Improving Statewide Transfer

Background

Senate Bill 24-164 modified the Student Bill of Rights (Colorado Revised Statute [C.R.S.] 23-1-125) for the first time since its inception in 2001 to improve transfer fairness and accountability. Students will benefit from faster credit evaluations, clearer policies, and enhanced appeals processes for Guaranteed Transfer (GT) Pathways courses. 

View Full Bill

Key Actions Completed

• Held over 65 stakeholder meetings to date to implement the bill;
• Expanded the General Education Council to include all 31 public institutions;  
• Revised CCHE Policy I, Part L to require institutional notification of transfer credit within thirty (30) days;
• Delivered recommendations to improve transfer within the Guaranteed Transfer (GT) Pathways course matrix to CCHE;
• Developed a student appeals process for GT Pathways course transfers; and,
• Promulgated rules to bring enforcement action on behalf of the state against IHEs for violations of C.R.S. 23-1-108.5;
• Report on transfer activity, including student completion data.
  • Data Files Available to Download:
    • Average attempted credits, credits to degree, and time to degree for transfer students compared to non-transfer students
    • Summary of students transferring to and from institutions of higher education
    • Accepted and Applied GT Pathways Credit Hours Data by Institution
    • Institution Reports of Most Common GT Pathways Course Transfer Issues

Next steps include:

• Finalize enforcement rules by March 2026.

CDHE Implementation Leads

• Carl Einhaus, Chief Student Success and Academic Affairs Officer (Main Lead)
• Michael Vente, Deputy Chief Research and Policy Officer
• Brad Griffith, Senior Director of Academic Pathways and Innovation
• Christina Carrillo, Academic Policy Officer and Advocate

Background

House Bill 25-1038 created Colorado Transfer, a centralized, online, statewide resource for students to explore transfer options. Initially prioritizing GT Pathways, credit-by-exam, and statewide transfer agreements, CDHE is charged with growing the site as a resource for current and prospective college students. The site does not offer admissions functionality or guarantees and is intended only to be a source of information and connection to institutions. 

View Full Bill
 

CDHE Implementation Leads

• Christina Carrillo, Academic Policy Officer and Advocate
• Ezekiel (Zeke) Clark, Web Developer/Project Manager
• Kennedy Evans, Budget and Policy Analyst
• Brad Griffith, Senior Director of Academic Pathways and Innovation 

Progress to Date

• Colorado Transfer was officially launched in September 2025 with Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) grant funding and incorporated:
  • Statewide GT Pathways course offerings;
  • GT Pathways credit-by-exam opportunities (i.e., Advanced Placement [AP], International Baccalaureate [IB], College-Level Examination Program [CLEP]); and
  • Streamlined navigation to Statewide Transfer Degrees and military credit for prior learning.
• Features on the website were designed with input from students, registrars, and academic advisors.
• Defined vision and funding needs for Phase 2 development of a standalone site to potentially include:
  • Enhanced credit transfer guidance tools for students;
  • Scalable data sharing for institutions;
  • Showcasing of industry-recognized credentials and apprenticeship certificates

Background

The Colorado Office of the State Auditor (OSA) conducted a comprehensive review of transfer credit processes during October 2024 to September 2025 at the request of the General Assembly. The audit examined whether statutory guarantees for GT Pathways, Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreements (STAAs), and military learning and experience credits are working as intended. The goal was to identify gaps that cause students to lose credits during transfer. 

Read the Full Report

Key Findings:

• Overall Performance: GT Pathways, STAAs, and military credit for prior learning generally functions as expected, but some students are still at risk of losing credits.
• Credit Loss Causes:
  • 13% of students (23 out of 176) lost credits because they failed to submit additional documentation or complete required review processes for prior learning or previously transferred credit.
  • 21% of students (37 out of 176) lost credits because they never submitted transcripts.
• Institutional Practices: Colleges had inconsistent follow-up practices for missing documentation, creating inequities for students.
• Military Credit: Most military students received some credit for prior learning, but processes varied widely.
• Recommendations: OSA issued 19 recommendations to improve transfer processes, including better communication with students, standardized follow-up procedures, and clearer documentation requirements.

CDHE Implementation Leads

• Carl Einhaus, Chief Student Success and Academic Affairs Officer (Main Lead)
• Brad Griffith, Senior Director of Academic Pathways and Innovation
• Christina Carrillo, Academic Policy Officer and Advocate

Next Steps

CDHE is reviewing all recommendations with the Commission and will publish an implementation plan in early 2026.

Background

CCHE reestablished this subcommittee under the Student Success and Workforce Alignment Standing Committee to address audit findings and strengthen statewide transfer policy and student success. The group serves as a collaborative forum for institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to recommend improvements. Its initial objectives are to:

• Review OSA audit recommendations and advise on implementation strategies.
• Identify broader policy changes to improve transfer equity and efficiency.
• Provide input on legislative compliance and student-facing resources.

Members were identified and nominated to participate in the transfer subcommittee by Commissioners and Advisors of the CCHE in addition to CDHE staff. 

Subcommittee Members
 

Representatives include commissioners, public colleges and universities, school districts, education advocacy organizations, and CDHE staff:

• Berrick Abramson, Chair – Colorado Commission on Higher Education
• Jennifer Walmer – Colorado Commission on Higher Education
• Miki Brooks, Director, Transfer Success Initiatives – University of Colorado Boulder
• Robert Cackler, Registrar – Colorado Mesa University
• Michelle Camacho Liu, Director, Programs & Policy – The Attainment Network
• Gabriela Chavez - Rocky Mountain Partnership
• Kristie Duran, High School Counselor - Sanford Schools
• Emmanuel (Manny) Garza, Performance Improvement Partner, Student Engagement – Cherry Creek School District
• Theresa Groff, Registrar – Arapahoe Community College
• Carrie Knudson, Director of Concurrent Enrollment – Northeastern Junior College
• Peter Lindstrom, Interim President & Provost - Community College of Denver
• Tamara McCool, Registrar – Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Shannon Nicholas, Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy – Colorado Succeeds
• Travis Parkhurst, Faculty – Pueblo Community College
• Dr. Landon Pirius, President – Red Rocks Community College
• Dr. Kathryn Regjo, Vice President of Academic Affairs - Colorado Mountain College
• Michelle Romero, Director, Office of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness – Colorado Department of Education
• Debbie Shackelford - Apprenticeship Colorado
• Patrick Tally, Assistance Dean of Academic and Curricular Affairs - University of Colorado Boulder
• Dr. Linda Van Doren, Vice President of Education – Emily Griffith Technical College
• Carl Einhaus, Chief Student Success and Academic Affairs Officer – Colorado Department of Higher Education
• Brad Griffith, Senior Director of Academic Pathways and Innovation – Colorado Department of Higher Education
• Christina Carrillo, Academic Policy Officer and Advocate – Colorado Department of Higher Education
   

Transfer Subcommittee Meeting Schedule

The CCHE Transfer Subcommittee will meet monthly through 2025-2026.