Advocate today for state student aid

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to provide an update on state need-based financial aid and the proposed budget cuts impacting private higher education. As shared at the close of last week’s Academic Townhall, a late-night amendment during a closed-door Joint Budget Committee meeting introduced a $14 million reduction into the long-form budget bill, along with a footnote directing that the reduction be achieved by eliminating allocations to students attending private nonprofit and proprietary institutions.

Over the past week, there has been an extraordinary level of coordinated activity in response. Regis’s legal counsel and senior leadership, in partnership with peer institutions through the Independent Higher Education Council (IHEC), have worked quickly to assess options and identify paths forward. The diligence and creativity of our attorneys and lobbyists have helped identify a potential legal pathway that may result in the $14M reduction being distributed more equitably across all Colorado institutions. While not yet resolved, this represents a meaningful development and we now need your help.

Colorado law is explicit in its intent to support all Colorado students, regardless of where they choose to enroll, and to preserve access to a diverse set of higher education options across the state. The statute cannot be changed through a footnote in a budget bill. To fully implement a change of this nature, the General Assembly would need to pass legislation and amend the statute.

This has created a window — albeit a narrow one — for advocacy. While nothing is yet resolved, there is a meaningful opportunity to influence the outcome, and we are encouraged by the progress made thus far.

Your engagement is critical at this moment.

We ask that you reach out to your legislative delegation today and ask them to eliminate any restriction that prevents Colorado students from receiving state need-based aid simply because they attend a nonpublic institution. The legislature is expected to move on the bill as early as Monday, April 20.

We’ve attached two documents here to guide you in those efforts. The first contains contact information for our legislators and guidance on engagement, while the second is a template letter you can modify to your specific outreach.

We are deeply grateful for the commitment of our community and the willingness of faculty and staff to advocate on behalf of our students. Your voice matters in this moment.

Thank you for your dedication to our students and to one another.

With gratitude,

Kristine Bureau
Vice President, Admissions, Financial Aid, Athletics and Marketing

Kelly Purdy
Vice President, Advancement