CCCS Begins Statewide Strategic Planning Listening Tour

Findings Will Inform 2030 Strategic Plan

Feb. 27, 2024 (DENVER) — Leaders from the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) will begin a statewide listening tour next week that will inform the development of a new strategic plan guiding CCCS and its 13 colleges from 2025 through 2030.

The tour will begin at Red Rocks Community College on Monday, March 4, and extend into April. The sessions will convene learners, employers, communities, and additional stakeholders. CCCS will also invite Coloradans to submit comments and suggestions through an online survey.

“Listening and learning across our state will lay a new foundation for the future of our community colleges,” said Dr. Landon Mascareñaz, chair of the SBCCOE that oversees CCCS. “This 2030 strategic plan must belong to the entire state of Colorado in order to seize the tremendous momentum we see growing in every community. We will need all voices—learners, faculty, business, K-12, and so many other partners—to join us in building the next generation of our system with economic mobility as our north star.”

The new plan will guide CCCS priorities and activities over the next five years and address challenges and opportunities facing community colleges. As Colorado experiences significant shifts in demographics, student learning preferences, and workforce needs, the plan will consider innovative ways to deliver education and training that are responsive to today’s learners and employers. CCCS expects to finalize the plan later this year.

The state’s largest provider of higher education and workforce training, CCCS includes 13 colleges with more than 35 locations across Colorado that collectively serve 114,000 students every year. CCCS also administers the state’s federally funded Career and Technical Education programs that engage 230,000 postsecondary and secondary students and serves 44,000 high school students annually through Colorado’s Concurrent Enrollment program.

“Throughout our history, Colorado has looked to community colleges to rise to our state’s most significant challenges,” said Joe Garcia, chancellor of CCCS. “Working closely with our communities, we look forward to charting a bold vision for the future that addresses critical workforce needs while making education and training even more accessible and affordable for Coloradans.”

CCCS has partnered with Keystone Policy Center to facilitate the listening sessions; develop plan goals and strategies; and synthesize data and feedback to create a shared vision for community colleges. Philanthropic partners ZOMA Foundation and the Colorado Trust are also supporting the project.

“We are honored to have been selected to support the Colorado Community College System. Our hope is to develop a process characterized by inclusive engagement, creativity, and partnership,” said Charles Dukes, Keystone’s Senior Policy Director & Director for Center of Education. “Our goal is for this process to culminate in the delivery of a clear, action-oriented plan that showcases all the assets across CCCS and inspires learners.”

CCCS will visit each college on the dates below; times are forthcoming. This schedule is subject to change. Please check the CCCS website for updates.

Tuesday, April 23 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. – StudentsRocky Mountain Room, Westminster Campus, 3645 West 112th Avenue, Westminster, CO 80031

College Listening Tour Date and Time Location
Red Rocks Community College Monday, March 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. Community Room, 13300 W. 6th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80228
Community College of Aurora Wednesday, March 13 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. Classroom Building Room 207 A & B, 16000 E. Centre Tech Parkway, Aurora, CO 80011
Arapahoe Community College Monday, March 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Students Student Life Area, Littleton Campus, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80160
Monday, March 18 from 3 to 5 p.m. – Employees Summit Room, Littleton Campus, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80160
Monday, March 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Community Members Summit Room, Littleton Campus, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80160
Pikes Peak State College Tuesday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Theatre, Centennial Campus, 5675 S. Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Tuesday, March 19 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Room S205, Downtown Campus, 100 West Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Morgan Community College Wednesday, March 20 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Founders Room, 920 Barlow Road, Fort Morgan, CO 80701
Northeastern Junior College Thursday, March 21 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ES French #126, 100 College Avenue, Sterling, CO 80751
Pueblo Community College Tuesday, March 26 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Student Commons, Southwest (Mancos) Campus, 33057 Hwy. 160, Mancos, CO 81328
Otero College Wednesday, March 27 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. – Students, Employees and Community Members Room 137, McBride Hall, 1802 Colorado Avenue, La Junta, CO 81050
Lamar Community College Thursday, March 28 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. – Internal Stakeholders Bowman East Large Lecture Hall, 2401 Main Street, Lamar, CO 81052
Thursday, March 28 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. – External Stakeholders Bowman East Large Lecture Hall, 2401 Main Street, Lamar, CO 81052
Pueblo Community College Monday, April 1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m.– Students, Employees and Community Members Fortino Ballroom AB, Pueblo Campus, 900 W. Orman Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81004
Tuesday, April 2 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.– Students, Employees and Community Members Student Commons, Fremont Campus, 51320 West Highway 50, Canon City, 81212
Trinidad State College Thursday, April 4 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. – Lunch will be served. Room 120-122, Valley Campus, 1011 Main Street, Alamosa, CO 81101
Friday, April 5 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. – Lunch will be served. Sullivan Student Center, Trinidad Campus, 600 Prospect Street, Trinidad, CO 81082
Community College of Denver Wednesday, April 10 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Students, Employees and Community Members Community College of Denver, Confluence Building, 800 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80204
Colorado Northwestern Community College Thursday, April 18 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. – Employees and Community Members Johnson Banquet Room, Rangely Campus, 500 Kennedy Dr., Rangely, CO 81648
Thursday, April 18 from 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Students Johnson Banquet Room, Rangely Campus, 500 Kennedy Dr., Rangely, CO 81648
Thursday, April 18 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. – Students, Employees and Community Members Library, Craig Campus, 2801 W 9th Street, Craig, CO 81625
Front Range Community College Tuesday, April 23 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. – Employees and Community Members Rocky Mountain Room, Westminster Campus, 3645 West 112th Avenue, Westminster, CO 80031
Tuesday, April 30 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. – Students Longs Peak Student Center Conference Room, Larimer Campus, 4616 S. Shields Street, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Tuesday, April 30 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. – Employees Longs Peak Student Center Conference Room, Larimer Campus, 4616 S. Shields Street, Fort Collins, CO 80526
Tuesday, April 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Community Members Longs Peak Student Center Conference Room, Larimer Campus, 4616 S. Shields Street, Fort Collins, CO 80526

CCCS invites members of the press to attend the listening sessions and interview CCCS and SBCCOE members. To RSVP, please email CCCS.Communications@cccs.edu.

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About CCCS

The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, delivering more than 1,000 programs to over 113,000 students annually through 13 colleges and 35+ locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities. The System Office provides leadership, advocacy, and support to the colleges under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE). Join us in changing the way Colorado goes to college. Learn more at cccs.edu.

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