(1) When approving baccalaureate degrees for any local district college pursuant to the authority in section 23-71-102 (1), the Colorado commission on higher education shall make its determination based on the following criteria:
Whether the local district college can demonstrate workforce and student demand forthe baccalaureate degree program by providing data;
Whether the local district college can demonstrate regional and professional accreditation requirements, when applicable, and compliance with those requirements as deemed appropriate at both the institutional and program levels;
Whether the local district college can demonstrate that its provision of the baccalaureate degree program is the most cost-effective method of providing the baccalaureate degree program in its service area; and
Whether the local district college can provide a cost-benefit analysis showing that theadditional baccalaureate degree program will not create a negative impact for the local district college or require additional state-appropriated money to operate.
Upon request of its board of trustees, the attorney general shall serve as legal advisorto Colorado mountain college, and the board has the authority to select and retain legal counsel at the board's discretion.
In accordance with the budget adopted by the board of trustees pursuant to section23-71-123 (1), a local district college may use any state-appropriated money it receives, in addition to any other revenues of the college, to operate any baccalaureate degree program that the Colorado commission on higher education approves pursuant to this section.
Source: L. 2010: Entire section added, (SB 10-101), ch. 335, p. 1539, § 3, effective May 27. L. 2014: (2) added, (HB 14-1365), ch. 333, p. 1484, § 2, effective June 5. L. 2015: (3) amended, (HB 15-1224), ch. 94, p. 267, § 1, effective April 10. L. 2018: (1) and (3) amended, (HB 18-1300), ch. 278, p. 1752, § 2, effective August 8.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in the 2010 act adding this section, see section 1 of chapter 335, Session Laws of Colorado 2010.