C.R.S. Section 23-5-145.5
Credit for work-related experience

  • plan
  • report
  • definitions
  • repeal

(1)

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

(a)

“Commission on higher education” or “commission” has the same meaning set forth in section 23-1-101.1 (1).

(b)

“Council” means the council created and existing pursuant to section 23-1-108.5, convened by the commission on higher education.

(c)

“Guaranteed-transfer pathways” or “GT pathways” means the statewide articulation matrix system of common course numbering for general education courses described in section 23-1-108.5 (3)(c).

(d)

“State institution of higher education” or “institution” has the same meaning set forth in section 23-1-135 (2).

(e)

“Statewide degree transfer agreement” means a statewide degree transfer agreement described in section 23-1-108 (7).

(f)

“Work-related experience” means any experience acquired within the past ten years through paid or unpaid employment, including but not limited to self-employment, an internship, a residency, a pre-apprenticeship program, or an apprenticeship program that may lead to or result in a business credential, an industry credential, a technical certificate, or a professional license.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The department of higher education, in consultation with institutions, shall conduct a study concerning awarding academic credit for prior learning opportunities within all institutions. The study must examine:

(I)

The processes by which a student can receive academic credit for any course in the undergraduate curriculum, free of tuition, through successful completion of a portfolio assessment, individual assessment, examination, or any combination thereof that is appropriate to the learning outcomes of the course;

(II)

The potential benefits to a student, including but not limited to impact on a student’s overall attendance cost, whether a policy would accelerate the time to complete a postsecondary credential, and the impact on the state’s goal to increase credential attainment rates; and

(III)

The costs to institutions to develop and maintain processes to grant academic credit to a student for prior learning and the ability to recover administrative costs from students requesting the prior learning assessment.

(b)

On or before September 1, 2021, the commission shall report to the education committees of the senate and house of representatives, or any successor committees, the results of the study described in subsection (2)(a) of this section.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

On or before January 1, 2022, the council, in collaboration with the commission, shall create, adopt, and implement a plan, referred to in this section as the “plan”, to award postsecondary academic credit for courses in GT pathways or a statewide degree transfer agreement for learning demonstrated from work-related experience. In creating the plan, priority may be given to work-related experience that is responsive to workforce demands and growing industries identified by the most recent Colorado talent pipeline report prepared pursuant to section 24-46.3-103 or identified in consultation with the Colorado work force development council in section 24-46.3-101.

(b)

The council, commission, or department of higher education, or any combination thereof, may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of creating, adopting, and implementing a plan pursuant to this section. The plan shall not be created, adopted, or implemented unless sufficient money is available from gifts, grants, or donations to cover the costs of creating, adopting, and implementing a plan pursuant to this section.

(4)

The plan must include:

(a)

A process for assessing and aligning work-related experience to the knowledge and competencies required for awarding postsecondary academic credit for courses in GT pathways or a statewide degree transfer agreement, which credit granted must be transferable to another institution pursuant to commission policy regarding GT pathways or a statewide degree transfer agreement; and

(b)

A process for evaluating credentials earned by a student at an area technical college pursuant to section 23-60-802 and determining how postsecondary academic credit will transfer from area technical colleges, if appropriate, to public two-year and four-year state institutions of higher education.

(5)

The council, in creating the plan, shall consult with:

(a)

Representatives of institutions, including, but not limited to, faculty members and registrars;

(b)

Representatives of organizations that represent students in Colorado;

(c)

Representatives of the Colorado work force development council;

(d)

Representatives of industries with high workforce demand and growing industries identified in the most recent Colorado talent pipeline report and organizations representing them; and

(e)

Representatives selected by the commission.

(6)

Upon completion of the plan, the council, in collaboration with the representatives described in subsection (5) of this section, shall continue to work toward expanding opportunities for awarding postsecondary academic credit for learning acquired from work-related experience not otherwise addressed in this section.

(7)

Beginning in the 2022-23 academic year, unless the plan is implemented prior to the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year, an institution shall accept in and transfer within the institution and to other institutions postsecondary academic credit awarded for work-related experience for a course that is GT pathways designated or part of a statewide degree transfer agreement.

(8)

Repealed.

(9)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

On or before March 1, 2024, and on or before March 1 of each year thereafter, the council shall report to the education committees of the senate and house of representatives, or any successor committees, regarding the continued implementation of this section. The report must include, at a minimum:

(I)

The number of students who were awarded credits and who transferred credits to or from an institution pursuant to this section;

(II)

Data regarding the age and demographics of students who were awarded credits and who transferred credits to or from an institution pursuant to this section;

(III)

The implementation challenges of this section;

(IV)

The fee established and charged by institutions, if any, to administer a portfolio assessment, individual assessment, examination, or any combination thereof;

(V)

The direct costs imposed on institutions to implement this section; and

(VI)

Any recommended statutory revisions to this section.

