HB 12-1155: Postsecondary Degree Completion Measures

• Establishes commission policy requiring state institutions to identify matriculated students needing basic skills courses in English and mathematics, with students required to complete these by 30 college-level credit hours.

• Authorizes institutions to provide supplemental academic instruction (co-requisite courses) for students in college-level courses, allowing eligible students to receive stipend payments without applying to lifetime credit hour limits.

• Revises admission standards to consider high school academic rigor and course content; allows institutions to use up to 20% discretionary admissions for students not meeting standard criteria.

• Establishes comprehensive authorization and regulation system for private colleges, universities, and religious training institutions including accreditation requirements, financial integrity standards, surety bonds to protect students, and procedures for handling institutional closure.

• Requires performance-based funding analysis examining modifications to College Opportunity Fund stipends to improve student retention, transfer success, and timely degree completion, including potential limits on funding for credit hours exceeding 140 for baccalaureate or 70 for associate degrees.