What We Do: A Voice for Colorado Learners

A Founding Committee of Trustees representing every public university in the state launched the Colorado Trustee Network (CTN). 

CTN believes that effective and collective advocacy can create a more vibrant postsecondary education system in Colorado.  CTN speaks with one voice on postsecondary issues to improve outcomes for students and use education to strengthen our economy and communities.

The Need for Advocacy 

Organized efforts for PreK-12 have developed a stronger public awareness and excitement for a well-supported public education system. Colorado’s students, businesses, economy, and democracy all rely on and benefit from a thriving, well-funded and strategically aligned system of postsecondary education, too.  CTN believes in the importance of a solid public postsecondary system and seeks to improve the public narrative and make forward progress on funding and policy outcomes. CTN is catalyzing an opportunity for a collective group that is advocating for Colorado’s system of postsecondary education as a whole – showcasing what’s working well and where we have room to improve for a brighter Colorado.

CTN Seeks to:

  • Mobilize trustee awareness about and engagement in key policy opportunities across Colorado. 

  • Mobilize trustees to advance IHE policy and practice by acting as a thought leader, sharing promising practices and provocation. 

  • Deepen and expand relationships between trustees, key leaders, and stakeholders across Colorado.

Our Mission

The core mission of the Colorado Trustee Network is to support trustees and regents across the state as they serve Colorado’s learners by 1) elevating the conversations taking place on their own governing boards to make meaningful and sustainable change at their own Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) and 2) becoming better advocates for Colorado’s postsecondary education ecosystem by identifying and harnessing opportunities to speak with a consistent and strategic “collective” voice on issues of substance. 

The Colorado Trustee Network is focused on following the topics using a student-centered, equity lens:

Postsecondary Education Funding 

  • Promote funding that targets postsecondary learning outcomes and closes persistent equity gaps.

Workforce Alignment

  • Promote and advocate policies that advance student access, support, and completion of valuable credentials/skills that bring wellbeing and economic mobility to learners/earners. 

  • Strengthen bridge to the business community to encourage greater public-private partnership. 

Narrative 

  • Help transform the public perception of postsecondary education by focusing on positive outcomes for students, communities, and the economy. 

  • Implement shared messaging and storytelling.

Our Team

Powered by Colorado Education Initiative (CEI), CTN officially became a project of CEI’s in July 2022. As an organization with a strong 15-year track record of practice and innovation work in K12 education across the state, this partnership stands to both position CTN to better achieve its goals and accelerate work that blurs the lines between K12, postsecondary, and the workforce for Colorado learners. Through partnership, CEI and CTN seek to catalyze K12 & postsecondary education partnership.