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Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) Initiative

graduating student

 

The Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) Initiative enables four-year institutions in Colorado to award an earned associate degree to eligible students who have stopped-out from a baccalaureate program after earning at least 70 credit hours. In enacting the supporting legislation, the Colorado Legislature recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic forced many students – particularly those from low-income communities – to stop attending the state’s colleges and universities before attaining a bachelor’s degree.  These stop-out students have invested a significant amount of time and money to advance their knowledge and skills through higher education, but do not have an academic credential to reflect this investment.

Data gathered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education indicates over 25,000 Coloradans  may be eligible for an associate degree under CORE. By offering qualifying stop-out students an earned associate degree for credits already completed, institutions participating in CORE can:

  • Enable degree recipients to obtain higher paying jobs and more secure employment, which will improve economic prospects for these former students and their communities.
  • Increase the number of Coloradans with academic credentials and degrees, which will strengthen the state’s workforce and support the economic recovery of the business community.
  • Better position degree recipients to return to higher education to complete a bachelor’s degree or higher.

CORE in the News 

Video of Support by Governor Jared Polis

Resources

Program Overview

For Four-Year Institutions

Relevant Legislation

CORE Initiative Fact Sheet

Working Group Guidelines and Recommendations

Overview Presentation

HB23-1262 "Expanding Student Eligibility for the CORE Initiative"

Letter of Support to Colorado's Universities

Four-Year Universities Currently Participating in the CORE Initiative – with Contact Information

Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Office of the Registrar

RegistrarsOffice@colostate.edu

970.491.4860

https://registrar.colostate.edu/associate-of-general-studies/

Colorado State University – Pueblo

Phillip Schulz

Adult Learning/PLA Lead Specialist

Division of Extended Studies

Phillip.schulz@csupueblo.edu

719-549-2543

Fort Lewis College

Kris Greer

Associate Provost

Greer_k@fortlewis.edu

970-247-6146

Metropolitan State University

Darla Sprinkle Renke

Assistant Registrar, Degree Evaluation

Dsprink3@msudenver.edu

303-605-5592

Office of the Registrar

303-556-3991

graduation@msudenver.edu

University of Colorado – Denver

Todd Deese

Sr. Associate Registrar

Todd.Deese@ucdenver.edu

CU Denver Registrar’s Office

Registrar@ucdenver.edu

University of Colorado - Colorado Springs

Office of the Registrar
registrar@uccs.edu
(719) 255-3361

University of Northern Colorado

     Office of the Registrar

      Email: graduation@unco.edu

      Phone: 970-351-4862

Western Colorado University

Meagan Tracey (she/her)
Student Reengagement Coordinator
Registration and Advising Services

 

Western Colorado University
website: www.western.edu
email:  mtracey@western.edu