[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6394838,"mediaKeyId","2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e","parentId",2101915,"title","Area technical colleges report long waitlists and urge more capacity funding","audioSeconds",558,"startMs",11547000,"endMs",12105000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e&start=11547&end=12105","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e/thumbnail_11547000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6394838/Colorado/Area-technical-colleges-report-long-waitlists-and-urge-more-capacity-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394838-003bb80f9db63fda485aa84491e6cd40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164517&Signature=RrbvfxbImlnDcoLp-v1sRJcDBDigFw4~SfT1W~OmhxuVQxyo0uaWVSjSmER5trfihStQjFahMs1Catcq4GjEMMCbCKdh1uwS5oOt2khrVf6noX0dRe3jskpaCv7TMm6zqGEhvDWgfhpGQBUZ7CuT0i1P4hy1dzOQSNu4UCGObC9CSJqhzM7CuYALWiji4GkfApT7nEhMSQN6YB6josB57uZUzvj8GkrBbDdwsikDwT8VZB4ouVmDejuOb919A8kabiltD27xdCmfUcmpp3DSsIdmuyPIPc7hymyyyJs8MK~bYRpV7PVEeZjMIJPuOv54ENZUmxyYU7XUDKzwyaW4lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Colorado","date","2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","article","DENVER — Leaders from Colorado’s area technical colleges told the Joint Budget Committee that short, workforce‑focused programs produce high placement rates and near‑immediate earnings gains, but that a persistent lack of instructional space, instructors and equipment limits the number of students they can serve.

Emily Griffith Technical College, Pickens Technical College and the Technical College of the Rockies presented collective data showing long waitlists in several programs: cosmetology, allied health and welding appeared among the most constrained. Panelists said many students cannot begin training for months and that the colleges do not have capacity to serve every applicant.

“We put people to work,” one director told the committee, summarizing placement rates in the mid‑80s and higher. The panelists emphasized a policy point repeatedly made this week: area technical colleges generally do not rely on student loans, keep tuition intentionally low, and generate rapid returns to graduates and local employers.

The panel cited recent one‑time ARPA and state investments that funded accelerated cohorts in nursing and allied health and said those projects produced strong return‑on‑investment metrics — including examples where each dollar invested generated many multiples in initial graduate earnings.

Why it matters: Area technical colleges supply technicians, certified nursing assistants, welders, commercial drivers and other workers that local economies need. Long waitlists translate directly into unfilled local vacancies and slower employer hiring; expanding capacity could speed workforce growth.

Ending: The panel asked the committee to consider investments that expand instructional space, allow hiring of additional instructors and fund equipment so waitlists can be cleared and more students can be trained in high‑demand fields.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Budget Committee [Jan 09, 2025]","oneSentenceSummary","Panel representing Emily Griffith, Pickens Technical College and Technical College of the Rockies told the JBC that demand far outstrips capacity in high‑demand programs such as medical, welding and cosmetology, and said prior one‑time assistance produced large returns on student earnings.","taxTitle","Joint Budget Committee, YEAR-ROUND COMMITTEES, Committees, Legislative, Colorado","taxId",45208,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394843,"Aims Community College highlights early‑college, workforce and affordability programs",1596,9687000,11283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e&start=9687&end=11283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e/thumbnail_9687000.jpg","/articles/6394843/Colorado/Aims-Community-College-highlights-earlycollege-workforce-and-affordability-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394843-c1090aadb1c8ce5d741b1aca52851dfd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164517&Signature=A76vXcXGQPS7wXc2WWEFJq247aPg7B-Ke0Qxe6uU7NRa8MXh83J3XIO6rF5Eq3TR~dIxlwRFcbq2FsXASsxqHXdkKNf4yv4M8aV8B6t9dnkGCYv5ZkPdzbobjj4Ha8HNbhljafoG3T8ac-4BN8PN0-VP30zK~LfB4yqZQd6CxUhMeE3ZKjyZsEv3IbPI-XynNZWY1EnA4OSJrSTale2UGLNH11UokgTxO4jVAzSBTK~NrtPXHzpcCAIiuCtyYoUCf~sW7QhNZmKgioAYaOs2UXDUTU-FvxAU2xpMG0LHIQ9NOu2UUpKcBbfipV5RlwHpEOpFwfHpcOuIUZUR7Y~xEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greeley — Chuck Jensen, vice president for administrative services at Aims Community College, outlined the college’s district structure, concurrent‑enrollment breadth and affordability initiatives during a Joint Budget Committee session.

Aims serves roughly 10,000 individuals across a multi‑campus district in Weld County and neighboring counties. Jensen said 49% of Aims students are first‑generation and 39% identify as racially or ethnically diverse. The college operates a tuition promise with income thresholds and this fall will add a new Strong Start Scholarship — up to $1,000 per new in‑district student — funded largely from the college foundation.

