CCCS News
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 www.cccs.edu.