A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning authorizing Emily Griffith technical college to
Page 1, Line 102offer an associate of applied science degree.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill permits Emily Griffith technical college (college) to offer an associate of applied science degree program (degree program) with approval from the state board for community colleges and occupational education (board). The degree program must include a registered apprenticeship program and certain transferable general education courses.
In considering the college's request to offer a degree program, the board shall consider student and workforce demand, alignment with registered apprenticeship programs, cost-effectiveness for students and the state, and accreditation and licensing requirements. An approved degree program is eligible to receive federal "Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act" funds.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) Over the past decade, higher education in the United States has
Page 2, Line 4expanded its ability to meet the needs of students through adjustments to
Page 2, Line 5the role and mission of its institutions and through innovations in
Page 2, Line 6workforce training and education, including the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities;
Page 2, Line 7(b) Colorado has been at the forefront of these innovations, and
Page 2, Line 8the state's institutions have played a critical role in developing programs that address the needs of today's learners;
Page 2, Line 9(c) Emily Griffith technical college plays an integral role in
Page 2, Line 10Colorado's education system, providing career-relevant training and instruction that includes registered apprenticeships;
Page 2, Line 11(d) Registered apprenticeships offer learners high-quality career
Page 2, Line 12pathways through paid hands-on work in a chosen field. Through
Page 2, Line 13registered apprenticeships, learners gain the skills and competencies to
Page 2, Line 14make informed choices about their futures while employers build their talent pipelines.
Page 2, Line 15(e) While registered apprenticeships can give students a valuable,
Page 2, Line 16nationally recognized credential, many Emily Griffith learners complete
Page 2, Line 17apprenticeship programs just a few general education credits shy of an applied associate degree;
Page 3, Line 1(f) According to data from the Georgetown University Center on
Page 3, Line 2Education and the Workforce, students in many high-demand applied
Page 3, Line 3associate degree programs have higher earning potential than those with certificates or high school diplomas;
Page 3, Line 4(g) According to a 50-state analysis conducted in 2021 by
Page 3, Line 5Advance CTE, over a quarter of responding states reported that their area technical colleges offered associate degrees; and
Page 3, Line 6(h) Allowing Emily Griffith technical college to build on its
Page 3, Line 7apprenticeship programs by adding associate degrees to its offerings gives
Page 3, Line 8learners greater access to the job market and promotes lifelong learning.
Page 3, Line 9Programmatic growth at this vital institution is necessary to ensure that
Page 3, Line 10Colorado's higher education landscape continues to serve the needs of today's learners and employers.
Page 3, Line 11SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-60-211, add (6) as follows:
Page 3, Line 1223-60-211. Degrees. (6) Pursuant to section 23-60-804, the
Page 3, Line 13Emily Griffith technical college may offer an associate of applied science degree.
Page 3, Line 14SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 23-60-804 as follows:
Page 3, Line 1523-60-804. Emily Griffith technical college - associate of
Page 3, Line 16applied science degree program - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 17(a) "Board" means the state board for community colleges and occupational education created in section 23-60-104.
Page 3, Line 18(b) "Degree program" means a degree program offered by
Page 4, Line 1the Emily Griffith technical college pursuant to subsection (2)
Page 4, Line 2of this section that confers an associate of applied science degree.
Page 4, Line 3(2) The Emily Griffith technical college may, with board
Page 4, Line 4approval, offer an associate of applied science degree program
Page 4, Line 5to students who are enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program.
Page 4, Line 6(3) The degree program must:
Page 4, Line 7(a) Include a registered apprenticeship program within its curricular design;
Page 4, Line 8(b) Include sufficient transferable general education
Page 4, Line 9courses to complete the requirements for the designated degree
Page 4, Line 10program, as applicable, and pursuant to the guaranteed
Page 4, Line 11transfer pathways matrix described in section 23-1-108.5 or a statewide degree transfer agreement;
Page 4, Line 12(c) Align with high-need, high-demand occupations as
Page 4, Line 13identified by student demand and the most recent Colorado talent report created pursuant to section 24-46.3-103 (3); and
Page 4, Line 14(d) Be submitted to the Colorado department of higher
Page 4, Line 15education for inclusion in statewide publications of academic
Page 4, Line 16degree programs and the guaranteed transfer pathways matrix described in section 23-1-108.5, as applicable.
Page 4, Line 17(4) (a) Before the Emily Griffith technical college may
Page 4, Line 18offer an associate of applied science degree pursuant to
Page 4, Line 19subsection (2) of this section, the Emily Griffith technical
Page 4, Line 20college shall determine the program designation for the
Page 4, Line 21degree.
Page 5, Line 1(b) After determining the program designation for the
Page 5, Line 2associate of applied science degree pursuant to subsection (4)(a)
Page 5, Line 3of this section, the Emily Griffith technical college shall
Page 5, Line 4submit the degree program to the board for the board's review
Page 5, Line 5and approval. The Emily Griffith technical college may offer
Page 5, Line 6the degree program only after the degree program has been approved by the board.
Page 5, Line 7(5) (a) In deciding whether to approve a request by the
Page 5, Line 8Emily Griffith technical college to offer a degree program
Page 5, Line 9pursuant to subsection (4)(b) of this section, the board shall consider only the following criteria:
Page 5, Line 10(I) Student and workforce demand;
Page 5, Line 11(II) Alignment of the degree program with other
Page 5, Line 12registered apprenticeship programs offered by the Emily Griffith technical college;
Page 5, Line 13(III) Cost-effectiveness of the degree program for the students and the state; and
Page 5, Line 14(IV) Accreditation and licensing requirements for the degree program.
Page 5, Line 15(b) The board shall notify the Colorado commission on
Page 5, Line 16higher education of each degree program that the board approves pursuant to this section.
Page 5, Line 17(6) Consistent with the statewide master plan created
Page 5, Line 18pursuant to section 23-1-108 (1.5), a degree program established
Page 5, Line 19pursuant to this section is eligible to receive funds through the
Page 5, Line 20federal "Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education
Page 5, Line 21Improvement Act of 2006", 20 U.S.C. sec. 2301 et seq.
Page 6, Line 1SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 6, Line 2takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 6, Line 3ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 6, Line 4that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 6, Line 5of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 6, Line 6act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 6, Line 7effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 6, Line 8November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.