The Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) Initiative enables four-year institutions in Colorado to award an earned associate degree to eligible students who have stopped-out from a baccalaureate program after earning at least 70 credit hours. In enacting the supporting legislation, the Colorado Legislature recognized that the COVID-19 pandemic forced many students – particularly those from low-income communities – to stop attending the state’s colleges and universities before attaining a bachelor’s degree. These stop-out students have invested a significant amount of time and money to advance their knowledge and skills through higher education, but do not have an academic credential to reflect this investment.
Data gathered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education indicates over 25,000 Coloradans may be eligible for an associate degree under CORE. By offering qualifying stop-out students an earned associate degree for credits already completed, institutions participating in CORE can:
- Enable degree recipients to obtain higher paying jobs and more secure employment, which will improve economic prospects for these former students and their communities.
- Increase the number of Coloradans with academic credentials and degrees, which will strengthen the state’s workforce and support the economic recovery of the business community.
- Better position degree recipients to return to higher education to complete a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- February 20, 2024: Dropped out of college? New Program can help you - Denver 7 News
- December 26, 2023: MSU Denver helps students who dropped out get a degree
- July 26, 2021: Colorado will allow four-year colleges to grant associates degrees to those who dropped out. Will more students go back for a bachelor’s?
Video of Support by Governor Jared Polis
Resources
Program Overview
For Four-Year Institutions
Relevant Legislation
CORE Initiative Fact Sheet
Working Group Guidelines and Recommendations
Source Legislation
Overview Presentation
Responses to Common Concerns
HB23-1262 "Expanding Student Eligibility for the CORE Initiative"
Four-Year Universities Currently Participating in the CORE Initiative – with Contact Information
- Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Office of the Registrar
RegistrarsOffice@colostate.edu
970.491.4860
https://registrar.colostate.edu/associate-of-general-studies/
- Colorado State University – Pueblo
Phillip Schulz
Adult Learning/PLA Lead Specialist
Division of Extended Studies
719-549-2543
- Fort Lewis College
Kris Greer
Associate Provost
970-247-6146
- Metropolitan State University
Darla Sprinkle Renke
Assistant Registrar, Degree Evaluation
303-605-5592
Office of the Registrar
303-556-3991
- University of Colorado – Denver
Todd Deese
Sr. Associate Registrar
CU Denver Registrar’s Office
- University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
Office of the Registrar
registrar@uccs.edu
(719) 255-3361- University of Northern Colorado
Office of the Registrar
Email: graduation@unco.edu
Phone: 970-351-4862