The Colorado Department of Higher Education is enabling Colorado students that historically have not qualified for federal aid to complete an application for state financial aid. By partnering with Regent Education to deliver The Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA), the Department will help put their ASSET students one step closer to attaining higher education degrees. In the first 10 days alone, the Department received more than 150 applications.
Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET)
In 2019, the Colorado General Assembly passed HB19-1196, Financial Aid For Students With In-state Tuition, which allows state-funded financial aid to be awarded to students who do not have lawful immigration status but have resided in the state for at least three years before graduating from a Colorado high school or passing a high school equivalency exam and were admitted to a participating college within 12 months of graduating high school. These students are called ASSET students after Senate Bill 13-033, Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow.
Powering the CASFA Solution
Regent Education’s Access software-as-a-service capability powers the CASFA solution. Regent Access enables financial aid awards for ASSET students by providing an intuitive, web-based application with an interview format, personalized skip logic, integrated help, and Spanish translations. The CASFA also will improve operational efficiency through ISIR-formatted data files that are exported automatically by the Department and available for importing into each participating institution’s financial aid system just like the FAFSA.
A Commitment to Educating All Students
“CASFA positively supports families and is a logical next step in efforts to erase equity gaps and put college in reach for the families who benefit most from a postsecondary education,” said Dr. Angie Paccione, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. “This is one example of how Colorado demonstrates its commitment to educating all of our students on their academic journey.”
“Regent Education is proud to provide a financial aid automation solution that eases the application and awarding processes for ASSET students. We are especially excited about the alignment of our mission – to empower aspiring students and the institutions who serve them – with the Department’s commitment to open doors to education for its undocumented students,” said Jim Hermens, CEO of Regent Education.
About the Colorado Department of Higher Education
The Department of Higher Education works with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, to support students, advocate and develop policies to maximize higher education opportunities for all. The Department believes every Coloradan should have an education beyond high school to pursue their dreams and improve our communities. Read the CDHE master plan Colorado Rises. Visit https://highered.colorado.gov/ for more information.
