Faculty, staff input sought at CCHE meetings on higher education funding

Faculty and staff of universities and colleges are among the constituents being called upon to voice their opinions to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE), which is developing a new base funding formula for allocating state general fund dollars among public institutions of higher education.

A statewide schedule of meetings is underway, with dates announced for Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver locations; meetings in other Denver area locations are forthcoming.

Earlier this year, the Colorado Legislature passed and Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law House Bill 14-1319, which charges the CCHE with the task. The CCHE also must recommend tuition policies that ensure both accessible and affordable higher education for Colorado residents. The new funding model will be implemented in the 2015-16 academic year.

The Keystone Center and Engaged Public are facilitating public outreach meetings about HB 14-1319 across Colorado on behalf of the CCHE.

Besides faculty and staff, the CCHE wants to hear from students, parents, administrators, representatives from K-12, business leaders, elected officials and others interested in higher education in Colorado within the context of what the bill requires. Input from the regional outreach meetings will be synthesized and shared with the CCHE to help inform the design of the new base funding formula.

The community meetings are aimed at gathering answers to fundamental and aspirational questions like:

• What should the state priorities be regarding higher education?
• What are the needs of our economy, and workforce as it relates to higher education?
• How do we best invest in the future of our state?

The schedule of upcoming meetings:

• Alamosa: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 1, Adams State University, Student Union, Room TBD
• Boulder: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 2, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), The Learning Center
• Colorado Springs: 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 9, El Pomar Penrose House Conference Center
• Craig: noon-1:30 p.m. Sept. 25, Colorado Northwestern Community College – Craig Campus, Academic Building, Room 185
• Denver – Downtown/Central Metro: 8-10 a.m. Oct. 8, Auraria Campus, Tivoli Student Union, Baerresen Ballroom
• Denver – Golden/West Metro: 4-6 p.m. Oct. 7, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room
• Glenwood Springs: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 25, Glenwood Springs Community Center, Room Sopris C
• Grand Junction: 4-6 p.m. today, Colorado Mesa University, University Center, Room 213
• Gunnison: 8-10 a.m. today, Western State Colorado University, Aspinall-Wilson Center, the South Room
• Sterling: 4-5:30 p.m. Sept. 22, Northeastern Junior College, Hays Student Center, Tennant Art Gallery
• Trinidad: 4-5:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Trinidad State Junior College, Sullivan Center, Pioneer Room

Meetings in Development

• Denver - Aurora/East Metro
• Denver - Littleton/South Metro
• Fort Collins
• Fort Morgan
• Greeley
• La Junta
• Pueblo

To participate in a meeting, please REGISTER HERE as soon as possible. Meeting dates and times will be updated at this registration site as locations are confirmed. Light refreshments will be served. (If link does not work, copy/paste the following address into your web browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BDTNC7D )

For more information about this stakeholder engagement process, please contact: Hannah Lippe at 866-276-3074 or by e-mail.