Jensen described a growing early‑college partnership that produces associate degrees for high school students and reported a 100% high‑school graduation rate for the most recent senior cohort in the program. Aims also partners with local philanthropy (the Weld Legacy Foundation) to offer the Bright Futures Scholarship to local students.

Why it matters: Aims’ presentation reinforced the role of community colleges in expanding access to postsecondary credentials while keeping student debt low: Jensen said 91% of Aims graduates leave without debt and the college prioritizes scholarships and targeted programs to keep students enrolled and credentialed.

Ending: Jensen said Aims’ budget looks stable for FY 2026, thanks to local property tax revenues, and the college plans continued investment in student success and workforce programs.","Aims Community College told the JBC it has grown FTE, expanded concurrent enrollment and promise programs, and launched a “strong start” scholarship; college leaders emphasized affordability and workforce partnerships with local employers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394848,"Colorado Mountain College highlights residential campuses, affordability and teacher pipeline",2377,7113000,9490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e&start=7113&end=9490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e/thumbnail_7113000.jpg","/articles/6394848/Colorado/Colorado-Mountain-College-highlights-residential-campuses-affordability-and-teacher-pipeline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394848-4924b91739e7f0a7692f21bfc183bc3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164517&Signature=RanxdPgZwHn80EFxpErwagKoMzHbWCvUIEGsZPn-Mcf08a65dAui7TWr3999G2NELGiDRo3CN-ug51mJ3lOLSN0ilW1cLnXMb1K~DqnNlLDn81u-J-sD9M~U0Jb21jAwQIq2RSBQFHEyuLcnlUk6HQZT29gp~f5fXuPUz-bnYI5cj-jtF9fNrfNyb3L4zHUtmaB0V4V76S7E6DHT~1P-FQ~801jlPDflP-y9J6eWUIjMJbiVFYjCFDqBCNhXnRpY2pl24SJhG02fbvR44h~sydDRuoeiSZqsk4cJopckOi~7mNYzhefPAXLl90WMwbUfiQupZHLVM70aRnmwDWQwUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glenwood Springs — Colorado Mountain College President Matt Gianneschi told the Joint Budget Committee that CMC serves 11 campuses across resort and mountain communities, provides residential options at several sites and focuses on affordability for students who live in high‑cost areas.

Gianneschi described CMC’s mix of program offerings: trade‑oriented courses in Leadville (including lift maintenance and ski‑area operations), health and nursing programs based at select residential campuses, and robust English‑as‑a‑second‑language offerings at other locations. He said many students attend multiple campus sites before graduating and that CMC recently completed a faculty compensation analysis that places full‑time faculty pay between 125% and 140% of national means; adjunct pay remains a focus and the college plans an 11% adjunct increase to improve parity.

Gianneschi also detailed a locally funded affordability model: CMC reduced local mill levies in recent years and has committed tax revenue to sustain low, in‑district tuition (about $104 per credit hour) and a quasi‑endowment that supports a college promise program. He noted that the college’s adult basic education and English language programs reach thousands of residents, and he pointed to a new oral‑health clinic and a dental‑hygiene program that expanded local access to clinical training and care.

Why it matters: CMC operates in high‑cost communities where housing and labor markets create unusual budget pressures. Local tax support and affordable tuition help students who otherwise lack access to higher education and training in rural and resort areas.

Ending: Gianneschi invited committee members to visit CMC campuses and noted the institution’s focus on completion, workforce alignment and affordability for rural students.","Colorado Mountain College President Matt Gianneschi described CMC’s multi‑campus, rural mission, rising graduate counts and affordability policies; he urged continued support for faculty compensation, mental‑health services and programs that serve rural workforce needs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394853,"Colorado Community College System urges continued state support for workforce training and rural campuses",810,6825000,7635000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e&start=6825&end=7635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e/thumbnail_6825000.jpg","/articles/6394853/Colorado/Colorado-Community-College-System-urges-continued-state-support-for-workforce-training-and-rural-campuses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394853-4b8e732ef0efb03ec93ae38d5e6cec3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164517&Signature=bvd3Vm9QCO2D3z431wf8MgY-CfWUrdn4DmCbz5h4Oz1t9YxdyXqrQ7rHVvX-cl1F9lJsFxnOTSvrc-8AeGh9gOVh7EdixPEjFlQmaGIBoTdLirBWjykMjkCs9GMrz62o~o2Rgy-Nagx9eBtxzdltMaV6dq0D4HRSlYufmfrDmuXa66afofySkLLxyTW0~2qwH6~nYMx0JxmHugA3s-NC74tOdXVtzbVyQSWBJth9ReJKBYdP9bdp5wLCFvNWi7hsC2HdWPApwcFYoNrG2eKuw2I2YIXWHxjT86roIbTtRN4Hn7rag1PRzuYqOs7FLhKMM~x4YkcOEx5NLfO8o7Osfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DENVER — Joe Garcia, chancellor of the Colorado Community College System, said Thursday that community colleges are the state’s largest undergraduate system and are vital to Colorado’s workforce, particularly for adult learners, rural students and residents seeking career retraining.