(b)

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the reporting requirement pursuant to this subsection (9) continues until the repeal of this subsection (9).

(c)

This subsection (9) is repealed, effective July 1, 2029.

Source: Section 23-5-145.5 — Credit for work-related experience - plan - report - definitions - repeal, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-23.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

23‑5‑101.5
Enterprise status of auxiliary facilities - definitions 23‑5‑101.7
Enterprise status of institutions of higher education 23‑5‑102
Funding for auxiliary facilities - institutions of higher education - loans - bonds 23‑5‑103
Pledge of income 23‑5‑104
No property lien 23‑5‑105
Tax exemption 23‑5‑105.5
State board for community colleges and occupational education - authority to create financial obligations 23‑5‑106
Authority of governing boards - general - health-care insurance - contracts of indemnity 23‑5‑106.5
Authority of governing boards - student applications - criminal and disciplinary history inquiry - exceptions - definitions 23‑5‑107
Authority of governing boards - parking 23‑5‑108
Governing boards authorized to cede jurisdiction for enforcement of traffic laws 23‑5‑109
Identification - suicide and crisis prevention - rules 23‑5‑110
Medical personnel 23‑5‑112
Gifts and bequests to institutions of higher education - venture development investment funds 23‑5‑113
Collection of loans and outstanding obligations - state educational institutions 23‑5‑113.5
Prohibition on withholding transcripts and diplomas - postsecondary institution - remedy - definitions 23‑5‑114
National direct student loans - authority to separately collect advances 23‑5‑115
Loans or outstanding obligations offset 23‑5‑116
Governing boards - authority to provide out-of-state courses 23‑5‑117
Governing boards - delegation of personnel power 23‑5‑118
Selective service registration information 23‑5‑119.5
Student fees - legislative declaration - definitions - institutional plans - fee information - reporting 23‑5‑120
Student fees - deposit - interest 23‑5‑121
Governing boards - authority to establish nonprofit corporations for developing discoveries and technology 23‑5‑122
Intrainstitutional and intrasystem transfers - course scheduling 23‑5‑123
Sabbatical leave - policy - production of records - legislative declaration - definition 23‑5‑124
Student enrollment - prohibition - public peace and order convictions - definitions 23‑5‑125
Campus sex offender information 23‑5‑126
Governing boards - anti-terrorism measures 23‑5‑127
Unique student identifying number - social security number - prohibition 23‑5‑128
Meningococcal disease - information - immunity - definitions 23‑5‑131
Governing boards - tuition - fixed rate contract - definitions 23‑5‑132
Governing boards - travel policies - exemption from state travel rules 23‑5‑134
Appointments to governing boards - considerations 23‑5‑136
Governing boards - online textbook program 23‑5‑137
Loan repayment assistance - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑5‑138
Textbooks - academic freedom - definitions 23‑5‑139
Higher education revenue bond intercept program - definitions 23‑5‑140
Lifesaving school safety information - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑5‑140.5
Employee information - student loan repayment and forgiveness programs 23‑5‑140.7
Calculation of full-time employment of teachers for purposes of the federal public loan forgiveness program - definitions 23‑5‑141
Campus police information sharing - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑5‑142
Institution law enforcement agencies to provide identification cards to retired peace officers upon request - definitions 23‑5‑143
Sexual assault victim care - memorandum of understanding - training - definitions 23‑5‑144
Students’ right to speak in a public forum - legislative declaration - violations - court actions - free speech zones - definitions 23‑5‑145
Credit for military education and training - policy - definition 23‑5‑145.5
Credit for work-related experience - plan - report - definitions - repeal 23‑5‑145.6
Opportunities for credential attainment - fund - report - definitions - repeal 23‑5‑145.7
Funding for nondegree credential programs - duty - policy - appropriation - report - definitions - repeal 23‑5‑146
Sexual misconduct - policies - confidential resources - training - reports - definitions 23‑5‑147
Sexual misconduct advisory committee - membership - duties - report - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑5‑148
Dental therapy training programs - authorization to grant advanced standing - definition 23‑5‑149
Epinephrine auto-injectors at institutions of higher education - immunity - short title
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 23-5-145.5’s source at colorado​.gov