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Governor Polis and Colorado Department of Higher Education Announce $5.6 Million in Grants to Expand Work Based Learning Educational Opportunities for Rural Colorado College Students

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DENVER ~ Denver, CO - Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) have announced a significant investment of $5.6 million in grant funding to implement Work Based Learning Experiences in Higher Education (HB 25-1186). This landmark initiative aims to strengthen educational pathways by integrating work based learning for students in rural and underserved communities across the state.

The funding for this initiative comes from Ascendium Education Group, who has committed $5.5 million over three years, with an additional $100,000 one-year grant from Strada Education Foundation. This support will help expand access and opportunities at institutions serving rural and low-socioeconomic populations.

Governor Polis expressed his enthusiasm for this investment, stating that it represents a major step forward in ensuring that every Colorado student has access to quality educational opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of recognizing the vital role that rural communities and their institutions play in Colorado's future.

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The legislation behind this funding, House Bill 25-1186, was sponsored by Rep. Matthew Martinez, Rep. Meghan Lukens, Sen. Janice Rich and Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet. It reflects a bipartisan commitment to addressing educational disparities in Colorado's rural communities.

The legislation with this funding is expected to create a statewide consortium to expand work based learning opportunities, remove financial barriers for students by authorizing state work study funds to cover credit-bearing work based learning opportunities, respond to persistent disparities in internship access, and establish data collection metrics to measure impact.

Dr. Angie Paccione, executive director of CDHE, highlighted the unique challenges faced by Colorado's rural areas such as limited access to educational resources, economic opportunities and support services. She also noted that institutions serving these communities often operate with constrained budgets while serving populations with significant needs. The grants will provide critical support to help these institutions better serve their students.

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The grants will be managed by CDHE's Office of Educational Equity, Workforce and Social Mobility. This office is responsible for convening the Equity Champions Coalition and managing the Social Determinants of Student Success and Workforce Determinants of Student Success, which designate campuses as Healthy Minds, Hunger Free and Career Connected. The office also provides institutions with a First Generation-Serving Institution Designation, which recognizes colleges and universities that enroll a higher-than-average number of first-generation students.

Dr. Gillian McKnight-Tutein, CDHE's Chief Educational Impact Officer, expressed gratitude to Ascendium and Strada for their partnership in this initiative. She emphasized the importance of supporting talented students statewide in pursuing their education and career goals side by side, without having to choose one over the other. This partnership demonstrates a shared dedication to educational equity and opportunity.

The multi-year funding structure allows for sustained program development and implementation, ensuring that rural-serving institutions have the resources needed to build lasting infrastructure and support systems for their students. This investment is a significant step towards promoting the public value of higher education and addressing equity gaps in Colorado.

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