Garcia told the Joint Budget Committee that the system serves more than 124,000 students annually and that 96% of community‑college students are Colorado residents, with more than 93% of graduates remaining in state to work. He asked the committee to consider funding to meet projected salary, benefit and operating cost increases that the November budget submission did not fully cover.

“We’re not trying to get ahead. We’re simply trying to maintain,” Garcia told the committee, arguing that the combination of state appropriations and tuition authority recommended in the governor’s November submission would cover less than half of the system’s projected increases for FY 2026.

Garcia highlighted two program areas as evidence of community colleges’ return on investment: short‑term, industry‑aligned credentials and employer‑partnered training. He cited the state’s Care Forward Colorado program, funded in prior years, as a high‑value, first‑dollar program that has produced thousands of short‑term healthcare credentials and high early employment rates for graduates.

“We deliver the workforce that our employers need,” Garcia said, adding that community colleges have geographic reach — 35 locations across the state — and operate shared services that keep costs lower than four‑year institutions.

Garcia also urged capital funding for aging rural campuses, noting that several community colleges were started early in the 20th century and are facing renewal needs. He asked the committee to prioritize capital renewal requests such as Colorado Northwestern Community College’s project in Rangely.

Why it matters: Community colleges enroll the students most likely to need affordable, local access to training and credentials: older students, working adults, first‑generation students and many Pell‑eligible learners. The system’s financial health affects the state’s ability to produce nurses, first responders, tradespeople and other workers tied to local economies.

Ending: Garcia closed by asking the committee to sustain ongoing investments that help community colleges keep tuition affordable and meet growing workforce demands. He said system leaders would continue to answer committee questions during figure setting and invited members to visit campus facilities.

","Chancellor Joe Garcia told the Joint Budget Committee that community colleges are central to Colorado’s workforce, requested funding to cover rising costs and capital projects for aging rural campuses, and highlighted programs that train workers in healthcare, apprenticeships and short-term credentials.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394858,"Colorado Department of Higher Education outlines budget requests, seeks clarity on rural funding and transparency bill",6422,25000,6447000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e&start=25&end=6447","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2101915-da3fc6b7a081951c25289cab4a7bcc7e/thumbnail_25000.jpg","/articles/6394858/Colorado/Colorado-Department-of-Higher-Education-outlines-budget-requests-seeks-clarity-on-rural-funding-and-transparency-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394858-3474e1897b17ae7856a272c64601a02a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164517&Signature=lx-FgWbfX~qbWeWB0ZkOqrsGlpFYiNfjZ0iHOWcmLeBiZ1BOHUUL1~bZNn07WKJeU~w9ve-kSFpHqFx-MZiAJKEjZnXuk3FM1-kKWTkMLNHzhOcShulXWAU4RHVqt-~HUDGuhGVA85uvaf2JTucMkeXz9akq7z~HWn7Z2wMaH98~auk~br66NHvdLZywr5fri38tmeikaITxMXfZZeOdX-mwU4g1ltRUfPHn3AcTTV9QF~MMDBpAR1mWEnnjImfPomKsbhfzN9U7Yr3jYLqBMesmBksLJdWvCLqkJD3ixFjFKH7vv6Ai2N5oPAyAKvxar~1tX0~rGQwc-8ZqWWuLLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","DENVER — Department of Higher Education Executive Director Dr. Angie Piccione and senior staff told the Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday that the department submitted a budget that emphasizes targeted program cuts rather than across-the-board reductions and includes requests to sustain rural institutions and restore one-time accounts.

At the start of the hearing, Piccione said the department’s packet would focus the committee’s questions and that staff were “ready to address any questions that you may have over the next 90 minutes.” Crystal Collins, the department’s chief financial officer, led detailed answers to common budget questions.

The department asked the JBC to consider several items in the governor’s November 1 request and January 2 supplemental letter. Most immediately contested among committee members was a supplemental or budget amendment to provide $7,300,000 in general fund operational support for Colorado’s rural-serving public institutions, a funding stream the administration previously added for fiscal year 2024–25 that the governor’s staff proposed to annualize temporarily while a new funding formula is developed.

