C.R.S. Section 23-1-131.5
Commission directive

  • Colorado re-engaged (CORE) initiative
  • four-year institutions
  • associate degrees
  • report
  • definitions

(1)

As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

“Colorado re-engaged initiative” or “CORE initiative” means the initiative created in this section to authorize institutions to award associate degrees to eligible students.

(b)

“Eligible student” means an undergraduate student who meets the criteria specified in subsection (5) of this section.

(c)

“Institution of higher education” or “institution” means a local district college operating pursuant to article 71 of this title 23 or a state institution of higher education as defined in section 23-18-102 (10)(a), but not including an institution governed by the state board for community colleges and occupational education.

(2)

There is created in the department the Colorado re-engaged, or CORE, initiative to authorize institutions of higher education to award associate degrees, notwithstanding an institution’s role and mission, to eligible students who enroll in baccalaureate degree programs and earn at least seventy credit hours in the programs, but withdraw from the institutions before attaining the baccalaureate degree. The goal of awarding an associate degree through the CORE initiative is to increase a student’s earning potential by granting the student a degree, making it more likely the student will re-enroll and complete a baccalaureate degree or higher.

(3)

The commission shall collaborate with the institutions of higher education to develop and coordinate a process to identify eligible students and award associate degrees through the CORE initiative. To implement the CORE initiative, the role of the department is to:

(a)

Publicize the CORE initiative, including the eligibility requirements that a student must meet to obtain an associate degree through the CORE initiative as described in subsection (5) of this section; and

(b)

Work with the institutions to identify eligible students and notify those eligible students of their eligibility to obtain an associate degree through the CORE initiative and the process for doing so.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The role of an institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative is limited to:

(I)

Providing to the department contact information for eligible students, if available;

(II)

Determining whether an eligible student qualifies for an associate degree based on earned credits and courses taken;

(III)

Issuing an associate degree upon the request of an eligible student and advising the student of opportunities to re-enroll at the institution to complete the baccalaureate degree program; and

(IV)

Submitting to the department the information described in subsection (6) of this section.

(b)

An institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative must obtain approval from the institution’s accrediting agency to grant associate degrees through the CORE initiative. An institution may award an associate degree to an eligible student through the CORE initiative for up to ten academic years after the last semester in which the eligible student enrolled at the institution.

(c)

An institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative shall not allow a student to enroll in the institution to obtain an associate degree and shall not offer programs that are designed to lead to associate degrees; except that this subsection (4)(c) does not apply to a local district college, Adams state university, Fort Lewis college with regard to the authority granted in section 23-52-101 (2)(a), and Colorado Mesa university. The associate degrees issued by institutions through the CORE initiative shall not be considered in determining an institution’s funding pursuant to part 3 of article 18 of this title 23.

(5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

To receive an associate degree through the CORE initiative, a student must:

(I)

Not have transferred to the institution directly after earning fifteen or more credit hours from any single institution governed by the state board of community colleges and occupational education;

(II)

Not have been enrolled in the institution for at least two consecutive semesters; and

(III)

Have earned at least seventy credit hours, which credits must include completion of the institution’s general education core course requirements and completion of all other courses required for an associate degree program approved by the commission.

(b)

Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a student who is eligible to receive an associate degree through a program authorized in section 23-1-131 is not eligible to receive an associate degree through the CORE initiative.

(6)

Each institution that chooses to participate in the CORE initiative shall, by August 1, 2022, and by August 1 each year thereafter, report to the department the number of eligible students to whom the institution awarded an associate degree through the CORE initiative, the types of associate degrees awarded through the CORE initiative, and the number of students who re-enrolled in the institution after receiving an associate degree through the CORE initiative. The department shall review and compile the annual reports and, by January 15, 2025, submit to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, a report concerning implementation of the CORE initiative, including, to the extent discernable, the degree to which students who receive associate degrees through the CORE initiative re-enroll in an institution to complete a baccalaureate degree. The department may also include in the report recommendations for changes to the CORE initiative, including recommendations for incentives to encourage institutions to participate in the CORE initiative.

