criteria: (A) The student's family is low-income and the student is likely to incur significant student debt in attending an institution of higher education; (B) The student's parents did not attend postsecondary education and may not have graduated from high school; (C) The student is a member of an underrepresented population; or (D) The student has limited access to technologies to support learning. (II) Programs that may be addressed in the master plan include but need not be limited to: (A) Providing student support services including counseling or tutoring; (B) Implementing measures to reduce student debt by making effective use of financial assistance and assisting in fee payments and textbook costs; and (C) Providing assistance in obtaining access to technology. to support learning. (II) Programs that may be addressed in the master plan include but need not be limited to: (A) Providing student support services including counseling or tutoring; (B) Implementing measures to reduce student debt by making effective use of financial assistance and assisting in fee payments and textbook costs; and (C) Providing assistance in obtaining access to technology. (e) Prior to submitting the master plan to the governor and the general assembly, the commission shall distribute a draft of the plan to the governing boards for comment. Each governing board shall submit to the commission its comments and any suggested revisions within thirty days after receiving the draft plan. The commission shall discuss and consider any revisions suggested by the governing boards to the draft master plan. (f) (I) (A) The commission, in collaboration with the public institutions of higher education, shall ensure that the master plan is implemented through the public institutions of higher education, including through funding allocated pursuant to part 3 of article 18 of this title 23 and section 23-41-104.6. The department shall submit a budget request pursuant to section 23-18-306 that supports master plan goals. (B) The department and public institutions of higher education shall annually affirm the institutions' contribution toward meeting the goals of the commission's master plan created pursuant to this section. An institution's contributions toward meeting the goals of the master plan must be outlined in accordance with the institution's role and mission and shall include, at a minimum, increasing credential completion, increasing annual completions by minority and low-income students, and improving persistence and retention rates. The department shall measure an institution's contributions using data collected for state and federal reporting purposes and for populating the higher education funding model. (II) Beginning December 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the joint budget committee and to the education committees of the house of representatives and of the senate, or their successor committees, concerning the master plan goals and each institution's progress toward meeting those goals. The department shall post the information contained in the report on the department's website. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I) to the contrary, the department's report continues indefinitely. (1.7) The commission, working with the department, the governing boards, and the institutions of higher education, shall collect data, including but not limited to research conducted by national policy organizations and agencies or institutions of higher education in other states, as necessary to support development and implementation of the master plan pursuant to subsection (1.5) of this section. (1.9) Repealed. (2) The commission shall develop criteria for determining if an institution should be consolidated or closed and, after consultation with the appropriate governing board, shall make recommendations to the general assembly for closure or consolidation of campuses which meet such criteria. (3) The commission, after consultation with the governing boards of institutions, may support the development of cooperative programs among state-supported institutions of higher education. (4) The commission shall convene periodically the chief executive officers of the campuses for the purpose of evaluating and discussing statewide policy issues. (5) The commission shall establish programs to develop and improve governing boards concerning statewide educational policy issues. (6) The commission shall report annually to the governor and the general assembly on institutional and board performance and responsiveness to statewide objectives set by the commission in its master plan. urpose of evaluating and discussing statewide policy issues. (5) The commission shall establish programs to develop and improve governing boards concerning statewide educational policy issues. (6) The commission shall report annually to the governor and the general assembly on institutional and board performance and responsiveness to statewide objectives set by the commission in its master plan. (7) (a) The commission shall establish, after consultation with the governing boards of institutions, and enforce statewide degree transfer agreements between two-year and four-year state institutions of higher education and among four-year state institutions of higher education. Governing boards and state institutions of higher education shall implement the statewide degree transfer agreements and the commission policies relating to the statewide degree transfer agreements. The statewide degree transfer agreements shall include provisions under which state institutions of higher education shall accept all credit hours of acceptable course work for automatic transfer from an associate of arts, associate of applied science, or associate of science degree program in another state institution of higher education in Colorado. The commission shall have final authority in resolving transfer disputes. (b) (I) A student who completes an associate of arts, associate of applied science, or associate of science degree that is the subject of a statewide degree transfer agreement and who transfers from the state institution of higher education that awarded the degree to a four-year state institution of higher education shall, if admitted, be enrolled with junior status. Successful completion of an associate of arts, associate of applied science, or associate of science degree does not guarantee the degree holder admission to a four-year state institution of higher education. (II) (A) A state institution of higher education that admits as a junior a student who holds an associate of arts degree, associate of applied science degree, or associate of science degree that is the subject of a statewide degree transfer agreement shall not require the student to complete any additional courses to fulfill general education requirements. A student who transfers under a statewide degree transfer agreement may be required to complete lower-division courses that are part of the major, but are not part of the statewide degree transfer agreement, if taking the courses does not require the transfer student to take more total credit hours to receive the degree than a native student and does not extend the total time required to receive the degree beyond that required for a native student. A state institution of higher education that requires a student who transfers under a statewide degree transfer agreement to take any courses beyond the courses authorized pursuant to this subsection (7)(b)(II) is responsible for the total cost of tuition, without participation by the student in the college opportunity fund program pursuant to part 2 of article 18 of this title 23, for any credit hours that exceed the total credit hours required for a native student or that extend the total time to receive the degree beyond that required for a native student. All credit hours of acceptable course work completed by a student who holds an associate of applied science degree that is the subject of a statewide degree transfer agreement and who transfers from the state institution of higher education that awarded the associate degree to a state four-year institution of higher education shall be applicable only to a bachelor of applied science degree program, except for courses that are subject to transfer pursuant to other transfer agreements. (B) Nothing in subsection (7)(b)(II)(A) of this section alters, amends, creates, or imposes new requirements for statewide degree transfer agreements in effect prior to August 8, 2018. to a state four-year institution of higher education shall be applicable only to a bachelor of applied science degree program, except for courses that are subject to transfer pursuant to other transfer agreements. (B) Nothing in subsection (7)(b)(II)(A) of this section alters, amends, creates, or imposes new requirements for statewide degree transfer agreements in effect prior to August 8, 2018. (c) (I) Beginning July 1, 2010, the commission, in collaboration with the governing boards and the council convened pursuant to section 23-1-108.5 (3)(a), shall negotiate statewide degree transfer agreements and shall ensure that there are at least four statewide degree transfer agreements in place no later than July 1, 2012, and that, by no later than July 1, 2016, there are a total of at least fourteen statewide degree transfer agreements. (II) The governing boards shall recommend to the commission the degree programs that would be most appropriate for statewide degree transfer agreements based on student demand and the workforce needs of the state. (d) The existence of statewide degree transfer agreements does not preclude or restrict a state institution of higher education from awarding nontransfer associate of arts or associate of science degrees, applied associate degrees, or general liberal arts associate of arts or associate of science degrees. (e) Nothing in this subsection (7) shall be construed to: (I) Prevent or otherwise interfere with the ability of a state institution of higher education to fulfill its statutory role and mission; (II) Prohibit one or more state institutions of higher education from entering into memoranda of understanding for the transfer of degrees among the agreeing institutions; (III) Impair any memoranda of understanding between or among institutions of higher education in effect prior to August 11, 2010; or (IV) Require the transfer of course credits earned during or applicable to a student's junior or senior year. (f) On or before October 1, 1993, the commission shall establish and enforce student transfer agreements between degree programs offered on the same campus or within the same institutional system. Governing boards and state institutions of higher education shall implement the agreements and commission policies relating to the agreements. In accordance with the provisions of section 23-5-122, the agreements shall provide that: (I) If, not more than ten years prior to transferring into an undergraduate degree program, a student earns credit hours that are required for graduation from the undergraduate degree program, the credit hours shall apply to the completion of the student's graduation requirements from the undergraduate degree program following the transfer; (II) A student who transfers into an undergraduate degree program shall not be required to complete a greater number of credit hours in those courses that are required for graduation from the undergraduate degree program than are required of students who began in the undergraduate degree program, nor shall there be any minimum number of credit hours required post-transfer other than the normal degree requirements for nontransferring students; and (III) The grade point average that is required for a student to apply for and be fully considered for transfer into an undergraduate degree program shall be no higher than that which is required for graduation from the undergraduate degree program. r shall there be any minimum number of credit hours required post-transfer other than the normal degree requirements for nontransferring students; and (III) The grade point average that is required for a student to apply for and be fully considered for transfer into an undergraduate degree program shall be no higher than that which is required for graduation from the undergraduate degree program. (g) As used in this subsection (7), unless the context otherwise requires: (I) "Native student" means a student who begins and completes an undergraduate degree program at a single state institution of higher education. (II) "State institution of higher education" means a public postsecondary institution that is governed by: (A) The board of governors of the Colorado state university system; (B) The board of regents of the university of Colorado; (C) The board of trustees of the Colorado school of mines; (D) The board of trustees of the university of northern Colorado; (E) The board of trustees of Adams state university; (F) The board of trustees of Western Colorado university; (G) The board of trustees of Colorado Mesa university; (H) The board of trustees for Fort Lewis college; (I) The board of trustees for Metropolitan state university of Denver; (J) The state board for community colleges and occupational education; or (K) The board of trustees of a local college district organized pursuant to article 71 of this title. (III) "Statewide degree transfer agreement" means an agreement among all of the state institutions of higher education for the transfer of an associate of arts or an associate of science degree. A statewide degree transfer agreement applies to common degree programs and specifies the common terms, conditions, and expectations for students enrolled in statewide degree transfer programs. (8) The commission shall prescribe uniform academic reporting policies and procedures to which the governing boards and their institutions shall adhere. (9) The state-supported institutions of higher education shall provide the commission with such data as the commission deems necessary upon its formal request, including but not limited to any data requested pursuant to subsection (1.7) of this section. Data for individual students or personnel shall not be divulged or made known in any way by the director of the commission or by any commission employee, except in accordance with judicial order or as otherwise provided by law. Any person who violates this subsection (9) commits a class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501. Such person shall, in addition thereto, be subject to removal or dismissal from public service on grounds of malfeasance in office. (10) (a) The commission may enter into, on behalf of the state of Colorado, agreements with another state or with the western interstate commission for higher education on behalf of another state for the granting of full or partial waivers of the tuition to residents of such other states who are postgraduate or professional students at or are eligible for admission as postgraduate students to any of the institutions of higher education in Colorado. Subject to available appropriations, the commission may also enter into, on behalf of the state of Colorado, agreements with another state or with the western interstate commission for higher education for reciprocal full or partial tuition waivers or may grant tuition subsidies to Colorado residents who are postgraduate or professional students at or are eligible for admission as postgraduate students at institutions in other states that offer professional training in a subject that is determined to be a state need and for which appropriate training is not available within the state r education for reciprocal full or partial tuition waivers or may grant tuition subsidies to Colorado residents who are postgraduate or professional students at or are eligible for admission as postgraduate students at institutions in other states that offer professional training in a subject that is determined to be a state need and for which appropriate training is not available within the state. If an agreement provides for a tuition subsidy to a Colorado resident to attend an out-of-state institution, the agreement must include a requirement that the student fulfill a post-educational service requirement or repay the subsidy. The commission, in consultation with the affected Colorado institutions, shall establish regulations governing the administration of agreements and the granting of waivers. In 1996 and in each subsequent even-numbered year, the commission shall report to the governor and the general assembly on these programs, including reporting on any changes implemented and the impact of those changes. (b) If the commission enters into a professional student exchange program through the western interstate commission on higher education created pursuant to section 24-60-601, the commission shall establish policies to maximize the benefit of the exchange program to Colorado residents. The policies may include, but need not be limited to: (I) Policies in which, if the commission continues to participate in a program for Colorado residents seeking postsecondary optometry degrees at institutions in other states, the commission shall ensure that any student who enters the postsecondary optometry program beginning in the 2024-25 academic year and thereafter, as a part of the student's post-educational service commitment, shall agree to provide services to Coloradans enrolled in programs established pursuant to the "Colorado Medical Assistance Act", articles 4, 5, and 6 of title 25.5; and (II) Policies that promote the provision of services in underserved areas. Such policies may include reducing the service requirement for an individual to meet the individual's post-educational service requirement by serving in areas that have insufficient access to optometry services. The commission shall collaborate with the department of public health and environment to identify areas that are underserved in optometry or other medically related fields. (11) Repealed. (12) (a) The commission shall establish fee policies based on institutional role and mission, and the governing boards shall set fees consistent with such policies. (b) For fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2016, the commission shall establish tuition policies based on institutional role and mission, and the governing boards shall set tuition consistent with said policies. (13) (a) It is the intent of the general assembly that academic degree programs at state-supported institutions of higher education be designed and implemented to assure and emphasize that undergraduate students have the maximum range of opportunities and assistance to complete their course of study and obtain their degree in a reasonable amount of time. The general assembly therefore directs the commission, within existing resources, to implement and revise appropriate policies, including financial incentives, to assure that students at state-supported institutions of higher education complete their academic degree programs in the most efficient, effective, and productive manner. The policy implementation and review shall include: (I) Academic advising and counseling at such institutions and consideration of methods for the improvement of early and continuous availability of such academic advising and counseling in order to assist students with the completion of degree programs; mplete their academic degree programs in the most efficient, effective, and productive manner. The policy implementation and review shall include: (I) Academic advising and counseling at such institutions and consideration of methods for the improvement of early and continuous availability of such academic advising and counseling in order to assist students with the completion of degree programs; (II) The frequency and availability of courses essential to completion of degree programs at such institutions and evaluation of what changes may be necessary to assure that the course scheduling for degree programs by such institutions maximizes the opportunities for students to complete their course of study efficiently, effectively, and productively; (III) Measures for minimizing and eliminating the restrictions against automatic transfer of credit hours of acceptable course work between such institutions and whether the provisions of transfer agreements between two-year and four-year institutions and among four-year institutions entered into pursuant to subsection (7) of this section are directed at easing such transfer restrictions; (IV) Methods for minimizing the loss of credit hours when a student changes degree programs at such institution and assurance that such credit hours are transferred or substituted for appropriate course work in the other degree program; (V) The review of possible solutions for access of nontraditional and part-time students to complete programs within the student's time frame goals; (VI) What effect, if any, the reduction of degree programs would have on the increased availability of classes within existing degree programs; (VII) What effect increases in educational costs may have on the average length of time for a student to complete a degree program; and (VIII) The implementation of core curricula as a measure for assisting students to graduate. (b) Repealed. (14) Pursuant to section 23-18-201 (2), the commission shall negotiate performance contracts with private institutions of higher education that participate in the college opportunity fund program.