“Those funds were identified in 24–25 for support for institutions,” Collins said, adding that the governor and the commission expect the funding formula review process to address rural supports in more detail as the commission develops a proposed formula for the legislature. Several committee members pushed back: Representative Matt Taggart and others said their intent in approving the step‑1 funds last year was to build base funding for rural institutions, not to make the money contingent on future formula changes. Senator Kirk Myers said the funds were added to the long bill to be ongoing.

Collins and Piccione repeated that statute requires a funding formula review and that the commission plans stakeholder engagement. Collins confirmed the commission’s report timeline is set for November 2025 but that statute sets a deadline no later than November 2026.

Other notable budget items discussed:

- College Opportunity Fund shortfall: Collins told the committee that House Bill 24‑1424 required a transfer of $1,496,000 from the private school portion of the College Opportunity Fund to the state treasury. Because actual private school COF participation generated only $1,260,000 available for transfer, the fund is in a deficit of about $243,000; the department requested a supplemental to make the account whole.

- Cybersecurity supplemental roll‑forward: Dr. Tricia Johnson, deputy executive director, described work funded after the department’s summer 2023 ransomware event. The General Assembly provided one‑time funding (about $920,000) for data governance and integration; the department has contracted with a vendor and asked to roll forward the unspent one‑time funds into FY 2025–26 so the work can be completed.

- R1 operating support: The department recommended a $12,100,000 increase in general fund support for institutions in FY 2025–26 and an additional $2,300,000 for state financial aid. Collins said the R1 package also includes an allocation to help institutions meet the costs of the Cowen’s agreement for classified employees; the department estimated the total Cowen’s cost for classified staff at public institutions at about $13,700,000 and calculated a general‑fund proportional share of roughly $7,800,000.

- Transparency bill proposal: The department proposed legislation to standardize and codify certain financial reporting from institutions to improve the department’s ability to measure institutional financial health and compare data across campuses. Collins said the department is in the “very early stages” of stakeholder conversations and that the department itself requested the proposal be included in the November 1 submission. Some committee members objected to drafting legislation before direct engagement with institutions and expressed concerns about administrative burden; Collins said the department is not seeking funding for the effort and hopes standardization will reduce, not increase, reporting burden.

- Financial aid and outreach FTEs: Piccione and Collins described two positions (a FAFSA coordinator and a CASFA coordinator) that the department hired to meet statutory outreach requirements. Director Piccione and Crystal Collins reported the outreach team presented at nearly 150 events in AY 2023–24 and reached approximately 11,000 attendees. The department is seeking ongoing funding to sustain those positions after they were initially supported with one‑time dollars.

- PSEP roll‑off (Professional Student Exchange Program): The department recommended a phased roll‑off that would stop new enrollments while protecting current students. Collins said roughly $325,000 in outstanding debt was identified for former participants; that amount had declined to about $290,000 as students made payments. The department estimated it expects to collect another roughly $270,000 by the program’s final year, leaving about $20,000 outstanding by June 2028, and said it is open to contracting with a collection agency for long‑running delinquencies.

Why it matters: The department’s requests and the committee’s questions reveal two tensions that will shape the budget debate: whether last year’s rural funding should be treated as base building or redirected into a revised funding formula, and how far the legislature should go on transparency and standardized reporting without adding new administrative costs to institutions. Members repeatedly stressed they intended the recently adopted rural dollars to be durable support for smaller campuses.

Department staff fielded extensive technical questions, including statutory authority for the commission (Title 23), budget accounting rules for the COF, and timelines for the commission’s formula report. The hearing closed with follow‑up items the committee requested, including statutory citations for commission authority and a breakdown of COSI (Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative) carryforward details.

The department’s packet and the JBC staff materials include line‑by‑line requests; the committee indicated it would pursue follow‑up questions in figure setting and later hearings. The department said it would provide more detailed citations and data requested by members.

Ending: The hearing produced no formal action votes. Committee members signaled continued skepticism about using the formula review as the primary vehicle to determine whether step‑1 rural supports should be treated as base funding. Members requested written follow‑ups on the COF accounting, projected carryforwards for COSI, statutory references for the commission’s authority, and additional detail on the transparency bill stakeholdering process.","Department of Higher Education staff briefed the Joint Budget Committee on operating requests, a $7.3 million supplemental for rural-serving institutions, a transparency bill, cybersecurity roll-forward, College Opportunity Fund shortfall and a phased roll-off of a professional student exchange program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Area technical colleges report long waitlists and urge more capacity funding

Aims Community College highlights early‑college, workforce and affordability programs

Colorado Mountain College highlights residential campuses, affordability and teacher pipeline

Colorado Community College System urges continued state support for workforce training and rural campuses

Colorado Department of Higher Education outlines budget requests, seeks clarity on rural funding and transparency bill