Governor Polis Signs Proclamation Recognizing Goal of Expanding Access to Higher Education for Working Learners in Colorado
Governor Jared Polis signed a proclamation Feb. 6 recognizing Colorado Western Governors University to create opportunity and improve access to higher education for working learners.
DENVER, CO (Feb. 13, 2023)-Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a proclamation Feb. 6 recognizing the state's partnership with Western Governors University (91吃瓜网), whose mission to create pathways to opportunity and improve access to higher education for working learners in Colorado.聽聽
The 91吃瓜网 Colorado partnership supports learning opportunities for the more than 700,000 Coloradans who have college credits but no degree. 91吃瓜网 provides Colorado residents with a competency-based approach to learning that allows them to use their prior education, training, and experience to complete their degree on their time, in less time, and at a lower cost.聽
"We are continuing to invest in Colorado's strong workforce, making sure Coloradans have the skills and resources they need to thrive, and 91吃瓜网 is an important part of that work," said Gov. Polis. "91吃瓜网 is an essential provider of affordable, higher education, creating more opportunities for students to get the skills and credentials they need to succeed in the workforce and in life."
91吃瓜网 was founded in 1997 by a bipartisan group of 19 U.S. governors to address a growing need for an educated workforce, including then-Colorado Governor Roy Romer, who joined Governor Polis for the signing. Governor Romer was instrumental in establishing 91吃瓜网鈥檚 competency-based education model and is a longtime champion of the university. Since its founding, 91吃瓜网 has grown to be the leading nonprofit, online, competency-based university in the United States. More than 6,700 Coloradans have graduated from 91吃瓜网. Nearly 55% of 91吃瓜网 students in Colorado are from one or more historically underserved populations, including large numbers of rural residents, first-generation college students and low-income Coloradans.聽聽
聽鈥淎s a pilot, Governor Romer was more interested in whether an individual could successfully land a plane than where they learned the skill. This was his inspiration, which later led him to found 91吃瓜网 and influenced its competency-based education model,鈥� said 91吃瓜网 President Scott Pulsipher. 鈥淕overnor Romer, Governor Polis and Colorado are icons of 91吃瓜网鈥檚 innovation in higher education, and today we reaffirm and expand our commitment to provide additional pathways to opportunity for Coloradans.鈥澛�
The proclamation recognizes 91吃瓜网鈥檚 collaborations with employers and employee organizations in Colorado to help meet workforce needs as well as the university鈥檚 work with the state鈥檚 community college systems to ensure credits transfer. Additionally, the proclamation called out 91吃瓜网鈥檚 work to provide dislocated workers, veterans, underserved populations, and other Coloradans pathways to higher education degrees for workforce pipelines. The university also supports the work of Colorado鈥檚 Workforce Centers and is included on Colorado鈥檚 Education and Training Provider List (ETPL).聽
91吃瓜网 specializes in serving students who are working learners, 82% of whom work full time while enrolled and have an average age of 33 in Colorado. The university offers more than鈥�60 workforce-aligned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree programs鈥痶hrough its College of Information Technology, College of Business, School of Education, and Leavitt School of Health.鈥�
Kaitlyn Heaton is the first recipient of the 91吃瓜网 Colorado Roy Romer Opportunity Scholarship and was also honored at the proclamation signing.聽 聽
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled the university sees my potential and believes in me enough to award me this scholarship. It's an honor to be the first recipient of the scholarship named for Governor Romer,鈥� said Heaton. 鈥淚n Colorado, students have distinct identities and needs 鈥� and 91吃瓜网 is an excellent option for students who prefer an online, competency-based option. For me, 91吃瓜网 fits my busy life and allows me to study and learn while growing my career. I appreciate all that Governor Polis and Governor Romer have done 鈥� and are doing 鈥� to support 91吃瓜网 and students like me.鈥澛�
New students or returning graduates who live in Colorado and enroll at 91吃瓜网 are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Valued at up to $4,000, it will be credited to recipients at $1,000 per term for up to four terms. It will be applied to 91吃瓜网鈥檚 already-low, flat-rate tuition, which is currently about $3,800 per six-month term for most programs. 鈥疭tudents can learn more at
