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.