C.R.S. § 23-1-108.5 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to common course numbering system - council of higher education representatives - rules - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal

23-1-108.5. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to common course numbering system - council of higher education representatives - rules - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal. (1) The general assembly finds that, for many students, the ability to transfer among all higher education institutions is critical to their success in achieving a degree. The general assembly further finds that it is necessary for the state to have sound transfer policies that provide the broadest and simplest mechanisms feasible while protecting the academic quality of the institutions of higher education and their undergraduate degree programs. The general assembly finds, therefore, that it is in the best interests of the state for the commission to oversee the adoption of the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix, which includes all higher education institutions and will ensure that the quality of the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix courses are comparable and transferable systemwide. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Council" means the council convened pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section. (b) Repealed. (c) "General education course" means a lower-division course offered by an institution that any degree-seeking student enrolled at the institution must successfully complete in order to obtain an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree from the institution. (d) Repealed. (e) "Guaranteed transfer pathway matrix"means a group of general education courses or lower-division courses required for a specific program at the institution that every student enrolled in the specific program at the institution must successfully complete in order to transfer to or from an institution and that has equivalent learning outcomes as the same level of courses offered by another institution. (f) "Higher education institution" or "institution" means a public institution of higher education as defined in section 23-4.5-102. (g) "Lower-division course"means a course numbered from one hundred to two hundred ninety-nine or one thousand to two thousand nine hundred ninety-nine. (3) (a) On or before July 1, 2001, the commission shall convene a council consisting of representatives from each of the higher education governing boards and each of the four-year higher education institutions, a representative sample of the two-year higher education institutions, and a representative of the commission. The commission shall consult with the governing boards when convening representatives from the higher education institutions. By July 1, 2011, the council shall create a process through which it shall seek input from and consult with various higher education student organizations for each articulation agreement and for the review of courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix as required in subsection (3)(c) of this section. (b) The council shall recommend to the commission a guaranteed transfer pathway matrix to which the general education courses for each institution may be mapped. all seek input from and consult with various higher education student organizations for each articulation agreement and for the review of courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix as required in subsection (3)(c) of this section. (b) The council shall recommend to the commission a guaranteed transfer pathway matrix to which the general education courses for each institution may be mapped. (c) (I) On or before October 1, 2002, the council shall recommend to the commission a list of courses to be included in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix. In identifying the courses, the council shall review the course descriptions and may request summaries of course syllabi for review, focusing on lower-division general education courses. The commission shall review the council's recommendations and adopt a guaranteed transfer pathway matrix for general education courses, including criteria for the courses, on or before January 1, 2003. (II) The council shall annually review the list of courses and the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix, including the criteria, adopted by the commission and recommend changes necessary to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix. The council's annual review must include consideration of the course descriptions, and the council may request summaries of course syllabi for further review. (d) Repealed. (d.5) On or before December 31, 2024, the department shall add additional representatives as necessary to the council to ensure equal representation of institutions on the council. (d.7) On or before October 1, 2025, and every October 1 thereafter, the council shall review the list of courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix and make recommendations to the commission as necessary to make changes and maintain accuracy. As part of the review, the council shall identify: (I) The highest enrollment and transfer activity for courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix; (II) Courses that students are less likely to receive full credit for that apply toward the student's chosen academic program upon transfer; and (III) How the number of credit hours differs among institutions and where misalignment occurs between courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix. (e) This subsection (3) is repealed, effective September 1, 2031. Before the repeal, the council of higher education representatives is scheduled for review in accordance with section 2-3-1203. (4) (a) Each higher education institution shall submit its list of identified courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix, including course descriptions and, upon request of the commission, summaries of course syllabi, for review and approval by the commission on or before March 1, 2003, and on March 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter. led for review in accordance with section 2-3-1203. (4) (a) Each higher education institution shall submit its list of identified courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix, including course descriptions and, upon request of the commission, summaries of course syllabi, for review and approval by the commission on or before March 1, 2003, and on March 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter. (b) Beginning with the fall semester of 2003, each higher education institution shall publish, and update as necessary, a list of course offerings that identifies courses offered by the institution that correspond with the courses included in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix. (5) (a) All credits earned by a student in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix are automatically transferable and applicable to the student's declared major or program requirements. If the credits earned by a student cannot be applied to the student's declared major or program requirements, the credits must be used to fulfill any remaining general elective course requirements needed for the student's major or program. If a student changes the student's major or declared program of study, the application of transfer credits to the student's new major or program requirements must be re-evaluated. This requirement applies to all higher education institutions upon transfer and acceptance of the student. All higher education institutions shall participate in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix. The commission shall adopt policies and guidelines as necessary for the implementation of this section. Each institution's governing board shall modify its existing policies as necessary to accept the transfer of these credits. (b) All courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix system must qualify as the same course at the receiving institution, irrespective of the total credits assigned to the course. (c) A receiving institution shall not require a transfer student to take the same or similar courses who has completed the required course in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix, regardless of whether the student earned an associate's degree prior to transfer. (6) (a) The council shall devise and recommend to the commission procedures for exchanging information to document students' success in transferring among higher education institutions. The commission shall adopt and implement such procedures. (b) The commission, in consultation with the governing boards and the higher education institutions, shall design and implement a statewide database to implement the provisions of this section. (6.5) (a) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), beginning January 2026, and every January thereafter, the department shall include as part of its "SMART Act" hearing, required by section 2-7-203, a compiled report of information received from each higher education institution regarding courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix that includes: (I) The number of undergraduate students transferring to the institution and each institution that a student is transferring from; (II) The average time needed to complete a bachelor's degree for a transfer student compared to a non-transfer student; (III) The total number of credits accepted and applied related to guaranteed transfer pathway courses, general education courses, and other course equivalents; and (IV) The number of credits that were accepted and not accepted, and the number of credits that were applied and were not applied to each student's degree program course requirements, at the time the student initially transferred to and enrolled in the institution, disaggregated by degree program. to guaranteed transfer pathway courses, general education courses, and other course equivalents; and (IV) The number of credits that were accepted and not accepted, and the number of credits that were applied and were not applied to each student's degree program course requirements, at the time the student initially transferred to and enrolled in the institution, disaggregated by degree program. (b) Using existing statewide data, the department shall also include the following information for each institution regarding the total amount of transfer credits earned and the total amount of credits applied toward degree requirements in the report required in subsection (6.5)(a) of this section: (I) The average number of credits attempted and the number of credits earned to obtain a bachelor's degree for a transfer student compared to a student who did not transfer to another institution before earning the bachelor's degree; and (II) The average number of academic terms needed to complete a bachelor's degree for a transfer student compared to a student who did not transfer to another institution before earning the bachelor's degree. (7) The commission may accept any public or private gifts, grants, or donations given for the purpose of implementing this section. Any such gifts, grants, or donations shall be credited to the course numbering fund, which fund is hereby created in the state treasury. Moneys credited to the fund are hereby continuously appropriated to the commission for use in offsetting the costs incurred by the commission in implementing this section and for allocation to the governing boards to offset the costs incurred by the governing boards in implementing this section. All interest derived from the deposit and investment of moneys in the course numbering fund shall be credited to said fund. Any amount remaining in the course numbering fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in said fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or to any other fund. (8) (a) The department has exclusive authority to bring an enforcement action on behalf of the state against an institution for a violation of this section. (b) Prior to an enforcement action pursuant to subsection (8)(a) of this section, the department shall issue a notice of violation to the institution and explain how the institution may remedy the violation, if possible. If the institution fails to remedy the violation within three months after receipt of the notice of violation, the department may bring an enforcement action against the institution. (c) The department has the authority to overturn a course transfer decision made by an institution regarding a course in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix that is in violation of this section. (d) A student enrolled at an institution may appeal an institution's decision regarding the denial of credit for courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix that the student seeks to transfer through an appeals process established by the department. (e) The department may promulgate rules, pursuant to section 24-4-103, as necessary to implement this subsection (8).

C.R.S. § 23-1-109 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to off-campus instruction - provision of concurrent enrollment programs - legislative declaration - definitions

23-1-109. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to off-campus instruction - provision of concurrent enrollment programs - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) The general assembly declares its intent that the state-supported institutions of higher education may engage in instruction off the geographic boundaries of their campuses. (2) The commission shall define, after consultation with the governing boards of institutions, the geographic and programmatic service areas for each state-supported institution of higher education. No such institution shall provide instruction off-campus in programs or in geographic areas or at sites not approved by the commission, unless otherwise provided by law. (3) The general assembly declares its intent that all instruction at two-year institutions, including the first two years of instruction at Adams state university and Colorado Mesa university, shall be funded throughout the institutions' commission-approved service area on the same basis as on-campus instruction. (4) The department shall administer any centralized, statewide extension and continuing education program of instruction that may be offered by any state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institution. All instruction offered outside the geographic boundaries of the campus, including instruction delivered by television or other technological means, shall be a part of this program unless exempted by policy and action of the commission. (5) The commission shall set policies, after consultation with the governing boards of institutions, which define which courses and programs taught outside the geographic boundaries of the campus may be eligible for general fund support. The commission may include funding for those courses and programs in its systemwide funding recommendations to the general assembly. (6) (a) As used in this subsection (6), unless the context otherwise requires: (I) "Commission-approved two-year institution" means the two-year institution of higher education in whose college service area the local education provider is located. (II) "Two-year institution of higher education" means a state-supported institution of higher education with a two-year role and mission, including the community college role and mission of Adams state university and Colorado Mesa university. (b) The commission shall establish a policy that facilitates local education provider participation in a concurrent enrollment program or course, pursuant to article 35 of title 22, with a two-year institution of higher education that is outside of the geographic boundaries of the commission-approved college service area in which the local education provider is located. The commission's policy shall apply when a local education provider has requested in writing, after the adoption of the commission policy pursuant to this subsection (6)(b), a concurrent enrollment program or course from the commission-approved two-year institution and the commission-approved two-year institution declines in writing to provide the requested concurrent enrollment program or course. A two-year institution of higher education that fails to agree or decline in writing to provide a concurrent enrollment program or course in response to a written request within forty-five days of receiving the request shall be deemed to have declined to provide the program or course. (c) Nothing in this section requires a local education provider to enter into a cooperative agreement for a concurrent enrollment program or course or precludes two-year institutions of higher education from entering into voluntary service area waiver agreements under which a two-year institution of higher education agrees to allow another two-year institution of higher education to provide a concurrent enrollment program or course within its commission-approved college service area. ive agreement for a concurrent enrollment program or course or precludes two-year institutions of higher education from entering into voluntary service area waiver agreements under which a two-year institution of higher education agrees to allow another two-year institution of higher education to provide a concurrent enrollment program or course within its commission-approved college service area. (d) When a two-year institution of higher education provides a concurrent enrollment program or course outside of its commission-approved college service area in accordance with commission policies established pursuant to subsection (6)(b) of this section or pursuant to a voluntary service area waiver agreement with another two-year institution of higher education, the concurrent enrollment program or course shall be funded as though offered as on-campus instruction within the commission-approved college service area of the two-year institution of higher education providing the concurrent enrollment program or course. (e) Nothing in this subsection (6) affects provisions contained in article 35 of title 22 relating to the tuition rate paid for a concurrent enrollment program or course.

C.R.S. § 23-1-109.3 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to student data - memorandum of understanding

23-1-109.3. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to student data - memorandum of understanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 22-2-111 (3)(a), C.R.S., the commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding on or before September 1, 2006, with the state board of education to adopt a policy to share student data. At a minimum, the policy shall ensure that the exchange of information is conducted in conformance with the requirements of the federal "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974", as amended, 20 U.S.C. sec. 1232g, and all federal regulations and applicable guidelines adopted in accordance therewith. The policy shall additionally require the department, upon request, to share student data with qualified researchers. For purposes of this section, qualified researchers shall include, but need not be limited to, institutions of higher education, school districts, and public policy research and advocacy organizations.

C.R.S. § 23-1-109.5 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to fiscal accountability

23-1-109.5. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to fiscal accountability. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-109.7 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to the provision of educational services

23-1-109.7. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to the provision of educational services. (1) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2014.) (2) Beginning July 1, 2005, the commission is responsible for ensuring the provision of postsecondary educational services pursuant to part 3 of article 18 of this title 23. The department of higher education on behalf of the commission shall annually enter into fee-for-service contracts with one or more governing boards of institutions of higher education pursuant to section 23-18-303.5 to provide the higher education services specified in section 23-18-301. (3) The commission shall make annual funding recommendations to the general assembly and the governor regarding the funding necessary for the department of higher education to contract on the commission's behalf for the provision of higher education services in the state, including but not limited to the services specified in sections 23-18-301 and 23-18-303.5. The general assembly shall annually appropriate to the commission an amount of general fund money to carry out the purposes of this section.

C.R.S. § 23-1-109.8 Duties and powers of the commission with regard to employment first policies

23-1-109.8. Duties and powers of the commission with regard to employment first policies. (1) The commission shall facilitate employment first policies and practices by providing department input and assistance to the employment first advisory partnership described in section 8-84-303, C.R.S., in carrying out its duties. (2) The department shall present the reports and recommendations of the employment first advisory partnership to the department's legislative committee of reference pursuant to section 8-84-303 (7), C.R.S.

C.R.S. § 23-1-110 Organization, meetings, and staff

23-1-110. Organization, meetings, and staff. (1) The commission shall adopt its own rules of procedure, shall elect a chairman, a vice-chairman, and such other officers as it deems necessary, and shall keep a record of its proceedings, which shall be open to public inspection. Meetings of the commission shall be open to the public at all times; but, by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any meeting, the commission may go into executive session for consideration of personnel matters in accordance with part 4 of article 6 of title 24, C.R.S. No final policy decision, resolution, rule, regulation, or formal action and no action approving a contract calling for the payment of money shall be adopted or approved at any executive session. (2) (a) The governor shall appoint, with the consent of the senate, an executive director qualified by substantial training and experience in the field of higher education. The executive director shall be the executive officer of the commission and the department, shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, and shall receive compensation commensurate with the duties of the office as determined by the governor. The duties and responsibilities of the executive director shall be discharged in accordance with the policies, procedures, and directives of the commission and the department. The executive director shall employ such professional and clerical personnel as deemed necessary to carry out the duties and functions of the commission and the department. Offices held by the executive director and professional personnel are declared to be educational in nature and not under the state personnel system. (b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2008, p. 1474, § 11, effective May 28, 2008.) (3) The executive director shall conduct all studies and programs of the commission and coordinate such studies and programs with those of other state agencies having duties and functions concerned with higher education, so as to avoid duplication of programs and staff. (4) The executive director shall review and approve or deny any proposed action or recommendation of the private occupational school board acting pursuant to article 64 of this title 23.

C.R.S. § 23-1-110.5 Study of higher education organization - legislative declaration - issues - report - repeal

23-1-110.5. Study of higher education organization - legislative declaration - issues - report - repeal. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-111 Commission study - governance and administration of vocational and occupational education

23-1-111. Commission study - governance and administration of vocational and occupational education. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-112 Tuition - reciprocal agreements

23-1-112. Tuition - reciprocal agreements. Except as provided in section 23-1-108 (10), the commission shall identify those circumstances where the waiving of the nonresident differential in tuition rates, on a reciprocal basis with other states, would enhance educational opportunities for Colorado residents. Relative to such identified circumstances, the commission shall negotiate with the other states involved with the objective of establishing reciprocal agreements for the waiving of the nonresidential differential for Colorado residents attending state institutions of higher education in other states in exchange for Colorado state institutions of higher education waiving the nonresident differential for residents of the other states. Agreements negotiated between Colorado and other states shall provide for an equal number of resident and nonresident students to be exchanged between the states. Upon successful completion of such negotiations, the commission may identify the numbers of Colorado residents by grade level whose educational opportunities would be enhanced and the numbers of nonresident students by grade level for whom the nonresident differential is to be waived by the Colorado state institutions of higher education and may direct that the state institutions of higher education grant such waivers. The commission shall establish regulations for the administration of this section, based on the application of the closest college concept, and for the reporting to the general assembly of the numbers of students to whom the waivers are given.

