Postsecondary Student Success Data System (HB22-1349)

Implementation

Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado General Assembly, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE), and the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), the state of Colorado has begun work to reimagine the ways in which data are used to elevate student experiences and show the value of higher education.

HB22-1349 directs CCHE and CDHE to accomplish a variety of tasks related to better use of data to support student postsecondary and workforce success. These tasks (and the latest updates) are summarized below.

HB22-1349 bill text 

For more information on the bill and implementation, please contact Michael Vente at Michael.Vente@dhe.state.co.us.  

Technical Working Group

Background: HB22-1349 directs CCHE (with CDHE) to develop a policy on new student success measures that measure the progression of students through postsecondary education and the impact of postsecondary pathways on a student's career opportunities and success.

While over 90% of Colorado’s in-demand jobs that provide a living wage require postsecondary education, Colorado resident undergraduate postsecondary enrollment has declined by 6% since 2010. While Colorado has one of the most capital-efficient public postsecondary education ecosystems in the nation, it must continue to evolve to open many more doors so many more learners can benefit from a valuable postsecondary education.
The Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) recently released an updated strategic plan focused squarely on rising to this challenge and the Colorado legislature enacted HB22-1349 to further support this work. To support implementation of this strategic plan and legislation, CCHE will convene a Technical Working Group of local stakeholders and national experts to determine and define:

1. Colorado-specific measures of postsecondary value, including a “minimum economic viability threshold” focused on ensuring that Colorado learners, at a minimum, are able to count on their investment in postsecondary education enabling an increase in their lifetime earnings (over what they would have made had they not pursued postsecondary education) to exceed their cost of attendance (inclusive of the opportunity cost of foregone wages). (CCHE Strategic Plan)
2. “Student success measures that measure the progression of students through postsecondary education and the impact of postsecondary pathways on a student's career opportunities and success. The student success measures must include postsecondary success measures and workforce success measures.” (HB 22-1349)

 

Technical Working Group members

• Sarah Hughes, Chair - Colorado Commission on Higher Education
• Josh Scott, Vice Chair - Colorado Commission on Higher Education
• Britta Blodgett, Assistant Director of Communications and Collaboration - Colorado Workforce Development Council
• Marcia Bohannan, Chief Information Officer - Colorado Department of Education
• Dr. Sonia Brandon, Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness - University of Northern Colorado
• Dr. Joyce Brooks, Former Chairwoman - Colorado NAACP
• Mario Carrera, President - Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization
• Diane Cheng, Vice President of Research and Policy - Institute for Higher Education Policy
• Preston Cooper, Senior Fellow - Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity
• Dr. Nate Easley, Secretary - Colorado State University Board of Governors
• Dr. Landon Pirius, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs - Colorado Community College System
• Michelle Quinn, Vice President of Finance and Administration -Colorado Mesa University
• Michael Vente, Chief Performance Officer - Colorado Department of Higher Education
• Maggie Yang, Senior Director of Data Systems - Colorado Department of Higher Education

 

Meeting Schedule

The Technical Working Group will meet monthly through 2023 to discuss these topics and provide CCHE with recommendations on new measures of postsecondary and workforce success.
Meetings	Agenda & Material	Zoom Recording	Meeting Link
June 29, 2023 2:00pm-3:30pm	Agenda	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 820 5783 3390 Passcode: 996167
July 21, 2023 11:00am-12:30pm	Agenda Slides	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 844 6003 0938 Passcode: 062265
August 25, 2023 1:00pm-2:30pm	Agenda Slides	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 842 7577 4112 Passcode: 237172
September 29, 2023 1:00pm-2:30pm	Agenda Slides	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 845 7407 5532 Passcode: 807470
November 9, 2023 11:00am-12:30pm	Agenda	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 848 1470 6757 Passcode: 396411
December 8, 2023 10:00am-11:30am	Agenda	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 835 7838 3897 Passcode: 962688
January 29, 2024 1:00pm-2:30pm	Agenda Slides	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 890 9144 0324 Passcode: 552721
February 26, 2024 2:00pm-3:30pm	Agenda	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 810 5958 3824 Passcode: 473119
April 1, 2024 12:00pm-1:30pm	Agenda	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 822 3880 2072 Passcode: 691073
April 30, 2024 11:00am-12:30pm	Agenda	Recording link	Join Zoom Meeting  Meeting ID: 812 8629 4757 Passcode: 234877

 

Resources

• CO ROI Master's Project - Tyus
• 2015 APLU AACC
• 2022 CCHE Strategic Plan
• 2021 IHEP Gates Postsecondary Value Commission Executive Summary
• Mathematica Ed-Workforce Framework
• 2023 Bellwether Report
• FREEOPP

Statewide data systems and dashboards

HB22-1349 directs CDHE to develop a statewide data system of student success information to enhance data-based decision-making by institutions and the public in order to increase student success using the student success measures determined by CCHE. Data included in the institution and statewide data system will examine educational and workforce success disparities among various student populations, including populations identified by race, ethnicity, gender, first-generation status, disability, age, and socioeconomic factors.

Feedback from the Technical Working Group (summarized above) will inform what measures, dashboards, etc. are used to accomplish these goals.

SURDS updates and modernization

In order to facilitate the collection of student success data and information from institutions of higher education, CDHE shall update and modernize its data collection systems, including its Student Unit Record Data System (SURDS).

CDHE will provide updates on this work to stakeholders (including institutions of higher education, CCHE, and the Technical Working Group) as work progresses.

Reports on Colorado’s longitudinal data landscape and future

On or before January 15, 2023, and on or before January 15, 2024, CCHE shall submit a report to the House of Representative’s Education Committee and Senate Education Committee on the work required and any barriers identified, including recommendations for legislative changes necessary, to deliver a statewide longitudinal data system that connects K-12, postsecondary education, and workforce information.

The 2023 report provides an overview of the Colorado longitudinal data landscape (specifically the K-12, postsecondary education, and workforce continuum) along with recommendations to bolster well-governed data connections across state agencies.

The 2024 report provides updates on work over the past year, elevates specific use cases that can benefit from a more robust longitudinal data infrastructure and provides concrete actions Colorado can take to strengthen work around longitudinal data.

2023 Report - Colorado’s Longitudinal Data Landscape 
2024 Report - Charting Colorado’s Longitudinal Data Future