By Kimmy Reinhardt

On Friday, May 27, Gov. Jared Polis visited the Colorado State University Pueblo campus, for a bill signing event on the campus’ newly opened Patio. The governor was accompanied by State Sen. Nick Hinrichsen (D-Pueblo), and State Reps. Donald Valdez and Daneya Esgar who sponsored the bills that were being signed. Colorado State University Pueblo leadership was also present.

The two pieces of law related directly to higher education, and will have a direct impact on Colorado State University Pueblo and the educational community of Colorado. 

The first bill, HB22-1407 requires colleges and universities that have an audit program established, to allow any veteran to audit up to three classes a semester at a reduced cost. In the bill, the maximum cost universities can charge veterans is $10 for each course taken.

“We want to be the very best state for veterans to make their home and part of that is of course making sure they can get the skills and knowledge they need to thrive,” Polis said. “You really can’t beat that for under $10, many campuses are free, a veteran can audit a course and see if it’s for them.”

Polis opened the discussion around the second piece of legislation to be signed,  HB 22-1365, with: “We’re about to make CSU (Pueblo) an even more special place.” 

The bill creates the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology on the Colorado State University Pueblo Campus.

 The institution will be responsible for conducting research in regards to the innovation as well as working to understand the safety and security of transportation ranging from railroad and ground, to transit that requires more than mode one of transportation to help reach a destination. This new institute will also work with the government to provide support as well as complete research that will help with the funding of transportation for local businesses and transit within academics.

The bills have “huge implications for CSU Pueblo, but (also) for Southern and this entire region,” said Dr. Donna Souder Hodge, vice president of operations and advancement at CSU Pueblo. “The university has been the beneficiary of so much support from our state and governor Gov. Polis in particular.”

Having the governor and his team on-hand to sign the bills, she said, was “A great sort of closing of the circle for CSU Pueblo, our students, and our faculty and staff.”

Hailee Langowski contributed to this report.