3EFCE02C1ADD096D8725839200501058 Hearing Summary

Joe Garcia, Chancellor, Colorado Community College System (CCCS), introduced himself to the committee and gave a brief overview of the community college system. He also introduced faculty and students from colleges around the state, as well as the panel who would be presenting.

Chancellor Garcia discussed the importance of community colleges in the state and explained how community colleges serve as an option for students that want to pay less for college.  He also introduced the presidents from each community college in attendance. Mr. Garcia discussed the mission of the community college system, including expanding access to college for students, and the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative.

Mr. Garcia discussed other programs that allow students to more easily earn degrees, including transfer programs allowing students to transfer to 4-year institutions. He also discussed tuition rates and the concurrent enrollment program.

Len Barrera, Chair of the State Student Advisory Council and Front Range Community College student, introduced herself to the committee and discussed the Student Advisory Council.  She discussed the Family Sef Sufficiency Program, which provides housing, childcare, and job opportunities for students. She discussed her aspirations of attending a four-year institution to earn her masters degree and her work on the advisory council.  She also mentioned possible legislation to expand the eligibility for membership of the advisory council to allow non-resident students to serve on the council.

Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven, President, Community College of Aurora (CCA), discussed open access to Colorado Community Colleges and increasing the diversity of CCA's workforce.  She also talked about new approaches CCA is taking to improve developmental education programs.

Dr. Patty Erjavec, President, Pueblo Community College (PCC), discussed the expansion of its nursing and experiential learning labs and the learning opportunities and apprenticeships available to students. She discuused the potential skills gap in industrial manufacturing and how PCC is helping to address that gap and state goals. She also talked about several programs to help recruit and attract adult students to PCC, including the Pueblo Corporate College, the Earn While You Learn program, and the Return to Earn program.

The panel responded to questions from the committee regarding how CCCS can help fill workforce needs, specifically school counselors and social workers, and how many veterans the system serves.

Senator Todd and the committee made comments regarding CCCS.