C.R.S. § 23-1-113 Commission directive - admission standards for baccalaureate and graduate institutions of higher education - policy - report - definitions

23-1-113. Commission directive - admission standards for baccalaureate and graduate institutions of higher education - policy - report - definitions. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section, the commission shall establish and the governing boards shall implement academic admission standards for first-time freshmen and transfer students at all state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institutions of higher education in the state. The commission shall establish and may subsequently review and amend the standards after consultation with the governing boards of institutions. The academic admission standards for students who do not have in-state status, as determined pursuant to section 23-7-103, shall equal or exceed those established for determining admission of in-state students. (b) (I) The standards established for first-time admitted freshman students must use high school academic performance indicators as an eligibility criterion. The academic performance indicators may include, but are not limited to, grade point average, class rank, and content standard performance level assessments. In considering the high school academic performance indicators, the commission and the governing boards may take into account the rigor of a student's high school academic preparation and the academic content of the courses taken. In lieu of the established statewide criteria, each governing board may use additional criteria for up to twenty percent of the freshmen students annually admitted to each institution under the governing board's control. Students who meet the minimum criteria for admission are not guaranteed admission to the institution to which they have applied, but they are eligible for consideration. (II) The governing board of a state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institution of higher education may, but is not required to, require a national assessment test score as an eligibility criterion. (III) The criteria established and the specified performance levels must be consistent with the role and mission established for each state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institution of higher education. (IV) On or before an application deadline, an applicant may submit a national assessment test score to a state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institution of higher education that does not require a national assessment test score as an eligibility criterion and request that the institution consider the national assessment test score. The institution shall consider a national test score submission pursuant to this subsection (1)(b)(IV) as a part of the admission decision for the applicant. (V) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the governing board of a state-supported institution of higher education shall not consider a legacy preference, as defined in section 23-1-101.1, as eligible criteria for admission standards. The governing board may ask questions regarding familial relationships to alumni of the institution in order to collect data. (c) The standards established for transfer students must use college academic performance indicators as the eligibility criteria for admitted transfer students. The academic performance indicators may include but are not limited to grade point average, credit hours completed, and successful completion of developmental education courses, if required and as appropriate considering the role and mission of the receiving institution. In lieu of such criteria, additional criteria may be used for up to twenty percent of the admitted transfer students. The academic admission standards and policies established for transfer students must be consistent with the student transfer agreements established by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-108 (7)(f). Students who meet the minimum criteria for admission are not guaranteed admission to the institution to which they have applied, but they are eligible for consideration. admitted transfer students. The academic admission standards and policies established for transfer students must be consistent with the student transfer agreements established by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-108 (7)(f). Students who meet the minimum criteria for admission are not guaranteed admission to the institution to which they have applied, but they are eligible for consideration. (d) Repealed. (1.5) (a) (I) The commission shall establish and the governing boards shall implement a policy pursuant to section 23-1-113.3 to identify matriculated students who need additional supports to be successful in gateway courses in English and mathematics and standards and procedures whereby state institutions of higher education may offer supplemental academic instruction or developmental education courses as provided in section 23-1-113.3. The commission's policy must prohibit the placement of a student in developmental education courses based on a single instrument or test and must be designed to maximize the likelihood that a student will complete gateway courses in English and mathematics within one year. In addition, the commission's policy must require state institutions to use an evidence-based placement approach to placing students into English as a second language courses, and placement of these students must be designed to maximize the likelihood that a student placed in English as a second language courses will complete gateway courses in English within three years. The commission, in consultation with the governing boards, shall ensure that the policy aligns with the admission policy adopted pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. In identifying the standards for developmental education, the commission may differentiate requirements for mathematics based on the prerequisite skills needed for required courses within a student's declared program of study. (II) As part of the policy established pursuant to this subsection (1.5)(a), all state institutions of higher education are authorized to provide supplemental academic instruction even if the institution is not authorized to provide developmental education courses pursuant to section 23-1-113.3. The institution may receive stipend payments from the state pursuant to section 23-18-202 on behalf of an eligible undergraduate student, as defined in section 23-18-102 (5), who is enrolled in a college-level course that includes supplemental academic instruction or co-requisite support or who is enrolled in a pilot program pursuant to section 23-1-113.3 (1)(a)(III). (b) Each governing board shall adopt policies and procedures that are aligned with the policy established by the commission pursuant to subsection (1.5)(a) of this section and that ensure that, to the extent required by the commission policy, each matriculated student who may need additional supports to be successful in gateway courses in English and mathematics has access to supplemental academic instruction. The institution that enrolls the student shall select which measures to use from among those that meet the standards established in the commission policy. The commission, in consultation with the governing boards, shall collect information regarding the measures used by the institutions for placement to help analyze the data reported pursuant to subsection (9) of this section. (c) All students enrolled in programs that require gateway courses in English and mathematics at state institutions of higher education should complete gateway courses by the time the student completes thirty college-level credit hours. (2) Repealed. (3) (a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2004, p. 201, § 16, effective August 4, 2004.) yze the data reported pursuant to subsection (9) of this section. (c) All students enrolled in programs that require gateway courses in English and mathematics at state institutions of higher education should complete gateway courses by the time the student completes thirty college-level credit hours. (2) Repealed. (3) (a) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2004, p. 201, § 16, effective August 4, 2004.) (b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 96, p. 1236, § 78, effective August 7, 1996.) (4) The commission shall work with the state board of education to align the academic admission standards established pursuant to this section with the guidelines for high school graduation requirements developed pursuant to section 22-2-106 (1)(a.5), C.R.S. Any revised academic admission standards shall be implemented no later than the selection of the freshman class of fall 2012. (5) (a) On or before December 15, 2009, pursuant to section 22-7-1008, C.R.S., the commission shall consult with the state board of education, and the commission and the state board of education shall negotiate a consensus and adopt the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness. (b) On or before July 1, 2015, and on or before July 1 every six years thereafter, the commission and the state board of education may adopt revisions to the postsecondary and workforce readiness description. (6) Repealed. (7) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a student who graduates with a high school diploma that includes a postsecondary and workforce readiness endorsement based on criteria adopted by the state board and approved by the commission and the governing boards of the state institutions of higher education pursuant to section 22-7-1009, C.R.S., shall be guaranteed: (a) To meet minimum academic qualifications for admission to, and to be eligible, subject to additional institutional review of other admission and placement qualifications, for placement into credit-bearing courses at, all open, modified open, or moderately selective public institutions of higher education in Colorado; and (b) To receive priority consideration, in conjunction with additional admissions criteria, and to be eligible, subject to additional institutional review of other admission and placement qualifications, for placement into credit-bearing courses, at all other public institutions of higher education in Colorado. The additional admissions criteria shall be determined by each institution of higher education. (8) (a) On or before December 15, 2013, based on adoption of the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness, the commission shall, if necessary, revise the minimum academic admission standards for first-time freshmen at all state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institutions of higher education in the state to ensure that the minimum academic admission standards are aligned with the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness adopted by the commission and the state board of education. (b) On or before December 15, 2013, the commission shall review the policy established pursuant to subsection (1.5)(a) of this section and the developmental education placement or assessment tests administered pursuant to subsection (1.5) of this section to ensure that the policy and tests are aligned with the postsecondary and workforce readiness description. (c) Consistent with any revisions adopted pursuant to this section to the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness, the commission shall, if necessary, adopt revisions to the minimum academic admission standards, the policy established pursuant to subsection (1.5)(a) of this section, and the developmental education placement or assessment tests to ensure continued alignment with the postsecondary and workforce readiness description. nt to this section to the description of postsecondary and workforce readiness, the commission shall, if necessary, adopt revisions to the minimum academic admission standards, the policy established pursuant to subsection (1.5)(a) of this section, and the developmental education placement or assessment tests to ensure continued alignment with the postsecondary and workforce readiness description. (d) In revising the minimum academic admission standards, the policy established pursuant to subsection (1.5)(a) of this section, and the developmental education placement or assessment tests pursuant to this subsection (8), the commission shall consult with the governing boards of the state institutions of higher education. (9) (a) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I) to the contrary, on or before February 15, 2012, and annually thereafter, the department of higher education shall submit to the state board of education, the department of education, and the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, a report, subject to available data, for the high school graduating classes of the preceding six academic years concerning: (I) The need for additional supports for students to be successful in gateway courses in English and mathematics, the subject for which the students are identified as needing additional supports to be successful in gateway courses, and student success in gateway courses; (II) First-year college grades; and (III) Types of academic certificates and degrees attained at all postsecondary institutions in Colorado and the United States. (b) The department of higher education shall report the information disaggregated by high school and school district of graduation, to the extent practicable, and by ethnicity, gender, financial aid status, and any other characteristic deemed relevant by the commission. The department of higher education and the department of education shall also make the report available on their respective websites. (10) On or before February 15, 2009, and annually thereafter, the department of higher education shall submit to the department of education the unit records used for its reporting purposes under this section to enable the department of education to evaluate the effectiveness of the alignment of the preschool through postsecondary education systems in preparing students who demonstrate postsecondary and workforce readiness and subsequently succeed in postsecondary education and to enable the department of higher education to disseminate the unit records to the appropriate school districts. (10.5) (a) On or before June 30, 2023, and annually thereafter, the department shall publish and submit to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, an annual report for the previous academic year. The data elements in the report are intended to determine whether requiring or not requiring a national assessment test score as an eligibility criterion for the admissions process for state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institutions of higher education provides greater diversity among institutions without causing negative student outcomes that are directly attributable to the change in the admissions process. The report must specify: (I) The institutions that required, and the institutions that did not require, a national assessment test score as an eligibility criterion for the previous academic year's first-time freshman students; (II) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; lity criterion for the previous academic year's first-time freshman students; (II) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (III) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score and enrolled in an institution and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score and enrolled in an institution, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (IV) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who continued enrollment in the institution in a subsequent academic year and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who continued enrollment in the institution in a subsequent academic year, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (V) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who graduated from an institution in four years and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who graduated from an institution in four years, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (VI) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who graduated from an institution in six years and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who graduated from an institution in six years, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; and (VII) The following available data, gathered by the department in collaboration with the institutions: (A) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who were accepted to an institution and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who were accepted to an institution; (B) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who are resident first-generation undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-302 (12), and continued enrollment in the institution in a subsequent academic year and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who are resident first-generation undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-302 (12), and continued enrollment in the institution in a subsequent academic year, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (C) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who are resident first-generation undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-302 (12), and graduated from an institution in four years, and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who are resident first-generation undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-302 (12), and graduated from an institution in four years, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; rom an institution in four years, and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who are resident first-generation undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-302 (12), and graduated from an institution in four years, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (D) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who are resident first-generation undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-302 (12), and graduated from an institution in six years, and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who are resident first-generation undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-302 (12), and graduated from an institution in six years, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (E) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who are eligible for a federal Pell grant and continued enrollment in the institution in a subsequent academic year and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who are eligible for a federal Pell grant and continued enrollment in the institution in a subsequent academic year, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; (F) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who are eligible for a federal Pell grant and graduated from an institution in four years, and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who are eligible for a federal Pell grant and graduated from an institution in four years, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender; and (G) The percentage of first-time freshman students who submitted a national assessment test score who are eligible for a federal Pell grant and graduated from an institution in six years, and the percentage of first-time freshman students who did not submit a national assessment test score who are eligible for a federal Pell grant and graduated from an institution in six years, reported for the state as a whole and for each institution, in total and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender. (b) On or before June 30, 2027, and on or before June 30, 2032, the commission shall publish and submit a report to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, that at a minimum includes a comprehensive analysis of the annual reports submitted pursuant to this subsection (10.5) and an analysis of how the optional use of a national assessment test score as an eligibility criterion impacted access to higher education for students. After the report described in this subsection (10.5)(b) is submitted, the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, shall hold a joint meeting at which the commission shall present and discuss the report. (c) Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report required in subsection (10.5)(a) of this section continues indefinitely, and both reports required to be submitted pursuant to subsection (10.5)(b) of this section must be submitted at the times specified in that subsection (10.5)(b). (11) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Academic skills courses" means courses that teach the basic academic skills necessary to succeed at a postsecondary institution. s section continues indefinitely, and both reports required to be submitted pursuant to subsection (10.5)(b) of this section must be submitted at the times specified in that subsection (10.5)(b). (11) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Academic skills courses" means courses that teach the basic academic skills necessary to succeed at a postsecondary institution. (b) "Developmental education courses" means courses that are prerequisites to the level of work expected at a postsecondary institution and include academic skills courses and preparatory courses. (b.5) "Gateway course" means the first college-level course in English or mathematics that is approved for statewide transfer pursuant to section 23-1-125 (3) and that a student takes to fulfill the English or mathematics requirement for the student's program of study. (c) "National assessment test score" includes, but is not limited to, an ACT test score or SAT test score. (d) "Preparatory courses" means courses designed for students who demonstrate a deficient skill level in the general competencies necessary to succeed in a standard postsecondary curriculum and include but are not limited to reading courses that focus on nontechnical vocabulary, word identification, and reading of everyday material; writing courses that focus primarily on grammar, usage, punctuation, and effective sentences and paragraphs; and mathematics courses primarily covering concepts introduced in elementary and intermediate algebra and geometry. (e) (I) "Supplemental academic instruction" means academic support models that use peer or instructor study sessions or individualized in-class academic support to improve student learning, retention, or success. "Supplemental academic instruction" also includes co-requisite and modified co-requisite supports. "Supplemental academic instruction" does not include prerequisite developmental education courses. (II) As referenced in subsection (11)(e)(I) of this section, co-requisite or modified co-requisite supports are designed for students identified as needing additional supports to be successful in college-level gateway courses. Co-requisite models pair a transfer-level course with a support course, extending the instructional time through additional lecture or lab hours, or require students to participate in academic support services in mathematics, English, or writing.

C.R.S. § 23-1-113.2 Department directive - admission standards for students holding international baccalaureate diplomas - legislative declaration

23-1-113.2. Department directive - admission standards for students holding international baccalaureate diplomas - legislative declaration. (1) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (I) It is in the best interests of the state to encourage the development and adoption of innovative and effective curricula for high school students; (II) The international baccalaureate diploma program is an established and well-respected program designed to provide innovative curricula world-wide; (III) In most other Western educational systems, secondary education includes the equivalent of a thirteenth grade, and the international baccalaureate diploma program conforms to this approach with its rigorous course of study over two years; (IV) A student who has successfully completed the international baccalaureate diploma program is viewed as a highly attractive student by institutions of higher education due to the student's ambition, work habits, and scholarship; (V) Nationwide, institutions of higher education recognize the high level of academic sophistication of international baccalaureate students and many offer considerable college credit as an inducement for those students to attend their institutions; (VI) Many Colorado international baccalaureate students leave the state to attend institutions of higher education that provide attractive offers of credit; and (VII) It is in the best interests of Colorado to retain the state's best and brightest students who can establish permanent residency and subsequently contribute to the intellectual and economic vitality of the state. (b) It is therefore the intent of the general assembly in enacting this section that Colorado institutions of higher education be required to adopt comprehensive and reasonable policies to offer credit to international baccalaureate students. (2) (a) The department shall ensure that each governing board of a state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institution of higher education in the state adopt and implement, for each of the institutions under its control, a policy for the acceptance of first-time freshman students who have successfully completed an international baccalaureate diploma program. (b) Each governing board shall report the policy adopted and implemented pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) to the department and shall make the policy available to the public in an electronic format. (c) Each governing board shall set the number of credits the institution may grant to a student who has successfully completed an international baccalaureate diploma program. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (2), the number of credits granted by an institution shall be, at a minimum, twenty-four semester credits or their equivalent. Each governing board shall identify the specific general education or elective requirements that the student satisfies by having successfully completed the international baccalaureate diploma program and shall outline the conditions necessary to award the credits. (d) Each institution may determine the level of student performance necessary to grant the credits, as measured by a student's exam performance in the specific courses constituting the international baccalaureate diploma program. An institution may only grant less than twenty-four semester credits or their equivalent if the student has received a score of less than four on an exam administered as part of the international baccalaureate diploma program, in which case the number of semester credits or their equivalent granted by the institution shall be reduced accordingly. (3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the Colorado school of mines while the institution is operating under a performance contract negotiated pursuant to section 23-41-104.6.

