CCCS Internal Every year, the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) finds new ways to meet the needs of students, communities, and industries—and 2024 was no exception. Among many accomplishments, we were proud to launch a statewide listening tour to shape our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, sign new transfer agreements, and lead discussions on critical higher education and workforce issues.
Here are some highlights from the past year:
January 2024
CCCS LAUNCHES WORKFORCE RESILIENCE PROGRAM FOR RURAL COLORADO
CCCS introduced the Workforce Resilience Program, a statewide grant initiative supporting rural businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19.
February 2024
Community Colleges to Offer Five Micro-Credential Pathways in Behavioral Health this Fall
Colorado community colleges will launch five short-term micro-credential pathways in behavioral health, preparing students for entry-level roles and creating a stackable pathway to advanced degrees while addressing the state’s workforce needs.
CCCS, CU BOULDER FORGE NEW ENGINEERING TRANSFER PATHWAYS
CCCS and CU Boulder expanded their engineering transfer pathways to include architectural, computer, electrical, and general engineering, enabling community college students with an Associate of Engineering Science degree to seamlessly transfer and complete a Bachelor of Science in two to three years.
CCCS BEGINS STATEWIDE STRATEGIC PLANNING LISTENING TOUR
CCCS and SBCCOE leaders launched a statewide listening tour to gather input for a new strategic plan shaping the direction of CCCS and its 13 colleges from 2025 to 2030.
March 2024
CCCS, COMMUNITY COLLEGES AWARDED OVER $300,000 IN OPEN EDUCATION GRANTS
CCCS and six community colleges won nearly $309,000 in open education grants from the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
CCCS ANNOUNCES DR. SARAH HEATH AS VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS
Dr. Sarah Heath was named Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for CCCS.
April 2024
DR. CHATO HAZELBAKER NAMED PRESIDENT OF PUEBLO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dr. Chato Hazelbaker was named the next president of Pueblo Community College, succeeding Dr. Patricia Erjavec, following a nationwide search and extensive stakeholder input.
CCCS RECOGNIZES 54 OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES
CCCS held its sixth annual Commitment Excellence Awards ceremony, celebrating 54 employees from across the System for their contributions to the overall success of their college, students, and communities.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS RECEIVE $23 MILLION IN STATE GRANTS
CCCS and eight member colleges secured over $23 million through Colorado’s Opportunity Now program to support 14 workforce development projects, creating streamlined pathways to in-demand jobs in industries like construction and aerospace.
May 2024
PPSC CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM RECEIVES STATE FUNDING BOOST
Pikes Peak State College received $300,000 from the Colorado General Assembly to expand its cybersecurity program, building on prior state investments that have doubled enrollment and awarded 82 credentials over five years.
CCCS JOINS GOV. JARED POLIS TO CELEBRATE SIGNING OF KEY HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATION
CCCS celebrated with Governor Jared Polis and state legislators the signing of key higher education legislation in 2024, securing increased funding, improved transfer processes, and a new refundable tax credit to expand access to workforce training and higher education across Colorado.
June 2024
CCCS ADULT EDUCATION SUMMIT DRAWS HUNDREDS OF HIGHER ED AND WORKFORCE EXPERTS
The fourth Chancellor’s Summit on Adult Education, hosted by CCCS and supported by the Lumina Foundation, gathered over 300 experts to explore strategies for supporting adult learners, emphasizing the need to address barriers like time and money to help nontraditional students succeed in higher education.
July 2024
STATE BOARD APPROVES HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL PATHWAY AT COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Colorado community colleges will soon offer career-connected high school diplomas, creating new opportunities for the 300,000 adults in the state without a high school credential to access education, training, and family-sustaining jobs.
RED ROCKS COMMUNITY COLLEGE RECEIVES GRANT TO DIVERSIFY PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROFESSION
Red Rocks Community College received $425,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation to expand its physician assistant program, increasing access to care in underserved communities and addressing workforce shortages while promoting diversity in healthcare.
August 2024
ENGINEERING MOMENTUM PROGRAM PROPELS STUDENTS TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS
Saman Nasur, a participant in the Community College of Denver’s Engineering Momentum program, reflects on his journey toward an engineering career as he and over 100 students prepare for success through a federally funded initiative that combines STEM education, support services, and practical experience to help underrepresented students thrive in engineering.
September 2024
CCCS AWARDS $855K IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO RURAL EMPLOYERS
CCCS awarded $855,000 in Workforce Resilience Program grants to 23 rural employers, funding workforce development projects like certifications and upskilling to support communities and businesses still recovering from the pandemic.
CCCS HONORS FIVE LEGISLATORS FOR EXCEPTIONAL ADVOCACY
CCCS honored five Colorado lawmakers with the 2024 Legislators of the Year Award for their exceptional advocacy in advancing community colleges, workforce development, and affordable higher education, including pivotal support for the nationally recognized “Student Bill of Rights” legislation.
October 2024
CCCS RURAL COLLEGES SYNC UP TO EXPAND OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS
CCCS’s Rural College Consortium brought together seven colleges at its Third Annual Symposium to enhance education access and support for rural students by connecting courses, programs, and services across 16 campuses.
November 2024
CCCS LIBRARIES HONORED WITH THE PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD
CCCS’s Online Library and 13 college libraries received the Project of the Year Award from the Colorado Association of Libraries, recognizing the transformative impact of the CCCS Central Library in enhancing access to resources and support for students, faculty, and staff statewide.
December 2024
COLORADO HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS UNITE FOR IMPACTFUL EQUITY DAY OF ACTION
Colorado’s 2024 Equity Day of Action, held at Colorado State University Fort Collins, united 150 higher education leaders to celebrate progress and strategies in advancing equity, with CCCS Chancellor Joe Garcia receiving the inaugural Equity Champion Legacy Award for his lifelong dedication to educational access and inclusion.
