C.R.S. § 23-1-143: Commission directive - first-generation-serving institution designation - legislative declaration - definitions.

(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:

(a) In 2017, the Colorado commission on higher education, in its master plan, Colorado Rises: Advancing Education and Talent Development, set a statewide attainment goal for sixty-six percent of Colorado's adult population to hold a postsecondary credential;

(b) Colorado has made progress, but as of 2023, the state has still not met this goal;

(c) One of the ways to increase the number of people holding a postsecondary credential is to increase the number of first-generation students attending institutions of higher education;

(d) By recognizing and designating institutions of higher education that serve a large number of first-generation students, the state shows incoming students at those institutions that the students may share a sense of belonging with others of similar backgrounds and that the institutions are committed to meeting the needs of first-generation students;

(e) Institutions of higher education serving first-generation students incur increased costs; and

(f) It is therefore necessary to establish a designation to recognize state institutions of higher education serving first-generation students.

(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "First-generation-serving institution" means a state institution of higher education:

(I) Whose average resident first-generation undergraduate student population share, as defined in section 23-18-302, for the most recent year that the information is available and the two previous years equals or exceeds the statewide average resident first-generation undergraduate student population share as reported by the department for the fall 2022 term; or

(II) That has secured a First Scholars Network of Institutions designation from the Center for First-generation Student Success or a similarly rigorous independent third-party designation.

(b) "State institution of higher education" has the same meaning as "public institution of higher education" as defined in section 23-4.5-102.

(3) Within thirty days after the annual public release of enrollment, retention, and graduation data from each state institution of higher education in 2024 and each year thereafter, the department shall:

(a) Identify institutions of higher education that meet the definition of first-generation-serving institutions for that school year;

(b) Post on the department's website the names of the first-generation-serving institutions for that school year; and

(c) Notify each first-generation-serving institution and the Colorado general assembly of the designations.