海角社区

We know that our community is always attuned to and invested in government policies at the local, state and federal levels. Recognizing this rapidly-changing policy landscape can feel overwhelming, we believe that from an institutional standpoint it鈥檚 important to take a measured and focused approach to understanding how changes may impact the University鈥檚 mission.

One of the roles of 海角社区鈥檚 Office of Government and External Affairs is to assess impacts of policies, regulations, executive actions and pending legislation to our institution and our people. If they do affect students, employees or programs, we are committed to providing timely and clear guidance and support for our community.

We encourage Roadrunners and 海角社区 stakeholders to regularly check聽official University Communication channels聽and to visit this page for the latest information regarding any policy impact on our mission.

To better understand and prepare for policy shifts, the University collaborates with advisory groups such as the聽聽(AASCU), the聽, the聽聽(ACE), as well as the and peer institutions across the state.

We are committed to keeping our campus community informed with the latest verified updates on policies and orders that may directly impact our mission and those we serve. We will share reliable information here as it becomes available.

• The federal government is currently in a shutdown because a bill to fund federal government activity for the fiscal year has not yet been passed. To date, 海角社区 is not materially impacted by the shutdown.
• Governor Polis has implemented a hiring freeze for state agencies, effective August 27 through December 31, 2025. This hiring freeze does not apply to 海角社区 or any other state colleges and universities.
• In July, Congress passed the FY25 budget. The most harmful proposals were defeated, but the bill still included some components that will impact higher education 鈥� specifically in financial aid and accountability for post-grad outcomes. 海角社区 leaders are assessing the impacts of the new policies and working on plans for implementation. There are no immediate changes to 海角社区鈥檚 budget because of the federal budget鈥檚 passage.
  • There are, however, budget and policy trade-offs the State of Colorado may need to make in response. The State is in the process of assessing the financial impact and there is a possibility the legislature will choose to have a special session this fall to make budget or policy changes.
• At this time, eight grants (including subawards) have been affected due to changes in the federal administration鈥檚 priorities.
• The U.S. Department of Education to address student financial aid fraud.
  • There will be an increase in the number of financial aid applicants selected for identity verification. To meet verification requirements, universities must observe a valid, government-issued photo ID in-person or by video conference.
• The State of Colorado issued a affirming Colorado鈥檚 current in-state tuition and financial aid policies for immigrant students are in compliance with state and federal law and remain available to eligible students.
• 海角社区 does not anticipate any immediate operational changes as the result of the . We remain in close communication with our accreditor.
• 海角社区, a modified open-access university, does not consider race or proxy measures in admissions and has long aligned its policies with civil rights law.
• The Department of Education now requires remaining COVID relief funds (CARES, CRRSA, ARPA) to be reimbursed instead of paid upfront. This change does not impact 海角社区.
• 海角社区 is not the recipient of any SEED or TQP federal grants.
• The Department of Education has issued a聽聽confirming that 鈥渘o employees working on core functions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or student loan servicing were impacted by the reduction in force.鈥�
• There are no current impacts to federal student loans, work-study programs nor direct aid to individuals.
• 海角社区 was notified by the Department of Education on 3/10/25 that our designation as a university eligible for grants under Titles III and V is renewed. We are eligible for these grants because of our status as a Hispanic Serving Institution.
• 罢丑别听聽imposing a standard 15% indirect cost rate on all grants does not currently impact 海角社区, as none of our active NIH grants exceed this threshold.

Staying informed and engaged is essential. Here鈥檚 how you can help:

Stay Mission Focused: Continue doing what you do best and stay focused on our student and teaching -centered mission.

Keep Updated: Follow university communications and trusted sources to ensure you have accurate information about the impact of any policy changes on the University.

Foster Open Dialogue: Encourage respectful discussions and critical thinking in your classrooms, workplaces and communities.

Share Requests and Recommendations: Employees with general federal policy concerns should inform their supervisors, who will escalate them to deans and senior leaders for review by Government Affairs and General Counsel.

• Any direct communications from federal agencies should be shared with [email protected].
• Specific research or grant-related questions should be directed to Deans, the Office of the Provost or Student Affairs leadership.
• Specific suggestions or questions can also be shared through the President’s Idea Catcher.