C.R.S. § 23-1-113.3 Commission directive - developmental education courses - report

23-1-113.3. Commission directive - developmental education courses - report. (1) (a) (I) As part of the policy adopted by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-113 (1.5)(a), the commission shall adopt and the governing boards shall implement standards and procedures whereby state institutions of higher education may offer developmental education courses, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(b), pursuant to this section, as prerequisites to a gateway course in English and mathematics, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(b.5). Beginning in the 2022-23 academic year, no more than ten percent of students enrolling in a state institution of higher education shall be enrolled directly into a developmental education course, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(b), that is prerequisite to a gateway course in English or mathematics if the developmental education course lengthens the student's time to degree beyond the time it would take the student to complete the degree if the student had enrolled directly into a gateway course. (II) On or before August 1, 2021, each state institution of higher education authorized pursuant to subsection (2)(a) of this section to offer developmental education courses, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(b), shall have a plan in place to meet the requirements described in subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section. The commission's standards and procedures must allow an institution of higher education to request an extension from the commission of up to two years to meet the requirements described in subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section, upon demonstrating exceptional circumstances. (III) The commission's standards and procedures adopted pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section must allow state institutions of higher education serving groups of students who are not successful in supplemental academic instruction to pilot different approaches that are more successful for those students and to request a waiver from the commission's standards and procedures in order to duplicate or expand successful approaches. (2) (a) Subject to the provisions of this section, Adams state university, Colorado Mesa university, Western Colorado university in Chaffee and Gunnison counties, any local community college, and any community college governed by the state board for community colleges and occupational education may offer developmental education courses, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(b), and receive stipend payments from the state on behalf of eligible undergraduate students, as defined in section 23-18-102 (5). (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, any state institution of higher education not specified in subsection (2)(a) of this section is prohibited from offering a developmental education course, unless the course is offered by contract through any of the institutions of higher education specified in subsection (2)(a) of this section. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2)(b) of this section, Metropolitan state university of Denver and the university of Colorado at Denver are prohibited from offering developmental education courses. (3) Each state institution of higher education shall track all students who are identified as needing additional supports to be successful in gateway courses in English or mathematics pursuant to section 23-1-113 (1.5) in order to determine whether those students successfully complete requirements for graduation. (4) (a) Repealed. ver are prohibited from offering developmental education courses. (3) Each state institution of higher education shall track all students who are identified as needing additional supports to be successful in gateway courses in English or mathematics pursuant to section 23-1-113 (1.5) in order to determine whether those students successfully complete requirements for graduation. (4) (a) Repealed. (b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2019.) (5) Any state institution of higher education not specified in subsection (2)(a) of this section offering a developmental education course on a cash-funded basis shall report annually to the department the same data that is required to be compiled and tracked pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. (5.5) The institution and the department shall report the information specified in subsection (3) of this section on an individual student basis, using each student's unique student identifier. (6) For purposes of this section, "local community college" includes Aims community college and Colorado mountain college.

C.R.S. § 23-1-113.5 Commission directive - resident admissions - report - definitions

23-1-113.5. Commission directive - resident admissions - report - definitions. (1) It is the intent of the general assembly that all state-supported institutions of higher education operate primarily to serve and educate the people of Colorado. The general assembly therefore directs the commission to develop admission policies to ensure that, beginning with the fall term of 1994 and for the fall term of each year thereafter, not less than fifty-five percent of the incoming freshman class at each state-supported institution of higher education are in-state students as defined in section 23-7-102 (5). Commencing with the fall term of 1995, this requirement shall be met if the percentage of in-state students in the incoming freshman class for the then current fall term and the two previous fall terms averages not less than fifty-five percent. Such fifty-five percent requirement shall also apply to the percentage of incoming freshmen students who are admitted based on criteria other than standardized test scores, high school class rank, and high school grade point average pursuant to section 23-1-113 (1)(b). In addition, the commission shall develop admission policies to ensure, beginning with the fiscal year which begins July 1, 1994, and for each fiscal year thereafter, that not less than two-thirds of the total student enrollment, including undergraduate and graduate students, at each campus of each state-supported institution of higher education, except the Colorado school of mines, are in-state students as defined in section 23-7-102 (5) and that not less than sixty percent of the total student enrollment, including undergraduate and graduate students, at the Colorado school of mines are in-state students as defined in section 23-7-102 (5). This requirement shall be met if, commencing with the fiscal year that begins July 1, 1995, the fraction of in-state students, as defined in section 23-7-102 (5), enrolled at each state-supported institution of higher education, except the Colorado school of mines, averages not less than two-thirds of the total fiscal year student enrollment for the then current fiscal year plus the two previous fiscal years. For the Colorado school of mines, this fraction of in-state students shall be not less than three-fifths. Such policies shall be implemented no later than July 1, 1994. (2) (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section regarding the fraction of students who are in-state students attending the Colorado school of mines shall also apply to Western Colorado university. (b) Repealed. (c) After one hundred percent of all qualified Colorado applicants have been accepted by Adams state university, Colorado Mesa university, and Western Colorado university, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section regarding the fraction of students who are in-state students ceases to apply to said three state institutions of higher education. to Western Colorado university. (b) Repealed. (c) After one hundred percent of all qualified Colorado applicants have been accepted by Adams state university, Colorado Mesa university, and Western Colorado university, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section regarding the fraction of students who are in-state students ceases to apply to said three state institutions of higher education. (d) After one hundred percent of all qualified Colorado applicants have been accepted by Adams state university, Fort Lewis college, Colorado Mesa university, and Western Colorado university, the provisions of subsection (1) of this section regarding the fraction of students who are in-state students ceases to apply to said four state institutions of higher education. (3) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section regarding the fraction of students who are in-state students at institutions of higher education do not apply to any Native American student who attends Fort Lewis college. The calculation of the fraction of students at Fort Lewis college who are in-state students shall exclude any Native American student attending the college. (4) (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section regarding the percentage and fraction of students who are in-state students, as defined in section 23-7-102 (5), do not apply to the university of Colorado system, Colorado state university, the university of northern Colorado, or the Colorado school of mines if the following requirements are met: (I) The percentage of incoming freshmen admitted to the institution who are in-state students calculated on a three-year rolling average and excluding foreign students, is not less than fifty-five percent; (II) The percentage of students enrolled at each campus of the university of Colorado system, at Colorado state university, at the university of northern Colorado, or at the Colorado school of mines who are in-state students is not less than fifty-five percent of the total student enrollment at each campus of the university of Colorado system, at Colorado state university, at the university of northern Colorado, or at the Colorado school of mines, respectively, including undergraduate and graduate students, calculated on a three-year rolling average and excluding foreign students and students enrolled solely in online courses; (III) The institution continues to admit one hundred percent of all Colorado first-time freshman applicants who meet the guaranteed admissions criteria; (IV) The percentage of in-state students admitted to each campus of the university of Colorado system, to the university of northern Colorado, or to Colorado state university based on criteria other than standardized test scores, high school class rank, and high school grade point average pursuant to section 23-1-113 (1)(b) does not fall below the average of the percentage admitted to the campus or to Colorado state university, respectively, for the three preceding academic years; and (V) The total number of foreign students enrolled at each specific campus of the university of Colorado system, at Colorado state university, at the university of northern Colorado, or at the Colorado school of mines does not exceed fifteen percent of the total student enrollment, including undergraduate and graduate students, enrolled at the campus, at Colorado state university, at the university of northern Colorado, or at the Colorado school of mines, respectively. (b) The university of Colorado and Colorado state university shall annually report to the commission information demonstrating that qualified in-state students are not displaced or denied admissions as a result of the provisions of this subsection (4) and that any increase in the enrollment of foreign students at a specific campus of the university of Colorado system or at Colorado state university is a result of increased capacity at the campus or at Colorado state university, respectively. sion information demonstrating that qualified in-state students are not displaced or denied admissions as a result of the provisions of this subsection (4) and that any increase in the enrollment of foreign students at a specific campus of the university of Colorado system or at Colorado state university is a result of increased capacity at the campus or at Colorado state university, respectively. (c) For purposes of this subsection (4), "foreign student" means a student who is counted as foreign and present in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa. (d) (I) (A) Beginning October 15, 2018, and every three years thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the joint budget committee and to the education committees of the house of representatives and of the senate, or their successor committees, demonstrating that the institutions included in this subsection (4) have met resident admission and enrollment requirements set forth in this section for the prior fiscal year; reporting the total number of resident and nonresident students enrolled in each institution of higher education before and after Colorado scholars are counted as two in-state students pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section; reporting how state institutions of higher education that utilize the Colorado scholars program use associated tuition revenue for purposes of merit- and need-based scholarships for resident students; and reporting the number of entering first-year Colorado residents, by county, who qualify as a Colorado scholar. (B) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the reporting requirements in subsection (4)(d)(I)(A) of this section continue indefinitely. (II) The department and the institutions shall ensure that the data required for these calculations is consistently included in the state's student records database, including data on the number of students with in-state classification and out-of-state classification, the number classified as international students for purposes of the calculation, the resident and nonresident students classified as online only students for purposes of the calculation, and the number of students classified as Colorado scholars pursuant to subsection (5) of this section. The report shall include both the nominal numbers of students in each relevant category and the calculation demonstrating the institution's compliance with this section. (III) As part of the report required pursuant to this subsection (4)(d), in collaboration with the institutions, the department shall demonstrate that the institutions are complying with the provisions of section 23-1-113 (1)(a) that require that the academic admission standards for students who do not have in-state status, as determined pursuant to section 23-7-103, are equal to or exceed those established for determining admission of in-state students, and the requirements of subsection (4)(b) of this section, that require that certain institutions annually report information demonstrating that qualified in-state students are not displaced or denied admission as a result of the provisions of this subsection (4). (5) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, beginning in the fall semester of 2013, a state-supported institution of higher education or a campus of the institution may count each Colorado scholar who enrolls at the institution or the campus of the institution as two in-state students for purposes of calculating the percentages and fractions of in-state students required in this section. anding any provision of this section to the contrary, beginning in the fall semester of 2013, a state-supported institution of higher education or a campus of the institution may count each Colorado scholar who enrolls at the institution or the campus of the institution as two in-state students for purposes of calculating the percentages and fractions of in-state students required in this section. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, beginning in the fall semester of 2013, a state-supported institution of higher education or a campus of the institution meets the requirements specified in subparagraph (IV) of paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of this section if the percentage of in-state students admitted to the institution or to each campus of the institution based on criteria that are in lieu of the established statewide criteria as provided in section 23-1-113 (1)(b) plus the percentage of in-state students enrolling as Colorado scholars exceeds the percentage of nonresident students admitted to the institution or to each campus of the institution based on criteria that are in lieu of the established statewide criteria. (c) The provisions of this subsection (5) apply only to a state-supported institution of higher education, or to a campus of the institution, that establishes and funds a Colorado scholar program. (d) Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection (5) to the contrary, the number of Colorado scholars that each institution counts for purposes of subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b) of this section in an academic year must not exceed fifteen percent of the total number of in-state students that the institution counts in the applicable fraction or percentage in that academic year. (d.5) An institution of higher education shall make an effort to recruit in-state students who graduated from a high school that is a rural school or in a rural school district, as defined in section 23-76-102 (4). (d.6) An institution of higher education shall make an effort to retain scholars from each demographic background with disproportionately low retention rates. (e) As used in this subsection (5): (I) "Colorado scholar" means an in-state student who is eligible to participate in an institutional Colorado scholar program and is designated by the state-supported institution of higher education as a Colorado scholar. A student is eligible to participate in a Colorado scholar program only if the student graduates in the top ten percent of the student's high school class or graduates with at least a 3.75 grade point average, having completed a highly rigorous college preparatory curriculum, and meets any additional criteria established by the institution. (II) "Colorado scholar program" means an institutional program or group of programs that awards institutional financial aid or scholarships to undergraduate, degree-seeking, in-state students, with the goal of attracting in-state students to and retaining them in Colorado institutions of higher education. A state-supported institution of higher education shall provide each student who is designated as a Colorado scholar for purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (5) at least two thousand five hundred dollars in annual financial aid or scholarship moneys through the institution's Colorado scholar program.

C.R.S. § 23-1-113.7 Commission directive - nursing programs - employer-based gift and scholarship fund - reporting requirement - legislative declaration

23-1-113.7. Commission directive - nursing programs - employer-based gift and scholarship fund - reporting requirement - legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly recognizes the need to provide a high quality trained workforce necessary for the delivery of quality care to seniors and other individuals. The general assembly further recognizes that limiting the number of students participating in nursing programs in the state-supported institutions of higher education frustrates the goal of delivering quality care to the number of those in need. (2) The commission shall develop admissions policies for nursing programs at state-supported institutions of higher education that, subject to the availability of funds through the more nurses for Colorado fund created pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, allow for a greater number of students to be admitted to nursing education programs on or after July 1, 2002, who would otherwise not be admitted because of the limit on the number of students that the institution accepted in its nursing program prior to July 1, 2002. (3) The commission shall direct the governing boards of state supported institutions of higher education with nursing programs to allow additional students of nursing to be admitted when there are sufficient funds available through the more nurses for Colorado fund created pursuant to subsection (4) of this section to support the increased costs associated with such students. (4) There is hereby created in the office of the state treasurer the more nurses for Colorado fund. Such fund shall consist of gifts, grants, and donations from private entities and shall be continuously appropriated by the general assembly. Such moneys shall be used by the commission solely to support the development of additional capacity to allow a greater number of students to be admitted to the nursing programs in the state-supported institutions of higher education. Such moneys shall constitute gifts for the purposes of calculating fiscal year spending pursuant to section 20 of article X of the Colorado constitution. (5) It is the intent of the general assembly that no general fund dollars be appropriated for the purposes of implementing the requirements of this section. (6) Each state-supported institution of higher education that offers a bachelor of science degree in nursing shall submit an annual report to the department of higher education that includes the following information: (a) The number of bachelor of science in nursing degrees and the number of associate nursing degrees, if any, awarded; (b) The number of nursing program graduates who passed the state nursing licensure examination; and (c) The total tuition for a student to complete the state-supported institution of higher education's bachelor of science degree in nursing program.

