Colorado Department of Higher Education

June 6 is National Higher Education Day! Join us in recognizing the importance of higher education in creating a strong workforce, robust economy, and individual economic mobility and security,
The Colorado Department of Higher Education believes that all Coloradans should have the postsecondary education they need to pursue their dreams and improve our communities. Our programs work to make higher education more affordable and accessible, maximize higher education opportunities, and facilitate our state's higher education institutions supporting the success of all students.
Learn more about CDHE at https://cdhe.colorado.gov/.

Home | Colorado Department of Higher Education Home The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) is seeking input on a proposed new annual reporting framework designed to streamline statutory and operational reporting, improve clarity and transparency, and better align reporting requirements with statewide policy goals and available data.

This commencement season, the Technical College of the Rockies celebrated its first graduating cohort of the CAAHEP-accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography program! We are glad to celebrate this milestone, not only for the first nine graduates, but also for current students, the institution and the community.
Learn more about TCR's Diagnostic Medical Sonography program:https://tcr.edu/diagnostic-medical-sonography/.

Programs - Technical College of the Rockies Programs The following programs have received accreditation through both the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and the Council on Occupational Education (COE). All the programs listed below culminate in students receiving an industry recognized credential to

Yesterday, CDHE's executive director JB Holston attended the groundbreaking of the Merage Early Learning Center on the Auraria Campus. The facility aims to expand campus childcare capacity by 30% and is named in recognition of the David and Laura Merage Foundation's support and commitment to expanding opportunities for children and families.
Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you!
Learn more about the new Merage Early Learning Center: https://ow.ly/WfoK50Z8b1o.

Yesterday, the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Department of Human Services partnered to host the 27th annual Celebration of Educational Excellence (CEEX). Young people involved in foster care or youth services who graduated with a diploma, GED, credential or degree this year gathered for an celebration, dinner and resource fair.
Congratulations to this year's CEEX graduates! We celebrate your resilience and accomplishments as you start your next chapter. Thank you to the recent graduates who spoke, CDHS, and our Outreach and Community Engagement team for their dedication to this great event.
Learn more about CEEX at https://cdhe.colorado.gov/CEEX.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) held the 2026 COSI Symposium at Front Range Community College!

This annual symposium gathers COSI program representatives for a day of presentations, panels and workshops focused on supporting students through COSI programming and state resources. Attendees were able to network, share best practices. Executive director JB Holston and FRCC president Dr. Colleen Simpson kicked off the day with a welcome message.

Thank you to all of the excellent presenters, speakers and panel members! Special thanks to our COSI team for their work to organize such a great event!

Learn more about COSI at https://cdhe.colorado.gov/cosi.

Join our team! The Colorado Department of Higher Education is accepting applications for a Senior Accountant! The Senior Accountant serves as a strategic financial partner for our portfolio of programs. They will be responsible for independently performing accounting duties, managing full-cycle financial operations, and running payroll.
You can find more details and apply at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado/jobs/5363593/senior-accountant.

Join Young Invincibles and their partners at an in-person Youth-Led Governor’s Candidate Forum in Aurora on June 13!

This interactive forum will give young people the opportunity to hear directly from candidates in the Colorado governor’s race while engaging in important conversations around education, healthcare, affordability, workforce opportunities, civic engagement, and more.

You deserve to be a part of the conversation. Register today: https://actionnetwork.org/events/youth-focused-governors-candidate-forum/.

On Tuesday, Governor Jared Polis signed several bills into law, including House Bill 1029, which will add two student representatives enrolled at Colorado higher education institutions to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Learn more at https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1029.

HB26-1029 Student Representation Commission on Higher Ed | Colorado General Assembly Pursuant to the sine die adjournment of the General Assembly on May 13, 2026, any legislation enacted without a safety clause goes into effect on August 12, 2026. Read more.

New this year, the Colorado Department of Higher Education proudly introduces the Open Education Legacy award, created in honor of Colorado's 150th birthday and America's 250th. This distinction honors individuals and organizations whose long-term contributions have shaped the future of open education in Colorado.

Congratulations to Dr. Emily Ragan from Metropolitan State University Denver for receiving the inaugural award!

“Dr. Ragan’s leadership and vision have helped build a lasting foundation for open education in Colorado,” said Chealsye Bowley, director of open education. “Her strategy for zero textbook cost program growth has inspired institutions and faculty that will have an enduring impact on students across Colorado.”

Read more at https://cdhe.colorado.gov/news-article/governor-polis-celebrates-2026-zero-textbook-cost-challenge-award-recipients-honoring.

America 250 - Colorado 150 Commemoration

On May 29, CDHE celebrated the recipients of the 2026 Colorado Open Educational Resources awards, recognizing the leaders transforming higher education through affordability, access, and innovation. Congratulations to this year's awardees!

Colorado OER Champion: Medora Huseby, Colorado State University
Exceptional OER Team: OER Anatomy Hub, University of Colorado Anschutz
Exceptional OER Creation: The Biology of Plants Coloring Textbook, Rachel Jabaily and M.G.B. Hurst, Colorado College
Exceptional OER Project: Advanced Social Work Ethics, Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of Social Work and Auraria Library
Exceptional OER Partner: Karen Kaemmerling, Colorado Mountain College
Rising OER Star: Caterina Belle Azzarello, University of Northern Colorado, UNC