Senator Greg Brophy represents Colorado State Senate District 1 which includes: Cheyenne, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan,...
Update from JBC member Senator Kent Lambert
December
18,
2012
The cost of a college education is soaring. Currently, nationwide tuition debt has exceeded credit card debt.
According to the state auditor, the Department of Higher Education has been ignoring state statutes concerning the Colorado Opportunity Fund, a state program to give money directly to college students to offset tuition costs at the college of the student’s choice. The Department has been diverting this money from students and instead sending it to institutions of higher education that have been losing students – and the funding that they would have brought with them.
The newly released state audit revealed that over a five year period, the Department did not follow legal guidelines for funding the Colorado Opportunity Fund, along with several other irregularities. The result of the department's action has been to penalize schools with growing student populations, especially community colleges that served more students with less money. Demand for community college programs has increased greatly during the recession.
The JBC hearing for the Department of Education will be held today from 9:00-5:00 Click here to listen live.
Click here to read the Higher Education Audit on pages 21-23.
According to the state auditor, the Department of Higher Education has been ignoring state statutes concerning the Colorado Opportunity Fund, a state program to give money directly to college students to offset tuition costs at the college of the student’s choice. The Department has been diverting this money from students and instead sending it to institutions of higher education that have been losing students – and the funding that they would have brought with them.
The newly released state audit revealed that over a five year period, the Department did not follow legal guidelines for funding the Colorado Opportunity Fund, along with several other irregularities. The result of the department's action has been to penalize schools with growing student populations, especially community colleges that served more students with less money. Demand for community college programs has increased greatly during the recession.
The JBC hearing for the Department of Education will be held today from 9:00-5:00 Click here to listen live.
Click here to read the Higher Education Audit on pages 21-23.
