F77F18F7A4D289848725847800532389 Hearing Summary

Senator Story, chair, called the meeting to order.  Joe Garcia, Chancellor, Colorado Community College System (CCCS), introduced himself to the committee and gave an overview of CCCS and discussed the demographics that it serves.  He explained that there are 13 community colleges in the system, serving 48 percent of all undergraduate students of color. He also discussed ways in which CCCS is keeping tuition costs low, such as hiring more adjunct professors. He stated that about two-thirds of students graduate without student debt.  He said that CCCS also utilizes open educational resources in order to keep the costs of textbooks down.

Alana Mitchell, representing herself as a student and Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) scholar, discussed her experience at Pikes Peak Community College (Pikes Peak).  She told the committee her personal story of being a single mother while attending school, and explained that Pikes Peak offered her free daycare and work study opportunities while she worked to obtain a degree. She discussed her success as a student and what her degree has allowed her to accomplish.

Michael Macklin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Partnerships, CCCS, introduced himself to the committee and discussed the importance of partnerships with businesses in the state that encourage students to earn credit while working.  He talked about how to increase apprenticeship programs in rural communities and the different types of apprenticeships accessible to CCCS students, including in nursing, information technology, and cybersecurity apprenticeship.  He discussed the first early childhood education apprenticeship in the state at Red Rocks Community College, as well as other programs at Front Range Community College and Arapahoe Community College.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.  Chancellor Garcia discussed how CCCS is working with rural communities to create programs to provide degrees programs and work opportunities for rural students.  He said that investments made outside of the classroom help just as much as investments in the classroom.  He discussed policy proposals, including the creation of an innovation fund to encourage growth in the career and technical education programs and an increase of investment in COSI.

Timothy Ullmann, Vice President of Community College Relations at Aims Community College (Aims), introduced himself and Holly Spritzer, a recent graduate of Aims.  Mr. Ullmann discussed the Aims Scholarship Initiative and other scholarships that provide scholarships and funding to Aims students. He discussed the transfer program that Aims has with the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and explained that with an associate's degree from Aims, students are automatically accepted into UNC.  He stated that Aims has not raised tuition in recent years, and mentioned the ways that Aims meets the needs of low-income students with housing and food insecurity.  He discussed the school's admissions data and graduation rates and talked about barriers faced by some students seeking a degree at Aims.  He discussed remedial education, including developmental courses, supplemental academic instruction, math labs, and similar programs to help prepare students for a postsecondary pathway.  Ms. Spritzer discussed her experience at Aims, and explained that she graduated debt-free due to scholarships available to her and the affordable nature of the school.

Mr. Ullmann discussed how local financing has allowed Aims to keep tuition rates steady.  He talked about the importance of allowing work study programs count towards graduation.  He answered questions about the open access program with UNC.

Dr. Matt Gianneschi, Chief Operating Officer, Colorado Mountain College (CMC), introduced himself to the committee.  Dr. Gianneschi's presentation can be accessed here: http://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/committees/2017/colorado_mountain_college_sept_17.pdf.  Dr. Gianneschi discussed tuition rates at CMC and stated that CMC focuses on providing an affordable education to local residents, with the nonresident tuition being higher.  He discussed the school's enrollment and completion rates and stated that while overall enrollment has been declining, the number of degrees awarded have increased.  He discussed several trends at CMC, including the increasing participation in concurrent enrollment programs, which CMC offers for free.  He further discussed the school's concurrent enrollment program and mentioned that CMC has full-time concurrent enrollment instructors in high schools, making the program more accessible for students.  He stated that Latino local students are highest performing students at the school currently and discussed the school's total projected revenue.  Dr. Gianneschi discussed the school's current year budget, its high-demand program expansion, and the addition of a nursing program at the Steamboat Springs campus.  He talked about possible policy changes, and stated that new policies should focus on changes outside of instruction and invest in other areas such as technology, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.

Dr. Gianneschi answered questions regarding the passage of Proposition CC, and how it would impact the revenue stream for CMC and higher education in general.  He discussed how a sudden decline in revenue can impact the school's budget and measures the school can take to address those declines, including cutting programs or benefits for employees.  He answered questions regarding the school's completion rates, concurrent enrollment programs, and COSI funding.

The committee recessed.