1F8B68BC1E37BE4D87258664006CCBF3 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For SMART ACT HEARING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATIONJOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATIONDate Jan 21, 2021 Location Old State Library SMART Act Hearing for the Department of Higher Education - Committee Discussion Only 12:51:17 PM Dr. Angie Paccione, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE), introduced herself and began her presentation. She spoke about the organizational structure of the department and the types and locations of the various institutions of higher education across the state, which include two-year and four-year public institutions, private institutions, private occuptional schools, and Area Technical Colleges. 12:55:14 PM Vanecia Kerr, representing the Colordo Commission on Higher Education (CCHE), spoke about the Colorado Rises Master Plan and the goals and focus of the pla, as well as how CCHE plans to reach the goals and benchmark success moving forward. She spoke about how DHE and CCHE work together. 01:00:10 PM Dr. Paccione spoke about the 66 percent credential attainment goal by 2025 and the department's strategic goals: increase credential completion rates, improve student success, and erase equity gaps. She discussed high-demand credentials in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field and a decline in educator preparation credentials. She discussed ways in which the department is working to increase credential completion, including apprenticeship programs, concurrent enrollment, Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), and the New Collegiate Apprenticeship Program, which is funded by a federal grant and instrustry partners in healthcare and IT fields. 01:13:14 PM Dr. Paccione spoke about equity gaps in higher education, and what is currently working in terms of closing the gap, including COSI and the Equity Champions Coalition. She answered questions from the committee. Dr. Paccione spoke about the higher education funding formula and about equity, diversity, and inclusion. 01:27:48 PM Dr. Paccione continued to speak about how to improve student succes and the need to commit to affordability and innovation. She showed a diagram of the department's roadmap to containing college costs. She talked about Open Educational Resources (OER), which is a grant programto help students cover the cost of textbooks. She discussed the department's Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) which are: increase institutions that have an institutional equity action plan, focus on work-based learning, and increase post-secondary affordability. 01:35:33 PM Dr. Paccione talked about the department's budget, which is mainly comprised of operating support to institutions and student financial aid. Dr. Paccione answered questions from the committee. 01:43:11 PM Dr. Paccione continued to answer questions from the committee. Jason Schrock, Chief Finance Officer for DHE, answered questions from the committee. Dr. Paccione and Mr. Schrock discussed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education and the department.