Press Room

Senate Committee Approves Bipartisan Bill to Help Students Achieve Post Secondary Success

Thursday, February 9 2012

DENVER ─ Today, the Senate Education Committee passed the bipartisan the Opportunities for Higher Ed Success Act, sponsored by Senator Evie Hudak (D-Westminister) and Senator Keith King (R-Colorado Springs) to help Coloradans further their education and make the most of their college credits.  Many students begin college at a community college and then transfer to a four-year institution. Senate Bill 45 allows transfer students who complete a sufficient number of credits to transfer their credits back to their community college and receive an associate degree while continuing to pursue their baccalaureate degree.

Senator Hudak offered the following comment on the passage of the Opportunities for Higher Ed Success Act today:

“As we continue growing our economy, it is imperative that we provide our students with all the tools they need to succeed and join the workforce.”

The Opportunities for Higher Ed Success Act creates the Associate Degree Completion Program in the Colorado Department of Higher Education to remove barriers to degree completion. Senate Bill 45 will require four-year institutions to notify two-year institutions when a transfer student completes 70 credit hours.  The two-year college will then audit the credits to see if an associate degree has been completed, and if so, to then award the degree.  If the student has not completed the necessary credits, the student will be notified of the additional needed credits to help them finish their associate degree.

Andrea Witte, a student at Red Rocks Community College, offered the following comment on how the Opportunities for Higher Ed Success Act will benefit her:

“I support this bill because it will allow me to go back to Metro State College, and transfer back credits so that I can get my associate degree and start working in the medical field to further my career in the PA Program.”

A former teacher of 20 years, Senator Hudak has been a champion for education throughout her career.  She is currently the Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and serves as a member of the Colorado School Finance Project, The Colorado State Accountability Network, and served on the State Board of Education for eight years.