C.R.S. § 23-1-114 Commission directive - study of role of state board for community colleges and occupational education and the local councils

23-1-114. Commission directive - study of role of state board for community colleges and occupational education and the local councils. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-115 Commission directive - review and action on existing degree programs

23-1-115. Commission directive - review and action on existing degree programs. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-116 Commission directive - education degree programs

23-1-116. Commission directive - education degree programs. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-117 Commission directive - administrative expense reduction

23-1-117. Commission directive - administrative expense reduction. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-118 Commission directive - programs of excellence

23-1-118. Commission directive - programs of excellence. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-119 Department directive - transition between K-12 education system and postsecondary education system

23-1-119. Department directive - transition between K-12 education system and postsecondary education system. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that, in order for students to succeed at state-supported institutions of higher education, the Colorado public system of elementary and secondary education must have provided students with the skills and abilities necessary to make the transition to the postsecondary system. The general assembly further recognizes that the establishment of goals and standards for providing transition skills and abilities is the prerogative of the elementary and secondary public education system. The general assembly recognizes that, in establishing these goals and standards, the elementary and secondary education system should be in communication with the postsecondary education system regarding the skills and abilities that are needed to succeed in higher education. It is therefore the intent of the general assembly that the department, in consultation with the department of education, adopt necessary policies and procedures to facilitate the transition for students between the two systems. (2) In consultation with the state board of education, appropriate school boards, and governing boards of state-supported institutions of higher education, the department and the governing boards shall adopt necessary policies and procedures to promote the establishment of a mechanism for postsecondary institutions to report back to the secondary public education system concerning: (a) The skills and abilities, and the level of proficiency thereof, that first-year students at such postsecondary institutions need to have in order to succeed; (b) The level of proficiency in such skills and abilities currently exhibited by first-year students; (c) The level of achievement currently exhibited by first-year students; and (d) Any other information that will provide a better transition for students between the two education systems. (3) In consultation with the state board of education, governing boards of state-supported institutions of higher education, and appropriate school district boards, the department shall aid the elementary and secondary public education system and the postsecondary public education system in establishing a network to connect the faculty of postsecondary institutions with the teachers in school districts for the purpose of exchanging information. (4) For purposes of this section, "postsecondary" means related to instruction of students over the age of seventeen years who are not enrolled in a regular program of kindergarten through grade twelve in a public, independent, or parochial school. (5) Repealed. (6) (a) The department shall establish an outreach team to provide training to and establish partnerships between the department and school districts, charter schools authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, charter schools authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of title 22 that operates one or more public schools to assist them in preparing students to transition from the K-12 education system. The team shall also provide outreach and training to individuals in workforce centers, individuals in correctional facilities, and foster youth. t to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of title 22 that operates one or more public schools to assist them in preparing students to transition from the K-12 education system. The team shall also provide outreach and training to individuals in workforce centers, individuals in correctional facilities, and foster youth. (b) The training must include: (I) Career advising as part of a student's individual career and education plans; (II) Financial literacy, including information on the free application for federal student aid and the Colorado application for state financial aid; (III) How to support the completion of federal and state financial aid applications; (IV) The importance of, and return on investment of, all postsecondary options, including available state-supported websites and navigation tools on postsecondary and workforce opportunities; (V) The availability of state funded scholarships and financial assistance for students; and (VI) The department's role and mission. (c) The training must be available to educators in conjunction with the training approved pursuant to section 22-2-127.1.

C.R.S. § 23-1-119.1 Department directive - notice of postsecondary educational opportunities and higher education admission guidelines

23-1-119.1. Department directive - notice of postsecondary educational opportunities and higher education admission guidelines. (1) Annually, beginning in the spring of 2006, upon receipt of the names and mailing addresses of students enrolled in the eighth grade from the board of education of each school district in Colorado and the state charter school institute, the department shall provide notice of postsecondary educational opportunities to the parents or legal guardians of all eighth-grade students enrolled in public schools in the state. Beginning January 1, 2021, the department shall provide such notice and disseminate related information through the free online career, education, and training resource created pursuant to section 24-46.3-106, if available. Otherwise, such notice is subject to available appropriation. At a minimum, the notice shall specify: (a) The Colorado commission on higher education's higher education admission guidelines and an explanation that compliance with the higher education admission guidelines is necessary for acceptance, but is not a guarantee of admission, to a state-supported institute of higher education; (b) A student's potential need for remedial education and any related financial obligations that may fall to the student's parent or legal guardian if the student desires to apply to a state-supported, four-year college or university in Colorado but does not meet the higher education admission guidelines; (c) A student who fails to pass a course listed in the higher education admission guidelines may enroll in a gateway course, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(b.5), with additional supports through supplemental academic instruction, as defined in section 23-1-113 (11)(e), successful completion of which will satisfy the requirements of the higher education admission guidelines; (d) The availability of and instructions for acquiring information regarding financial assistance to attend an institution of higher education, including stipend amounts, tuition, and other financial aid; (e) The annual state stipend amount as determined pursuant to section 23-18-202; (f) The annual cost of in-state tuition for attendance at a public higher education institution in the state; (g) The amount of the student's share of tuition as determined pursuant to section 23-18-207; and (h) Notification that the stipend amount and the amount of tuition may change annually.

C.R.S. § 23-1-119.2 Commission directive - notice of college preparatory courses for high school students

23-1-119.2. Commission directive - notice of college preparatory courses for high school students. (1) The commission shall adopt a policy on or before October 1, 2005, to: (a) Obtain, on or before June 1 of each school year, from the appropriate test administrators the names and mailing addresses of all students enrolled in Colorado public schools who take a standardized, curriculum-based, achievement college entrance exam or a precollegiate exam; (b) Beginning in the spring of 2006, send an annual notice concerning college preparatory courses to the parent or legal guardian of each student who takes a standardized, curriculum-based, achievement, college entrance exam or a precollegiate exam. The commission shall send the notice to the parent or legal guardian prior to the start of a student's twelfth-grade year if the student took the standardized, curriculum-based, achievement, college entrance exam, or prior to the start of a student's eleventh-grade year if the student took the precollegiate exam. Beginning January 1, 2021, the department shall provide such notice and disseminate related information through the free online career, education, and training resource created pursuant to section 24-46.3-106, if available. Otherwise, such notice is subject to available appropriation. At a minimum, the notice must include: (I) A detailed description of what constitutes an inadequate score in mathematics, writing, or reading, based on the higher education admission guidelines established by the commission; (II) Information regarding a student's ability to take basic, precollegiate skills courses while enrolled in a public high school; and (III) Notice that a student's parent or legal guardian may contact the school in which the student is enrolled if he or she desires to develop a plan for the student to address the course work needed to meet the higher education admission guidelines adopted by the commission.

C.R.S. § 23-1-119.3 Department directive - exchange of student records

23-1-119.3. Department directive - exchange of student records. (1) The department of higher education and the department of education shall establish a procedure that allows for the direct, electronic exchange of student unit record data for students enrolled in Colorado public high schools. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 22-2-111 (3)(a), C.R.S., the department of higher education, in collaboration with the department of education, shall identify the student data relevant to high school students' transitions to the postsecondary system to which the department of education has access and that shall be shared with the department of higher education. (3) The department of education shall collect student authorization for the transfer of data where necessary and practicable through existing systems for the collection of student data. (4) The implementation of the data exchange procedure established pursuant to this section and section 22-7-1016.5, C.R.S., must utilize student unit record data collected and maintained by the department of education and must be administered at no charge to local education providers, public institutions of higher education, or students. (5) The data exchange procedure established pursuant to this section and section 22-7-1016.5 must ensure that the exchange of information is conducted in compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations concerning the privacy of information, including but not limited to the federal "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974", 20 U.S.C. sec. 1232g, as amended, and all federal regulations and applicable guidelines adopted in accordance therewith. (6) In compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations concerning the privacy of information, including but not limited to the federal "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974", 20 U.S.C. sec. 1232g, as amended, and all federal regulations and applicable guidelines adopted in accordance therewith, the department of higher education shall share student unit record data with Colorado public institutions of higher education for recruitment, enrollment, and placement purposes. (7) The department of higher education may use Colorado public high school students' student unit record data to provide students with relevant information concerning the transition from high school to colleges and universities. (8) To the extent practicable and subject to available data and resources, the department of higher education may use the data obtained pursuant to this section for purposes of fulfilling the requirements of section 23-1-119.1 and 23-1-119.2, as well as in the admission of eligible students to public institutions of higher education.

C.R.S. § 23-1-119.5 Online career platform - appropriations from state work force development council

23-1-119.5. Online career platform - appropriations from state work force development council. Beginning on September 14, 2020, the department of higher education may receive and expend any money transferred to the department by the state work force development council created in section 24-46.3-101, for the purposes of implementing and maintaining the online platform created pursuant to section 24-46.3-106, disseminating information regarding the online platform, and providing training about the online platform.

C.R.S. § 23-1-120 Commission directive - incentives for improvement initiative grants

23-1-120. Commission directive - incentives for improvement initiative grants. (1) The general assembly finds that state encouragement would contribute to improving the quality and efficiency of the postsecondary education system in Colorado. Therefore, the general assembly finds and declares that an incentives for improvement initiative grant program should be implemented to encourage initiatives at state institutions of higher education demonstrating innovative solutions and successful approaches to increasing efficiency, productivity, quality, and diversity in the Colorado postsecondary education system through a system of competitive matching grants to such institutions. (2) The governing boards of state institutions of higher education, including local district community colleges, or a consortia of such institutions may apply for grants from the commission by submitting proposals for initiatives at their institutions to be designated as incentives for improvement. As used in this section, "incentives for improvement initiative" means any academic initiative of a state institution of higher education that, consistent with the statewide master plan for Colorado postsecondary education, is developed to achieve greater efficiency, productivity, quality, and diversity. (3) The commission, after consultation with the governing boards and the education committees of both houses of the general assembly, shall identify areas of statewide interest in the postsecondary education system and develop criteria to be employed in evaluating proposals for incentives for improvement at state institutions of higher education. Such criteria shall be developed on or before August 1, 1992. The criteria developed by the commission to evaluate such proposals, designate recipients, and award grants shall take into account the following: (a) The commitment by the governing board to provide matching funds pursuant to subsection (5) of this section for a period not to exceed five years; (b) The level of institutional commitment to the initiative measured partially in terms of the reallocation of existing resources to the support of the initiative; (c) Whether the initiative includes measures for performance evaluation that will assist and enhance existing methods of assessment and that demonstrate how the initiative improves efficiency, productivity, quality, and diversity; (d) Consistency with the goals identified in the statewide master plan and institutional academic master plan; (e) The degree of collaboration with business, industry, and other public entities in forming partnerships to enhance the quality of the educational experience; and (f) Such additional criteria as the commission may determine to be appropriate. (4) Grant applications and proposals by the governing boards shall be submitted to the commission by November 1, 1992. Employing the criteria established pursuant to subsection (3) of this section, the commission shall designate an initial list of initiatives to be designated incentives for improvement and shall provide to the general assembly such list, an analysis of the projected funding requirements of the initiative, the proposed grants, and a plan for the support and enhancement of said initiatives. The list of initiatives and proposed grants shall be delivered to the general assembly annually, on or before January 1, commencing January 1, 1993. Initial grants may be awarded to the governing boards of such institutions for the implementation of such programs on or before July 1, 1993. Incentives for improvement designations shall be reviewed annually by the commission. nt of said initiatives. The list of initiatives and proposed grants shall be delivered to the general assembly annually, on or before January 1, commencing January 1, 1993. Initial grants may be awarded to the governing boards of such institutions for the implementation of such programs on or before July 1, 1993. Incentives for improvement designations shall be reviewed annually by the commission. (5) (a) Any grant awarded pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall be made annually for a period not to exceed five years, with receipt in any year of such a grant being dependent upon the state institution providing matching funds for such year from existing resources of such institution and any private contributions in the following amount: (I) During the first three years of the initiative, an amount equaling forty to sixty percent of the annual grant; or (II) During the fourth and fifth years of the initiative, an amount equaling sixty-five to eighty-five percent of the annual grant. (b) In determining the precise matching fund requirements for each institution selected for an improvement initiative, the commission shall give consideration to the size of the institutional budget and the percentage of such budget that is state general fund moneys. (6) The general assembly may make a separate annual appropriation to the commission, subject to available revenues, in an amount not to exceed one percent of the total annual department of higher education general fund appropriation to governing boards to be used to award incentives for improvement initiative grants. The total amount appropriated annually by the general assembly shall be allocated annually by the commission. (7) The commission, in consultation with the governing boards, shall adopt policies necessary to carry out the direction of this section and may, in furtherance of such policies, establish and implement: (a) A peer review process involving representation of the governing boards; (b) A schedule for directing grants to areas of statewide interest within the postsecondary education system; (c) A method for incorporating the cost of a successful incentives for improvement initiative into the annual appropriation to the governing board of an institution implementing such initiative upon completion of the five years of matching grants for such initiative; and (d) A system for the dissemination of information on successful and unsuccessful incentives for improvement initiatives as well as information on applying for grants under this section. (8) Repealed. (9) The commission shall promulgate such policies as may be necessary for the implementation of this section.

C.R.S. § 23-1-120.9 Department directive - collaborative educator preparation grant program - created - reporting - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal

23-1-120.9. Department directive - collaborative educator preparation grant program - created - reporting - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-121 Commission directive - approval of educator preparation programs - review - report - legislative declaration

23-1-121. Commission directive - approval of educator preparation programs - review - report - legislative declaration. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-121.1 Commission directive - approval of principal preparation programs - repeal

23-1-121.1. Commission directive - approval of principal preparation programs - repeal. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-121.2 Department directive - educator preparation pathways - public information

23-1-121.2. Department directive - educator preparation pathways - public information. By October 1, 2020, the department shall post on the department website a description of each of the existing programs and pathways that lead to teacher licensure, including alternative teacher preparation programs and teacher preparation programs approved pursuant to article 60.5 of title 22, teacher residency programs, student teacher programs, concurrent enrollment programs, teacher cadet programs, and the teaching fellowship programs created pursuant to part 3 of article 78 of this title 23. The department shall annually update the descriptions of programs and pathways.

C.R.S. § 23-1-121.3 Commission directive - principal and administrator preparation programs

23-1-121.3. Commission directive - principal and administrator preparation programs. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-121.5 Commission directive - education in special education

23-1-121.5. Commission directive - education in special education. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-121.7 Commission directive - paraprofessional programs

23-1-121.7. Commission directive - paraprofessional programs. (1) The general assembly finds that: (a) The number of paraprofessionals who assist teachers in the classroom has increased in recent years both in absolute numbers and as a proportion of all instructional staff; (b) Paraprofessionals are a valuable asset to school districts, providing many hours of additional instructional time for students, especially as public schools are called upon to provide increasing services for children with disabilities and children for whom English is a second language; (c) As parents are requesting and school districts are attempting to provide smaller class sizes, the prudent use of well-qualified paraprofessionals to maximize individualized instruction provides school districts with a means to reach every student and to assist every student in reaching his or her full potential; (d) In passing the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001", Public Law 107-110, congress has expressed the intention that all paraprofessionals working in Title I programs be highly qualified; (e) A paraprofessional working in a Title I program may demonstrate that he or she is highly qualified in several ways, including completion of at least two years of postsecondary study, obtaining an associates or higher degree, or successfully taking an assessment selected by the state or by the employing school district that meets state and federal standards and that demonstrates knowledge of and the ability to assist in instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics; (f) Because state and federal laws identify specific criteria for paraprofessional qualification and school districts retain flexibility for using paraprofessional instructional support services, further regulation of paraprofessionals, including certification or licensing, is not required; (g) To assist school districts in identifying highly qualified paraprofessionals, community colleges and four-year institutions of higher education are strongly encouraged to provide education paraprofessional preparation programs, and it is useful to create a procedure for approval of education paraprofessional preparation programs. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "paraprofessional" means a person who is trained to assist a licensed teacher or special services provider. (3) Repealed. (4) At a minimum, an approved education paraprofessional preparation program shall: (a) Be aligned with federal and state standards for paraprofessionals; (b) Consist of courses designed to convey to a student knowledge in reading, writing, mathematics, and science, and the skills necessary to assist a licensed teacher in teaching reading, writing, mathematics, and science; (c) Be aligned with statewide transfer agreements.

