h_ed_2017a_2017-12-05t09:05:00z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 12/05/2017

Location: RM 271

09:26 AM -- Presentation by Department of Higher Education



Dr. Kim Reed, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), provided an overview of the department. She provided a copy of the presentation (Attachment E), the CDHE SMART Act Report (Attachment F), a letter on the Governor's budget request for higher education funding (Attachment G), a report on Senate Bill 16-196 on the Inclusive Higher Education Pilot Program (Attachment H), and the CDHE master plan (Attachment I).



17JtEducation1205AttachE.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachF.pdf



17JtEducation1205AttachG.pdf 17JtEducation1205AttachH.pdf Attachment I can be viewed at Legislative Council.





Dr. Reed answered questions from the committee regarding the low number of Hispanic males that will earn a two or four year degree. She discussed current programs to target Hispanic males in order to provide greater higher education opportunities.



Dr. Reed answered questions from the committee regarding dual enrollment programs.





09:36 AM



Dr. Reed answered questions regarding the equality gap in Colorado for earning higher education degrees. She also answered questions regarding the pathways available to high school students that do not pursue a degree at a higher education institution.





09:43 AM



Dr. Reed discussed the need to train and educate students for jobs that do not yet exist. She also discussed the demographics of student attainment of higher education degrees. Dr. Reed spoke on the costs associated with post secondary education.



Dr. Reed discussed CDHE goals for increasing higher education attainment, including increasing credentials, erasing equity gaps, improving student success, and creating greater affordability. She answered questions regarding recent grant funding awarded to CDHE.





09:53 AM



Dr. Reed discussed dual enrollment programs. She answered questions from the committee regarding specific courses available in dual enrollment programs. She also answered questions regarding the transferability of credits.



09:57 AM -- Dianne Duffy, Chief Operating Officer of the CDHE, answered questions from the committee regarding the funding of dual enrollment programs. She also answered questions regarding the transfer of credits.



The committee members continued to discuss and ask questions regarding concurrent enrollment programs.



Dr. Reed answered questions regarding the challenges of financing concurrent enrollment programs. She also answered questions regarding access to online classes.





10:12 AM



Dr. Reed continued to discuss the current goals for increasing degree attainment.



Dr. Reed answered questions regarding retention data. She also answered questions regarding the value and return on investment of a higher education degree.





10:24 AM



Dr. Reed continued to answer questions from the committee. Specifically, she answered questions regarding the funding formula for Pell Grant students. She also answered questions regarding workforce training.



The committee members provided closing comments to the CDHE presentation.