Source: Section 23-1-131.5 — Commission directive - Colorado re-engaged (CORE) initiative - four-year institutions - associate degrees - report - definitions, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-23.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

23‑1‑101
Legislative declaration 23‑1‑101.1
Definitions 23‑1‑102
Commission established - terms of office 23‑1‑103
Advisory committee to the Colorado commission on higher education 23‑1‑104
Financing the system of postsecondary education - report 23‑1‑105
Duties and powers of the commission with respect to appropriations 23‑1‑105.5
Duties and powers of the commission with respect to student fees - report on tuition and fees 23‑1‑106
Duties and powers of the commission with respect to capital construction and long-range planning - legislative declaration - report - definitions 23‑1‑106.3
Duties and powers of the commission - capital construction projects - federal mineral lease revenues fund - higher education institutions financed purchase of an asset cash fund 23‑1‑106.7
Duties and powers of the department with respect to technology transfers 23‑1‑107
Duties and powers of the commission with respect to program approval, review, reduction, and discontinuance 23‑1‑108
Duties and powers of the commission with regard to systemwide planning - reporting - definitions 23‑1‑108.5
Duties and powers of the commission with regard to common course numbering system - council of higher education representatives - definitions - repeal 23‑1‑109
Duties and powers of the commission with regard to off-campus instruction - provision of concurrent enrollment programs - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑1‑109.3
Duties and powers of the commission with regard to student data - memorandum of understanding 23‑1‑109.7
Duties and powers of the commission with regard to the provision of educational services 23‑1‑109.8
Duties and powers of the commission with regard to employment first policies 23‑1‑110
Organization, meetings, and staff 23‑1‑112
Tuition - reciprocal agreements 23‑1‑113
Commission directive - admission standards for baccalaureate and graduate institutions of higher education - policy - report - definitions 23‑1‑113.2
Department directive - admission standards for students holding international baccalaureate diplomas - legislative declaration 23‑1‑113.3
Commission directive - developmental education courses - report 23‑1‑113.5
Commission directive - resident admissions - report - definitions 23‑1‑113.7
Commission directive - nursing programs - employer-based gift and scholarship fund - reporting requirement - legislative declaration 23‑1‑119
Department directive - transition between K-12 education system and postsecondary education system 23‑1‑119.1
Department directive - notice of postsecondary educational opportunities and higher education admission guidelines 23‑1‑119.2
Commission directive - notice of college preparatory courses for high school students 23‑1‑119.3
Department directive - exchange of student records 23‑1‑119.5
Online career platform - appropriations from Colorado work force development council 23‑1‑120
Commission directive - incentives for improvement initiative grants 23‑1‑121.2
Department directive - educator preparation pathways - public information 23‑1‑121.7
Commission directive - paraprofessional programs 23‑1‑121.8
Department directive - workgroup on diversity in the educator workforce - duties - recommendations - report - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal 23‑1‑125
Commission directive - student bill of rights - degree requirements - implementation of core courses - competency test - prior learning - prior work-related experience 23‑1‑126
Commission directive - nursing programs 23‑1‑127
Commission directive - regional education providers - criteria 23‑1‑128
Commission directive - American sign language in higher education institutions 23‑1‑129
Commission directive - student loans 23‑1‑131
Commission directive - associate degree completion program - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑1‑131.5
Commission directive - Colorado re-engaged (CORE) initiative - four-year institutions - associate degrees - report - definitions 23‑1‑132
Commission directive - tuition waivers for exonerated persons 23‑1‑133
Commission directive - bachelor of science degree in nursing program - Aims community college - approval 23‑1‑134
Commission directive - open educational resources - course notice - report - definitions 23‑1‑135
Department directive - undergraduate degree and certificate programs - annual return on investment report - definition - repeal 23‑1‑136
Department directive - federal student loan repayment and forgiveness program information 23‑1‑137
Prohibition on use of American Indian mascots - exemptions - definitions 23‑1‑137.5
Tribal regalia at college graduation ceremonies - definitions 23‑1‑139
Department directive - contract for use of online platform for public benefits 23‑1‑140
Commission directive - statewide student success measures - definitions 23‑1‑141
Student success data system - student success data transparency - appropriation - definition - repeal 23‑1‑142
Commission directive - expansion of forestry and wildfire mitigation degree and certificate programs - simulator - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 23-1-131.5’s source at colorado​.gov