C.R.S. § 23-1-121.8 Department directive - workgroup on diversity in the educator workforce - duties - recommendations - report - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal

23-1-121.8. Department directive - workgroup on diversity in the educator workforce - duties - recommendations - report - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-122 Commission directive - separately funded policy areas

23-1-122. Commission directive - separately funded policy areas. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-122.1 Commission directive - separately funded policy areas - fiscal years 1996-97 and 1997-98

23-1-122.1. Commission directive - separately funded policy areas - fiscal years 1996-97 and 1997-98. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-123 Commission directive - fee policies - definitions

23-1-123. Commission directive - fee policies - definitions. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-124 Commission directive - sophomore assessments

23-1-124. Commission directive - sophomore assessments. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-125 Commission directive - student bill of rights - degree requirements - implementation of core courses - competency test - prior learning - prior work-related experience - policies - definitions - repeal

23-1-125. Commission directive - student bill of rights - degree requirements - implementation of core courses - competency test - prior learning - prior work-related experience - policies - definitions - repeal. (1) Student bill of rights. The general assembly finds that students enrolled in public institutions of higher education and students who are accepted to an institution of higher education have the following rights: (a) Students should be able to complete their associate of arts and associate of science degree programs in no more than sixty credit hours or their baccalaureate programs in no more than one hundred twenty credit hours unless there are additional degree requirements recognized by the commission; (b) A student can sign a two-year or four-year graduation agreement that formalizes a plan for that student to obtain a degree in two or four years, unless there are additional degree requirements recognized by the commission; (c) Students have a right to clear and concise information concerning which courses must be completed successfully to complete their degrees; (d) Students have a right to know which courses are transferable among the state public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education; (e) Students, upon completion of core general education courses, regardless of the delivery method, should have those courses satisfy the core course requirements of all Colorado public institutions of higher education; (f) Students have a right to know if courses from one or more public higher education institutions satisfy the students' degree requirements; (g) A student's credit for the completion of the core requirements and core courses shall not expire for ten years from the date of initial enrollment and shall be transferrable; (h) Students have a right to transparency of the cost of postsecondary education programs, including information on fees, associated expenses, and financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans; (i) Students have the right to seamless transfer of courses in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix, transparency in the process for transferring credits, a timely response on applications for transferring credits, and transparency in how and why a credit is accepted or rejected by an institution and how and why a credit is or is not applied toward degree requirements; (j) Students have the right to appeal an institution's failure to accept the student's request for transfer credit; and (k) Students have the right to know what work-related experiences or prior learning opportunities are awarded postsecondary academic credit at the institution in which the student is enrolled, pursuant to section 23-5-145.5. (1.5) Policies. On or before April 1, 2025, the commission shall adopt policies for public institutions of higher education on how to best implement the right described in subsection (1)(i) of this section. (2) Degree requirements. The commission shall establish a standard of a one-hundred-twenty-hour baccalaureate degree, not including specific professional degree programs that have additional degree requirements recognized by the commission. commission shall adopt policies for public institutions of higher education on how to best implement the right described in subsection (1)(i) of this section. (2) Degree requirements. The commission shall establish a standard of a one-hundred-twenty-hour baccalaureate degree, not including specific professional degree programs that have additional degree requirements recognized by the commission. (3) Core courses. The department, in consultation with each Colorado public institution of higher education, is directed to outline a plan to implement a core course concept that defines the general education course guidelines for all public institutions of higher education. The core of courses shall be designed to ensure that students demonstrate competency in reading, critical thinking, written communication, mathematics, and technology. The core of courses shall consist of at least thirty credit hours but shall not exceed forty credit hours. Individual institutions of higher education shall conform their own core course requirements with the guidelines developed by the department and shall identify the specific courses that meet the general education course guidelines. Any such guidelines developed by the department shall be submitted to the commission for its approval. In creating and adopting the guidelines, the department and the commission, in collaboration with the public institutions of higher education, may make allowances for baccalaureate programs that have additional degree requirements recognized by the commission. If a statewide matrix of core courses is adopted by the commission, the courses identified by the individual institutions as meeting the general education course guidelines shall be included in the matrix. The commission shall adopt such policies to ensure that institutions develop the most effective way to implement the transferability of core course credits. (4) Competency testing. On or before July 1, 2010, the commission shall, in consultation with each public institution of higher education, define a process for students to test out of core courses, including specifying use of a national test or the criteria for approving institutionally devised tests. Beginning in the 2010-11 academic year, each public institution of higher education shall grant full course credits to students for the core courses they successfully test out of, free of tuition for those courses. (4.5) Prior learning. Beginning in the 2013-14 academic year, each public institution of higher education shall adopt and make public a policy or program to determine academic credit for prior learning. (4.7) Prior work-related experience. Pursuant to section 23-5-145.5, the council created and existing pursuant to section 23-1-108.5, in collaboration with the commission, shall create, adopt, and implement a plan to determine and award postsecondary academic credit for work-related experience. cation shall adopt and make public a policy or program to determine academic credit for prior learning. (4.7) Prior work-related experience. Pursuant to section 23-5-145.5, the council created and existing pursuant to section 23-1-108.5, in collaboration with the commission, shall create, adopt, and implement a plan to determine and award postsecondary academic credit for work-related experience. (5) Nonpublic institutions of higher education. (a) (I) A nonpublic institution of higher education may choose to conform its core course requirements with, or adopt core course requirements that meet, the general education course guidelines developed by the department pursuant to subsection (3) of this section and identify the specific courses that meet the general education course guidelines. The nonpublic institution of higher education may require all of the students enrolled in the institution to take the core course requirements that are conformed or adopted as provided in this paragraph (a) or may require only those students who are concurrently enrolled, pursuant to article 35 of title 22, C.R.S., in a high school and in the nonpublic institution of higher education to take said core course requirements. (II) The core course requirements that a nonpublic institution of higher education conforms or adopts pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall comply with the number of credit hours required by the department and shall include courses in each of the subject areas identified by the department. The nonpublic institution of higher education shall submit to the department a description of its core course requirements with the initial review fee established pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (5), and the department shall determine whether the nonpublic institution's core course requirements comply with the department's general education course guidelines. If the department determines that the nonpublic institution of higher education's core course requirements comply with the guidelines, then the nonpublic institution's core course credits shall be transferable to public institutions of higher education, and the nonpublic institution of higher education shall accept transfers of core course credits from the public institutions of higher education. (b) A nonpublic institution of higher education that chooses to seek transferability of its core course credits pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (5) shall, prior to the beginning of each academic year in which it seeks transferability, allow the department to review its general education core course requirements and its general education courses to ensure that they continue to meet the general education core course guidelines. The department may assess a fee as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection (5) to offset the costs of the annual review. (c) The commission, in consultation with the department, shall establish the amounts of the initial review fee and the annual review fee of a nonpublic institution of higher education's general education core course requirements and core courses, which amounts shall not exceed the direct and indirect costs incurred by the department in initially reviewing and in annually reviewing the nonpublic institution's general education core course requirements and core courses. The department is authorized to collect the fees from nonpublic institutions of higher education as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (5). d core courses, which amounts shall not exceed the direct and indirect costs incurred by the department in initially reviewing and in annually reviewing the nonpublic institution's general education core course requirements and core courses. The department is authorized to collect the fees from nonpublic institutions of higher education as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection (5). (d) On or before March 1, 2016, the commission shall submit to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, a report concerning the implementation of this subsection (5). At a minimum, the report shall include: (I) The names of the nonpublic institutions of higher education that are participating in the general education core course requirements; (II) The number of students who have transferred core course credits to or from a nonpublic institution of higher education; (III) Any issues that have arisen in the course of implementing this subsection (5); and (IV) Any recommendations for changes to this subsection (5). (e) As used in this subsection (5), "nonpublic institution of higher education" means an educational institution operating in this state that: (I) Does not receive state general fund moneys in support of its operating costs; (II) Admits as regular students only persons having a high school diploma or the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma; (III) Is accredited by an accrediting agency or association approved by the United States department of education; (IV) Provides an educational program for which it awards a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; (V) Is authorized by the department of higher education to do business in Colorado pursuant to section 23-2-103.3; (VI) Maintains a physical campus or instructional facility in Colorado; and (VII) Has been determined by the United States department of education to be eligible to administer federal financial aid programs pursuant to Title IV of the federal "Higher Education Act of 1965", as amended. (6) Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "General education course" means a lower-division course offered by an institution that any degree-seeking student enrolled at the institution must successfully complete in order to obtain an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree from the institution. (b) "Guaranteed transfer pathway matrix" means a group of general education courses or lower-division courses required for a specific program at the institution that every student enrolled in the specific program at the institution must successfully complete in order to transfer to or from an institution and has equivalent learning outcomes as the same level of courses offered by another institution. (c) "Lower-division course" means a course numbered from one hundred to two hundred ninety-nine or one thousand to two thousand nine hundred ninety-nine. (d) "Public institution of higher education" or "institution" has the same meaning set forth in section 23-4.5-102.

C.R.S. § 23-1-126 Commission directive - nursing programs

23-1-126. Commission directive - nursing programs. (1) The general assembly finds that Colorado is facing a shortage of nurses. It is determined by the general assembly that because nurses are crucial and integral to the health and welfare of the people of Colorado, it is therefore in the public interest to enhance educational opportunities for individuals pursuing a career in nursing. (2) The commission shall evaluate and implement two-year educational programs for professional registered nursing. The commission shall adopt any necessary policies and rules for the implementation of a two-year program for professional registered nursing.

C.R.S. § 23-1-127 Commission directive - regional education providers - criteria

23-1-127. Commission directive - regional education providers - criteria. (1) The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that: (a) The Colorado commission on higher education can better serve the citizens of this state by providing oversight and direction for the provision of regional education at Adams state university, Colorado Mesa university, and Western Colorado university; and (b) As regional education providers, Adams state university, Colorado Mesa university, and Western Colorado university shall have as their primary goal the assessment of regional educational needs and, in consultation with the Colorado commission on higher education, the allocation of resources for the purposes of meeting those needs. (2) A regional education provider's initiatives to meet its regional needs may include, but need not be limited to, the following: (a) Extension of existing programs; (b) Creation of new undergraduate programs; (c) Development of partnerships with two-year institutions; and (d) Facilitation of the delivery of graduate education through existing graduate institutions. (3) The Colorado commission on higher education shall, in consultation with Adams state university, Colorado Mesa university, and Western Colorado university, establish the criteria for designation as a regional education provider.

C.R.S. § 23-1-128 Commission directive - American sign language in higher education institutions

23-1-128. Commission directive - American sign language in higher education institutions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "American sign language" means the natural language recognized globally that is used by members of the deaf community and that is linguistically complete with unique rules for language structure and use, that include phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and discourse. (b) "Higher education institution" means a state-supported institution of higher education. (2) On and after August 4, 2004, a higher education institution in the state may offer one or more elective courses in American sign language. (3) (a) On or before December 1, 2004, the commission shall adopt the necessary policies and procedures to require higher education institutions in the state to treat American sign language as a foreign language for purposes of granting and receiving academic credit. (b) The commission shall specify in the policies and procedures described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3) that: (I) A student who is enrolled in a higher education institution that offers American sign language courses may receive academic credit for the courses either by completing the courses or by demonstrating proficiency in American sign language, if the higher education institution gives credit for completing courses or demonstrating proficiency in any other foreign language; (II) Academic credit received for either completing an American sign language course or demonstrating proficiency in American sign language may be counted toward satisfaction of any foreign language requirements of the higher education institution offering the courses, except those requirements related to the content of the academic major; and (III) Academic credit received for either successful completion of American sign language courses in a secondary school or higher education institution or demonstrated proficiency in American sign language may be counted toward satisfaction of the foreign language entrance requirements of a higher education institution in the state.

C.R.S. § 23-1-129 Commission directive - student loans

23-1-129. Commission directive - student loans. On or before July 1, 2010, the commission shall adopt the necessary policies and procedures to require state-supported institutions of higher education to participate in student loan programs supported by the federal government.

C.R.S. § 23-1-130 Department duty to report on workforce needs and credential production - repeal

23-1-130. Department duty to report on workforce needs and credential production - repeal. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-131 Commission directive - associate degree completion program - legislative declaration - definitions

23-1-131. Commission directive - associate degree completion program - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) (a) The general assembly finds and declares that, due to the demands of a global economy, the state and the nation have an increasing need for individuals with a postsecondary credential or degree. Many students begin their postsecondary education in a two-year institution and transfer to a four-year institution prior to receiving an associate degree. Some students who subsequently accumulate the credit hours necessary for an associate degree while at the four-year institution, or who leave the four-year institution prior to completing a bachelor's degree, would benefit from the award of an associate degree. The award of an associate degree not only rewards the student's efforts in attaining postsecondary education but also recognizes the investment of financial resources in postsecondary education by both the student and the state. (b) Therefore, the general assembly declares that the state's two-year and four-year institutions should work in collaboration with the commission to develop a process that reduces a potential barrier to degree completion by providing students with information about the student's eligibility for an associate degree. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Associate degree" means an associate of arts or associate of science degree. (b) "Four-year institution" means a state-supported institution of higher education that is authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. (c) "Two-year institution" means a state-supported institution of higher education, or a local district college, that is authorized to grant associate degrees. (3) (a) The commission shall collaborate with the governing boards of the two-year and four-year institutions to develop and coordinate a process to notify students concerning eligibility for the award of an associate degree. The notification process shall apply to students at a four-year institution who have accumulated seventy credit hours at a four-year institution and who transferred to the institution after completing the residency requirements for an associate degree at a two-year institution. The notification process developed pursuant to this section shall specify the role of the student, the department, and the two-year and four-year institutions in the process, with the role of the four-year institutions limited to providing contact information for eligible students. The notification process shall be implemented no later than the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year. (b) The two-year and four-year institutions shall agree upon the contents of the notification to eligible students. At a minimum, the notification shall include the requirements for the degree audit by the two-year institution and information concerning the process for a student to be awarded an associate degree in the future if the degree requirements are not met or the student declines the associate degree at the time of the notification. (c) Nothing in this section limits the ability of the governing boards of two-year and four-year institutions to develop reverse transfer agreements that are consistent with the intent of this section. (4) Each two-year and four-year institution shall provide students with information concerning the process developed pursuant to this section.

