Committee advances overhaul of higher-education funding formula to count part-time students and transfers

Representative Megan Hamrick, joined by House Speaker McCluskey, presented House Bill 13-45 as a targeted update to Colorado’s higher-education funding formula that would count first-time part-time students in retention metrics, recognize qualifying transfers, and ensure co‑located partnership programs receive appropriate credit. "This bill represents a shared commitment to a learner focused ecosystem that rewards efficiency and creates a more stable equitable future for all institutions," Hamrick said.

Speaker McCluskey described the change from a step model to a lever system intended to give the legislature and the Joint Budget Committee flexibility to weight metrics. He highlighted that ‘‘55% of Colorado’s students attend part time’’ and that the change aims to better reflect nontraditional pathways. Witnesses from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Higher Education — including Commission Chair Jen Wallmer, Deputy Executive Director Tricia Johnson, and Chief Policy Officer Sophia Laderman — testified in support and explained technical choices such as moving some data from IPEDS to CERDS and shifting the Pell metric from "eligible" to "received" because federal FAFSA data changes affected the ability to calculate eligibility.

Committee members pressed sponsors and witnesses on likely effects for small and rural institutions, how growth-versus-need will be handled in the formula, and whether the change could disadvantage institutions that have limited capacity for measurable year-over-year growth. Institutional representatives and system leaders — including Metro State faculty leadership, Western Colorado University and the Colorado Community College System — largely supported the changes while urging further refinements over time.

Rep. Hamrick moved the bill with a favorable recommendation and Vice Chair Martinez seconded; Mr. Beck called the roll and the committee approved the bill unanimously to advance it to the next stage. The committee recorded no amendments from sponsors during the session; sponsors said technical clarifications will continue to be developed as the bill moves forward.