“Transforming Colorado requires changes in higher education as well. We have created the Colorado Institute of Technology—a coalition of Colorado’s centers of high-tech learning with the goals of doubling the number of graduates from high-tech programs in Colorado within the space of five years. They’ve provided $10 million to technology education programs this year and are well on their way to that goal. Worker retraining is also critically important in a recession year, and CIT has helped to upgrade the skill sets of more than 4000 workers and students over the past two years.”

- Governor Owens

Governor Owens' goal is to ensure that students can complete coursework for a degree in the appropriate amount of time, that they will get the skills they need in a 21st century workplace, and that higher education remains affordable for Colorado citizens.

As part of his drive to seek leadership in the 21st century high-tech economy, Gov. Owens brought university leaders together to create the Colorado Institute of Technology.  CIT is an alliance of institutions which, together, can offer more for a high-tech student than any one school could offer by themselves.

Gov. Owens has:

·        The Governor’s Opportunity Scholarship has fully funded the education costs for 955 students whose families are in the lowest 25% of Colorado incomes.

·        Established 11 programs through partnerships between four-year colleges and community colleges under the Rural Education Access Program (REAP).

·        Accelerated growth of technology education programs through the creation of the Colorado Institute of Technology 

·        Preserved need-based financial aid for middle and lower income families providing students with more non-loan resources. In addition, $1.3 million was re-allocated to students most in need who attend community colleges.

·        Combined $1.6 million in state and federal financial aid resources to provide a need-based financial aid program for teacher education candidates.

·        Initiated, in conjunction with the Colorado Student Obligation Bond Authority, the Loan Incentives For Teachers (LIFT) program.

·        Initiated the planning, development, and fundraising of HEAT (Higher Education and Advanced Technology) High, a first-of-its-kind technology-rich public high school.

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