C.R.S. § 23-1-131.5 Commission directive - Colorado re-engaged (CORE) initiative - four-year institutions - associate degrees - report - definitions

23-1-131.5. Commission directive - Colorado re-engaged (CORE) initiative - four-year institutions - associate degrees - report - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Colorado re-engaged initiative" or "CORE initiative" means the initiative created in this section to authorize institutions to award associate degrees to eligible students. (b) "Eligible student" means an undergraduate student who meets the criteria specified in subsection (5) of this section. (c) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a local district college operating pursuant to article 71 of this title 23 or a state institution of higher education as defined in section 23-18-102 (10)(a), but not including an institution governed by the state board for community colleges and occupational education. (2) There is created in the department the Colorado re-engaged, or CORE, initiative to authorize institutions of higher education to award associate degrees, notwithstanding an institution's role and mission, to eligible students who enroll in baccalaureate degree programs and earn at least seventy credit hours in the programs, but withdraw from the institutions before attaining the baccalaureate degree. The goal of awarding an associate degree through the CORE initiative is to increase a student's earning potential by granting the student a degree, making it more likely the student will re-enroll and complete a baccalaureate degree or higher. (3) The commission shall collaborate with the institutions of higher education to develop and coordinate a process to identify eligible students and award associate degrees through the CORE initiative. To implement the CORE initiative, the role of the department is to: (a) Publicize the CORE initiative, including the eligibility requirements that a student must meet to obtain an associate degree through the CORE initiative as described in subsection (5) of this section; and (b) Work with the institutions to identify eligible students and notify those eligible students of their eligibility to obtain an associate degree through the CORE initiative and the process for doing so. (4) (a) The role of an institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative is limited to: (I) Providing to the department contact information for eligible students, if available; (II) Determining whether an eligible student qualifies for an associate degree based on earned credits and courses taken; (III) Issuing an associate degree upon the request of an eligible student and advising the student of opportunities to re-enroll at the institution to complete the baccalaureate degree program; and (IV) Submitting to the department the information described in subsection (6) of this section. (b) An institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative must obtain approval from the institution's accrediting agency to grant associate degrees through the CORE initiative. An institution may award an associate degree to an eligible student through the CORE initiative for up to ten academic years after the last semester in which the eligible student enrolled at the institution. n. (b) An institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative must obtain approval from the institution's accrediting agency to grant associate degrees through the CORE initiative. An institution may award an associate degree to an eligible student through the CORE initiative for up to ten academic years after the last semester in which the eligible student enrolled at the institution. (c) An institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative shall not allow a student to enroll in the institution to obtain an associate degree and shall not offer programs that are designed to lead to associate degrees; except that this subsection (4)(c) does not apply to a local district college, Adams state university, Fort Lewis college with regard to the authority granted in section 23-52-101 (2)(a), and Colorado Mesa university. The associate degrees issued by institutions through the CORE initiative shall not be considered in determining an institution's funding pursuant to part 3 of article 18 of this title 23. (5) (a) To receive an associate degree through the CORE initiative, a student must: (I) Not have transferred to the institution directly after earning fifteen or more credit hours from any single institution governed by the state board of community colleges and occupational education; (II) Not have been enrolled in the institution for at least two consecutive semesters; and (III) Have earned at least seventy credit hours, which credits must include completion of the institution's general education core course requirements and completion of all other courses required for an associate degree program approved by the commission. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a student who is eligible to receive an associate degree through a program authorized in section 23-1-131 is not eligible to receive an associate degree through the CORE initiative. (6) Each institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative shall, by August 1, 2022, and by August 1 each year thereafter, report to the department the number of eligible students to whom the institution awarded an associate degree through the CORE initiative, the types of associate degrees awarded through the CORE initiative, and the number of students who re-enrolled in the institution after receiving an associate degree through the CORE initiative. The department shall review and compile the annual reports and, by January 15, 2025, submit to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, a report concerning implementation of the CORE initiative, including, to the extent discernable, the degree to which students who receive associate degrees through the CORE initiative re-enroll in an institution to complete a baccalaureate degree. The department may also include in the report recommendations for changes to the CORE initiative, including recommendations for incentives to encourage institutions to participate in the CORE initiative.

C.R.S. § 23-1-132 Commission directive - tuition waivers for exonerated persons

23-1-132. Commission directive - tuition waivers for exonerated persons. (1) On or before September 1, 2013, the commission shall implement a policy whereby, except as limited in this section, each institution of higher education in the state shall waive all tuition costs, including any mandatory fees associated with attendance at the institution, for an exonerated person, as defined in section 13-65-101 (3), C.R.S., and for any child of an exonerated person or custodial child of an exonerated person, as defined in section 13-65-101 (2), C.R.S., if: (a) The exonerated person, or the child or custodial child of the exonerated person, satisfies the criteria described in subsection (2) of this section; (b) The exonerated person, or the child or custodial child of the exonerated person, satisfies the admission requirements of the institution; and (c) The exonerated person, or the child or custodial child of the exonerated person, remains in satisfactory academic standing in accordance with the academic policies of the institution. (2) To receive a tuition waiver from an institution of higher education as described in subsection (1) of this section, an exonerated person or child or custodial child of an exonerated person shall apply to the institution and request such waiver in writing not later than two years after the later of the following dates: (a) The date upon which a court issued to the state court administrator directions to compensate an exonerated person pursuant to section 13-65-103, C.R.S.; or (b) In the case of a child or custodial child of an exonerated person, the date upon which the child graduated from high school. (3) The policy described in subsection (1) of this section must be implemented by all state-supported institutions of higher education, including but not limited to all postsecondary institutions in the state supported in whole or in part by state funds, including community colleges, extension programs of the state-supported universities and colleges, local district colleges, and area technical colleges.

C.R.S. § 23-1-133 Commission directive - bachelor of science degree in nursing program - Aims community college - approval

23-1-133. Commission directive - bachelor of science degree in nursing program - Aims community college - approval. (1) Repealed. (2) (a) In determining whether to approve a bachelor of science degree in nursing program as a completion degree to students who have or are pursuing an associate degree in nursing or a practical nursing certificate for Aims community college pursuant to section 23-71-102 (1)(b)(II)(B), the commission shall consider the following criteria: (I) Whether Aims community college provides data demonstrating workforce and student demand for the degree program; (II) The regional and professional accreditation requirements for the degree program, if applicable, and whether the college can satisfy those requirements, as appropriate, at both the institutional and program levels; (III) Whether Aims community college can demonstrate that providing the degree program within its service area is cost-effective for the student and Aims community college; (IV) Whether Aims community college can demonstrate that the degree program is sufficiently distinguishable from: (A) An existing degree program at a state four-year institution of higher education that is provided to a student who resides in Aims community college's geographic service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), without the student having to change his or her residence; or (B) A degree program that has been successfully offered previously in conjunction with a state four-year institution of higher education, which degree program will be reinstated sooner than the degree program could be offered by the community college; and (V) Whether the degree program could be provided through a statewide transfer agreement pursuant to section 23-1-108 (7) with an accredited state four-year institution in Aims community college's geographic service area or with an accredited state four-year institution of higher education that has a statewide service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), that will deliver an existing bachelor of science degree in nursing program in Aims community college's geographic service area sooner than the degree program could be offered by Aims community college. (b) In addition, in determining whether to approve a bachelor of science degree in nursing program, the commission: (I) Shall consider whether Aims community college has met the criteria set forth in subsections (2)(a)(I) to (2)(a)(IV) of this section and whether the proposed degree program is in the best interests of the state of Colorado; (II) Shall consult with Aims community college and state four-year institutions of higher education concerning whether the collaboration described in subparagraph (V) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) is feasible; and (III) May consult with any state four-year institution of higher education that shares the same geographic service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), concerning the proposed degree program to inform the commission of any anticipated systemwide effects of the new degree program.

C.R.S. § 23-1-134 Commission directive - open educational resources - course notice - report - definitions

23-1-134. Commission directive - open educational resources - course notice - report - definitions. (1) The commission shall adopt guidelines to require public institutions of higher education to ensure that, beginning in the fall of 2021, students are informed prior to course registration, and beginning no later than the fall of 2025, students are also informed at the point of course registration, concerning which courses and sections use open educational resources or other low-cost materials. (2) The department shall review the policies pertaining to the creation and use of open educational resources, including open licensing policies, adopted by public institutions of higher education throughout the state. The department shall identify and determine the efficacy of any provisions included in said policies that expand the use and promote the sustainability of open educational resources. (3) Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), on or before October 1, 2021, and on or before December 1 each year thereafter through December 1, 2026, the department shall prepare and shall submit to the commission, the council, the joint budget committee, and the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, a report concerning implementation and development of open educational resources around the state. The department shall work with the council in preparing the report, and the public institutions of higher education shall collaborate with the department and council in providing the information necessary for the report. At a minimum, the report must include: (a) The degree to which all public institutions of higher education are adopting open educational resources support programs and ensuring universal awareness of open educational resources among faculty and students; (b) Descriptions and evaluations of the efficacy of provisions included in open educational resources policies across the state that expand the use and promote the sustainability of open educational resources; (c) The number and percentage of the courses offered by the public institutions of higher education that use open educational resources as the primary resources for the course; (d) The number and percentage of the degree programs offered by the public institutions of higher education that are zero-textbook-cost degree programs; (e) The open educational resources created and shared by grant program recipients; (f) The number of open educational resources revised and adopted by grant program recipients; (g) For public institutions of higher education that receive a grant through the grant program or that employ faculty or staff that receive a grant, the course enrollment, completion, and pass rates for courses that use open educational resources compared to courses that do not use these resources and the enrollment and completion rates for zero-textbook-cost degree programs compared to other degree programs; and (h) The summarized information concerning implementation of the grant program as described in section 23-4.5-104 (4)(a). (4) As used in this section: (a) "Council" means the open educational resources council created in section 23-4.5-103. (b) "Grant program" means the open educational resources grant program created in section 23-4.5-104. (c) "Public institution of higher education" has the same meaning as provided in section 23-4.5-102 (7). (d) "Zero-textbook-cost degree program" has the same meaning as provided in section 23-4.5-102 (8).

C.R.S. § 23-1-135 Department directive - undergraduate degree and certificate programs - annual return on investment report - definition - repeal

23-1-135. Department directive - undergraduate degree and certificate programs - annual return on investment report - definition - repeal. (1) (a) The general assembly finds and declares that: (I) Colorado's economic growth depends upon a strong workforce with the education and training necessary to succeed in twenty-first-century careers; (II) Colorado's state system of higher education is the primary source of education and training for Coloradans pursuing these careers; (III) Further, Colorado's system of higher education must meet the postsecondary education needs of all of its residents, including providing reasonable access to higher education statewide, in order for Colorado to succeed in meeting its goals for an educated workforce; (IV) With future state funding levels for higher education uncertain due to competing demands on the state's budget, the state has an obligation to taxpayers and to consumers of higher education in Colorado to make the best possible use of state resources; and (V) Ensuring that state policymakers and consumers of higher education have access to information concerning undergraduate degree and certificate programs, including student costs and average debt, as well as employment and earnings outcomes, is critical to evaluating higher education program choices as well as Colorado's economic and workforce goals. (b) Therefore, the general assembly declares that it is appropriate for the department of higher education to prepare an annual return on investment report that includes an analysis of student costs and employment outcomes of undergraduate degree or certificate programs offered at Colorado public institutions of higher education. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "institution of higher education" or "institution" means the state institutions, as defined in section 23-18-102 (10)(a), the local district colleges, and the area technical colleges. (3) (a) On or before July 31, 2019, and on or before July 31 each year thereafter, the department of higher education shall prepare a return on investment report of undergraduate degree and certificate programs offered by institutions of higher education. The department, in consultation with the governing boards of the institutions, shall determine the designation of degree and certificate programs for purposes of the return on investment report. (b) The return on investment report must include information concerning the undergraduate degree and certificate programs offered at each institution including, at a minimum: (I) The number of students enrolled in the undergraduate degree or certificate program and the number of degrees and certificates awarded annually for the program, specifically identifying the number of high school students enrolled and the number of degrees and certificates awarded through the career development success program created in section 22-54-138; (II) The average time to completion for students completing the undergraduate degree or certificate program and the average number of credits earned by students completing the degree or certificate program; (III) The average cost for completion of the undergraduate degree or certificate program, including mandatory program and institutional fees, for a student with in-state tuition classification; (IV) The average student loan debt for students in the undergraduate degree or certificate program; (V) The employment rate of undergraduate degree or certificate program graduates. For purposes of the report, information relating to the employment rate includes the number of individual graduates, the number of individual graduates matched through available data sources, and the number of individual graduates that are not included in the employment rate, with an explanation of why the graduates are excluded from the employment rate. te degree or certificate program graduates. For purposes of the report, information relating to the employment rate includes the number of individual graduates, the number of individual graduates matched through available data sources, and the number of individual graduates that are not included in the employment rate, with an explanation of why the graduates are excluded from the employment rate. (VI) The average annual earnings of undergraduate degree or certificate program graduates one, five, and ten years after graduation or completion; and (VII) Any other information necessary to complete the return on investment report. (4) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the department shall annually submit the return on investment report to the education committees of the house of representatives and of the senate, or any successor committees, and shall post the report on the department's website for public access. (4.5) The department may collect the data necessary to calculate return on investment metrics similar to the information described in subsection (3)(b) of this section from a private occupational school, as defined by section 23-64-103 (20), approved by the private occupational school board; or an out-of-state public institution, as defined by section 23-2-102 (9), private college or university, as defined by section 23-2-102 (11), private nonprofit college or university, as defined by section 23-2-102 (12), private occupational school, as defined by section 23-2-102 (13), or seminary or religious training institution, as defined by section 23-2-102 (14), authorized by the commission. The department may include the collected information in the return on investment report. (5) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

C.R.S. § 23-1-136 Department directive - federal student loan repayment and forgiveness program information

23-1-136. Department directive - federal student loan repayment and forgiveness program information. In addition to any other powers and duties set forth in law, the department shall annually distribute to the governing board for each state institution of higher education informational materials received from the department of personnel pursuant to section 24-5-102 relating to federal student loan repayment programs and student loan forgiveness programs.

C.R.S. § 23-1-137 Prohibition on use of American Indian mascots - exemptions - definitions

23-1-137. Prohibition on use of American Indian mascots - exemptions - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "American Indian mascot" means a name, symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian tribe, individual, custom, or tradition that is used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name for the school. (b) "Public institution of higher education" means a public college, university, community college, area technical college, educational center, local district college, or junior college that is supported in whole or in part by general fund money. (2) (a) Except as provided for in subsection (2)(b) of this section, on or after June 1, 2022, a public institution of higher education in the state is prohibited from using an American Indian mascot. Any public institution of higher education that is using such an American Indian mascot as of June 1, 2022, must immediately cease use of such American Indian mascot. (b) The prohibition set forth in subsection (2)(a) of this section does not apply to: (I) Any agreement that exists prior to June 30, 2021, between a federally recognized Indian tribe and a public institution of higher education. A public institution of higher education that is a party to such an agreement is held to a high standard and expected to honor the agreement. The federally recognized Indian tribe has the right and ability to revoke any such agreement at any time at its discretion. (II) Any public institution of higher education that is operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe or with the approval of a federally recognized Indian tribe and existing within the boundaries of such tribe's reservation. (3) For each month during which a public institution of higher education uses an American Indian mascot after June 1, 2022, the public institution of higher education shall pay a fine of twenty-five thousand dollars to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money received to the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution.

C.R.S. § 23-1-137.5 Tribal regalia at college graduation ceremonies - definitions

23-1-137.5. Tribal regalia at college graduation ceremonies - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Graduation attire" means attire that a public institution of higher education requires a student to wear as part of the dress code for a graduation ceremony. (b) "Public institution of higher education" means a public college, university, community college, area technical college, educational center, local district college, or junior college that is supported in whole or in part by general fund money. (c) "Qualifying student" means a student that is a descendant of people who were living in North America prior to the time people from Europe began settling in North America, is an enrolled member of a federally recognized or state- recognized Indian tribe, or is a lineal descendant of a tribally enrolled parent or grandparent. (d) "Tribal regalia" means a tribe's traditional dress or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance and includes the following items of cultural significance: (I) Tribal symbols; (II) Beads; and (III) Feathers, in line with the "Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918". (e) "Tribe" means a tribe, band, nation, or Alaskan Native village that is recognized by federal law or that a state formally acknowledges. (2) A qualifying student may wear and display tribal regalia during a graduation ceremony; except that a qualifying student who is not an enrolled member of a tribe shall not wear eagle feathers. Wearing tribal regalia includes decorating graduation attire with tribal regalia; except that a qualifying student who is not an enrolled member of a tribe shall not decorate with eagle feathers. (3) (a) An immediate family member of a qualifying student may wear and display tribal regalia during the qualifying student's graduation ceremony if the immediate family member is: (I) An enrolled member of a tribe; (II) Eligible to be enrolled as a member of a tribe; or (III) A lineal descendant of a tribally enrolled parent or grandparent. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (3)(a) of this section, an immediate family member who is not an enrolled member of a tribe shall not wear eagle feathers. (4) A public institution of higher education shall not prohibit a qualifying student or immediate family member of the qualifying student from wearing and displaying tribal regalia at a graduation ceremony.

C.R.S. § 23-1-137.7 Wearing cultural or religious objects at college graduation ceremonies - definitions

23-1-137.7. Wearing cultural or religious objects at college graduation ceremonies - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Adornment" means something attached to, or worn with, but not replacing or covering in its entirety, graduation attire, and is not limited to decorating graduation caps. (b) "Cultural" means a recognized practice or tradition of a certain group of people and includes only a protected class based on disability, race, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family composition, religion, age, national origin, or ancestry. "Cultural" does not include objects related to tribal regalia as defined in section 23-1-137.5, incitement, defamation, fraud, obscenity, child pornography, fighting words, and threats. (c) "Graduation attire" means attire that a public institution of higher education requires a student to wear as part of the dress code for a graduation ceremony. (d) "Public institution of higher education" means a public college, university, community college, area technical college, educational center, local district college, or junior college that is supported in whole or in part by general fund money. (e) "Student" means an individual participating in the graduation ceremony as a graduate. (2) A student may wear recognized objects of cultural or religious significance as an adornment during the student's graduation ceremony. If a public institution of higher education has a dress code policy, an adornment worn by a student must comply with the public institution of higher education's dress code policy, as long as the dress code policy does not infringe upon a student's gender expression, as defined in section 24-34-301, gender identity, religion, or culture. (3) A public institution of higher education shall not impose restrictions on what a student may wear under the student's required graduation attire beyond what is required by a public institution of higher education's dress code policy, as long as the dress code policy does not infringe upon a student's gender expression, as defined in section 24-34-301, gender identity, religion, or culture. (4) (a) This section does not limit a public institution of higher education's ability to prohibit an adornment that is likely to cause a substantial disruption of, or material interference with, the graduation ceremony. (b) A prohibition imposed by a public institution of higher education pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section must be: (I) Based on evidence of disruption rather than relying on an undifferentiated fear or apprehension of disturbance; and (II) By the least restrictive means necessary. (5) On or before the start of the 2024-25 school year, a public institution of higher education shall develop and adopt a policy that aligns with the requirements of this section. (6) This section applies to all public institutions of higher education graduations. (7) This section does not limit the rights of certain individuals to wear tribal regalia to a public institution of higher education's graduation, as described in section 23-1-137.5.

C.R.S. § 23-1-138 Commission directive - institutional role and mission - service areas - workforce development - study - report - legislative declaration - repeal

23-1-138. Commission directive - institutional role and mission - service areas - workforce development - study - report - legislative declaration - repeal. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 23-1-139 Department directive - contract for use of online platform for public benefits

23-1-139. Department directive - contract for use of online platform for public benefits. The department shall contract for and facilitate the use of an online platform by any institution of higher education in Colorado, whether public or private, in order to assist students in accessing public benefits. Individual institutions that use the online platform that the department contracts for are required to contribute financially for use of the platform.

C.R.S. § 23-1-140 Commission directive - statewide student success measures - definitions

23-1-140. Commission directive - statewide student success measures - definitions. (1) (a) No later than December 31, 2022, the commission shall enact a policy directing the department to develop student success measures that measure the progression of students through postsecondary education and the impact of postsecondary pathways on a student's career opportunities and success. (b) The student success measures must include postsecondary success measures and workforce success measures. The commission shall prioritize development of the postsecondary success measures. Postsecondary success measures may include, but are not limited to, credit accumulation, course passage, cost of attendance, retention rates, credential completion rates, student support access and effectiveness, graduate program enrollment, and student mobility. The student success measures must include data on nontraditional students who are not first-time, full-time freshman students, including graduation rates for nontraditional students, and credential and certificate completion rates for transfer students. The student success measures must also include measures for student enrollment status two, four, and six years after a student enrolls in an institution of higher education. Workforce success measures may include, but are not limited to, postsecondary employment outcomes for students, job placements, earnings, and the length of time it takes a student to recoup the cost of completing a credential at an institution based on the student's increased earnings, known as the price-to-earnings premium. The commission shall determine which specific postsecondary and workforce success measures are included in its policy. (2) (a) In developing the student success measures, the department shall collaborate with the commission, each institution of higher education, the Colorado workforce development council, the department of labor and employment, the department of education, the office of economic development and international trade, representatives from industry, and organizations that support current or potential students and parents. (b) The department, in consultation with institutions of higher education and subject to the approval of the commission, shall determine the methodology used to calculate the measures. (3) (a) The department shall contribute education and workforce readiness data beginning in the 2025-26 state fiscal year, as necessary, to the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system consistent with the governance practices established by the Colorado statewide longitudinal data system governing board pursuant to section 24-37.5-125 (4). (b) Upon the department's request, an institution of higher education shall submit to the department any data that the department reasonably requires for purposes of subsection (3)(a) of this section.

C.R.S. § 23-1-141 Student success data system - student success data transparency - appropriation - definition - repeal

23-1-141. Student success data system - student success data transparency - appropriation - definition - repeal. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "institution of higher education" or "institution" means the state institutions, as defined in section 23-18-102 (10)(a), the local district colleges, and the area technical colleges. (2) (a) The department shall create and maintain a statewide data system of student success information to enhance data-based decision-making by institutions and the public in order to increase student success using the student success measures determined by the commission. The data system includes institution interfaces described in subsection (3) of this section and a public interface. The data system must have the functionality to be developed into a longitudinal data system over time that connects K-12, postsecondary, and workforce information. (b) (I) The commission shall provide guidance to the department on the information that should be included in the data system to align the data system with the student success measures developed pursuant to section 23-1-140. (II) Each institution shall report postsecondary success information to the department that the department determines necessary for inclusion in the statewide data system. (III) The department shall obtain student workforce data necessary for the data system by the best means possible, including obtaining employment information and earnings from the department of labor and employment, the Colorado workforce development council, or any other initiative or data-sharing platform that allows the department to obtain workforce data. The department of labor and employment, the Colorado workforce development council, and the department of education shall provide to the department the information that the department deems necessary to implement and operate the data system. (c) The department may include in the statewide data system employment and wage outcome data of a workforce development or training program that joins the data system. In order to join the data system, a workforce development or training program must be listed in the eligible training provider lists described in section 8-83-225 (1)(c) or receiving funding under Title I of the federal "Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act", 29 U.S.C. sec. 3101 et seq. The department may provide a user-friendly and accessible option for a program described in this subsection (2)(c) to deliver data to the department. (d) In developing the data system, the department shall collaborate with the Colorado workforce development council, the department of labor and employment, the department of education, and the office of economic development and international trade. The department shall also seek input from each institution of higher education, Colorado employers, Colorado students, and other workforce training providers offering an industry recognized credential. (e) The department may enter into an agreement with a third party to create and maintain the data system and any materials derived from the system. If the department enters into an agreement with a third party, the department shall ensure that both the department and the third party comply with all state and federal laws and regulations concerning the privacy of student information, including the federal "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974", 20 U.S.C. sec. 1232g, as amended. (3) (a) The department shall work with an institution to include information on an interface that is internal to that institution. Information available on an institution interface may provide student success data that is more timely, more granular, appears in a different format, or includes functionality that is different from information provided on the public interface. sec. 1232g, as amended. (3) (a) The department shall work with an institution to include information on an interface that is internal to that institution. Information available on an institution interface may provide student success data that is more timely, more granular, appears in a different format, or includes functionality that is different from information provided on the public interface. (b) If an institution maintains or intends to create its own data system that aligns with the goals of the statewide data system and the department determines that there is sufficient alignment, the department may, with the approval of the commission, allocate money to the institution for the creation, improvement, or maintenance of the institution's data system instead of creating an interface that is internal to that institution. The department shall not allocate to the institution an amount greater than the cost to the department for creating an interface that is internal to the institution. An institution that receives an allocation is not exempt from the requirement to report student educational success information to the department pursuant to subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section. (4) The public interface of the data system includes student success information that is aligned with the student success measures developed pursuant to section 23-1-140. The commission shall determine the specific student success information that must be included in the public interface, including determining how the information is disaggregated by student populations, including populations identified by race, ethnicity, gender, first-generation status, disability, and socioeconomic factors. The public interface must allow a user to conduct an interactive search to view and compare student success information for specific institutions and credential programs so that the user may make informed decisions regarding the economic opportunity and trade-offs of various educational and career training options. The department shall update the data in the public interface as frequently as practicable, but at least annually, to ensure that Colorado students and the public have the most relevant and current information available. (5) (a) The commission shall, in collaboration with the office in the department that is responsible for developing policy to remove equity gaps in postsecondary education in Colorado, use the data included in the institution and statewide data system to examine educational and workforce success disparities among various student populations, including populations identified by race, ethnicity, gender, first-generation status, disability, age, and socioeconomic factors. (b) In order to further the goal of using data to improve institutional decision-making and best practices, the commission shall facilitate information sharing among institutions about practices implemented by an institution based on data learned from the data system. (6) (a) In order to facilitate the collection of student success data and information from institutions of higher education, the department shall update and modernize its data collection systems, including its student-unit record data system. commission shall facilitate information sharing among institutions about practices implemented by an institution based on data learned from the data system. (6) (a) In order to facilitate the collection of student success data and information from institutions of higher education, the department shall update and modernize its data collection systems, including its student-unit record data system. (b) The department, in collecting data from institutions, may use, when possible, open-source data transparency languages that utilize open, interoperable data formats. (7) On or before January 15, 2025, and on or before January 15, 2026, the commission shall submit a report to the house of representatives education committee and senate education committee on the work required and any barriers identified, including recommendations for legislative changes necessary, on the progress of the statewide longitudinal data system created in section 24-37.5-125 (2)(a) that connects K-12, postsecondary education, and workforce information. (8) (a) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, the general assembly shall appropriate three million dollars from the workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund created in section 24-75-231 to the department for the purposes of this section. The money appropriated pursuant to this subsection (8) must be from the money in the workers, employers, and workforce centers cash fund that originated from the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered money appropriated pursuant to this section remains available for expenditure for the same purpose in the 2023-24 state fiscal year without further appropriation. (b) This subsection (8) is repealed, effective December 31, 2024.

C.R.S. § 23-1-142 Commission directive - expansion of forestry and wildfire mitigation degree and certificate programs - simulator - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal

23-1-142. Commission directive - expansion of forestry and wildfire mitigation degree and certificate programs - simulator - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal. (1) (a) The general assembly finds that: (I) Colorado communities and forests have suffered significant losses due to the increasing number and severity of wildfire events; and (II) Colorado lacks sufficient undergraduate degree and certificate programs in forestry, including wildfire mitigation, to meet the significant workforce needs of the state. (b) Therefore, the general assembly declares that additional investment is necessary to expand existing programs and create additional undergraduate degree and certificate programs across the state in forestry, including wildfire mitigation, to provide a vital workforce for Colorado and to keep the state's forests and communities healthy and safe. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Forestry program" means an undergraduate degree or certificate program that will meet forestry workforce needs, including forest health and management and wildfire mitigation. (b) "Public institution of higher education" means a state institution of higher education as identified in section 23-18-102 (10)(a), a local district college, or an area technical college. (c) "Simulator" means a harvesting simulator used to train students in operations relating to forest management. (3) (a) Subject to available appropriations, the commission may approve the expansion of existing forestry programs and the creation of new forestry programs at public institutions of higher education. The initial cost for the creation and expansion of forestry programs may be funded through grants approved by the commission. The department may use money appropriated for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 state fiscal years for grants pursuant to this section. (b) The grant may be used for: (I) Program design and administrative expenses necessary to expand or create the forestry programs; (II) The acquisition of a simulator for the forestry program once the program is established, which may be shared with forestry programs at other public institutions of higher education; and (III) Any other costs associated with expanding existing forestry programs or creating a new forestry program. (4) If more than one public institution of higher education wishes to expand an existing forestry program or create a new forestry program, the commission, in consultation with the Colorado state forest service, shall determine the location of the programs, prioritizing programs and public institutions of higher education that can provide a trained workforce expeditiously. In addition to other relevant factors, the commission shall consider: (a) The distribution of forestry programs across the state; (b) The need for a forestry workforce in the surrounding community or region of the state; (c) The projected student interest in the forestry programs at the competing locations; and (d) Accessibility and equity. (5) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

C.R.S. § 23-1-143 Commission directive - first-generation-serving institution designation - legislative declaration - definitions

23-1-143. Commission directive - first-generation-serving institution designation - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) In 2017, the Colorado commission on higher education, in its master plan, Colorado Rises: Advancing Education and Talent Development, set a statewide attainment goal for sixty-six percent of Colorado's adult population to hold a postsecondary credential; (b) Colorado has made progress, but as of 2023, the state has still not met this goal; (c) One of the ways to increase the number of people holding a postsecondary credential is to increase the number of first-generation students attending institutions of higher education; (d) By recognizing and designating institutions of higher education that serve a large number of first-generation students, the state shows incoming students at those institutions that the students may share a sense of belonging with others of similar backgrounds and that the institutions are committed to meeting the needs of first-generation students; (e) Institutions of higher education serving first-generation students incur increased costs; and (f) It is therefore necessary to establish a designation to recognize state institutions of higher education serving first-generation students. (2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "First-generation-serving institution" means a state institution of higher education: (I) Whose average resident first-generation undergraduate student population share, as defined in section 23-18-302, for the most recent year that the information is available and the two previous years equals or exceeds the statewide average resident first-generation undergraduate student population share as reported by the department for the fall 2022 term; or (II) That has secured a First Scholars Network of Institutions designation from the Center for First-generation Student Success or a similarly rigorous independent third-party designation. (b) "State institution of higher education" has the same meaning as "public institution of higher education" as defined in section 23-4.5-102. (3) Within thirty days after the annual public release of enrollment, retention, and graduation data from each state institution of higher education in 2024 and each year thereafter, the department shall: (a) Identify institutions of higher education that meet the definition of first-generation-serving institutions for that school year; (b) Post on the department's website the names of the first-generation-serving institutions for that school year; and (c) Notify each first-generation-serving institution and the Colorado general assembly of the designations.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-23.docxFetched: 10/6/2026