Colorado HSI Summit to Focus on ‘Roots’ and ‘Futures’
Reflections on education and the future of work with a nod toward what's new in Colorado.

Colorado HSI Summit to Focus on ‘Roots’ and ‘Futures’

Alison Griffin Alison Griffin

Alison Griffin

Published Aug 29, 2025
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So high school. My son’s senior year. It just hits different. And it’s still August. I can’t seem to shake it off, this end game. I do feel a bit like a mad woman. Call it what you want, but this is me trying to tolerate it. 

I had to, Swift - Kelce fans. 

As the mom to a high school senior, there’s a lot of truth to those Taylor-inspired sentiments. The moment when my life’s work – raising my son – collides with my life’s work – making sense of complex and nuanced postsecondary policy issues.  

I thought I would be better prepared (because according to my son: I know all the things…), but I, too, am struggling to remember the difference between early action and early decision, whether both parents in a divorced household fill out the FAFSA (no, they don’t), and whether there really is a “perfect” college ranking list to review (there’s not). 

I am reading reports, reviewing new data, listening to colleagues’ webinars, and engaging in conversations in the hopes that I will pick up a new tidbit of information that will help me as senior-year-policy-wonk-mom. Perhaps that is the lens I should have been looking through all along: what does a change in policy, new report, or analysis mean for my own child who is considering his postsecondary options? I am sure this won’t be the last time I ask myself this question. 

A few new reports and data points caught my attention this week: 

In Colorado: New research from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) finds fewer students are graduating with debt, as the average rate of student loans disbursed has dropped by thousands since 2013. In 2022-23, less than half of graduates left college with loans, down from 61% a decade ago, while total statewide graduate debt has fallen to $241.6 million. While the news is seemingly positive, it also highlights persistent challenges such as excess credits earned and extended timelines to graduation. Read the report here. 

Postsecondary options: At the same time, enrollment in trade schools and vocational programs have seen a boost in Colorado. The state witnessed a 104.7% increase in the total number of learners enrolled in these programs from 2019 through 2023, according to new data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).  

High school student anxiety: A survey of 3,000 high school students and recent graduates from the National Society of High School Scholars indicates that more than a third (38%) of young people believe that AI might replace them in their jobs in the next 10 years. World events are having a damaging negative effect on teens, with 82% indicating they are very or somewhat anxious by world events. Couple that with the fact that 99% (yes, every respondent) said misinformation is the problem with the news today and 93% of those surveyed said they factcheck news they see on social media. The bright side: 73% of respondents said they have a clear plan for what they want to do for a career. Access the full survey findings here. 

Data trends: The Data Quality Campaign (DQC) issued their analysis on state education and workforce data legislation and identified themes, promising trends and next steps for policymakers. While Colorado was not featured in the report, the resource shows that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been working to champion policies that make education and workforce data more secure, transparent and useful for users at all levels. Read the report here. 

You’re Invited: WorkSimplr from this year’s Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator cohort, is hosting an information event and lunch to preview their ‘Colorado Hires Colorado’ initiative. WorkSimplr provides access to paid work opportunities for students in 4-week sprints and provides small and medium-sized businesses access to flexible, high-quality talent. The event will be hosted at the Techstars office at 1660 Wynkoop Street, Suite 800 on Monday, September 15 from 11am – 1pm. Register here.

Spotlight on Colorado Education and the Workforce

The 2nd Annual Colorado HSI Summit, themed "Raíces y Futuro: Unidos en Identidad y Acción to Institutionalize Servingness," will convene September 11 and 12 at Colorado Mountain College's Spring Valley campus in Glenwood Springs.  

This powerful theme—Roots and Future: United in Identity and Action—captures the summit’s mission to honor both cultural and institutional foundations while charting a path toward transformation.  

Raíces speaks to the rich heritage, resilience, and traditions of Latine communities and to the roots of the histories, policies, and commitments that shape higher education today. Raíces also symbolizes grounding: the deep strength that allows us to withstand uncertainty, weather the challenges of shifting policies and social climates, and remain steady in our purpose.  

Futuro then calls us forward, challenging us to not only adapt but to emerge stronger, building institutions that authentically serve students and communities across Colorado. 

The statewide gathering brings together educators, staff, and partners from across Colorado as Hispanic-Serving Institutions nationwide navigate an increasingly complex federal landscape. This collaborative effort represents the growing strength of networks committed to supporting Hispanic/Latine communities throughout higher education during a time of evolving policy challenges. 

Summit Origin and Mission

The Colorado HSI Summit emerged from the Colorado HSI Consortium, launched in late 2022 to strengthen organizational capacity and create a collaborative community for HSIs—both current and emerging. 

The gathering creates connections between institutions serving Colorado's diverse Latine communities, from urban centers to mountain resort areas, building on the state's significant HSI presence where about one-third of public colleges have achieved this designation. Unidos en Identidad y Acción—United in Identity and Action—emphasizes the collaborative approach needed to integrate true "servingness" beyond mere demographic benchmarks. 

“This is a defining time for HSIs,” says Yesenia Silva Estrada, MSW, Vice President of Planning at Chief of Staff at Colorado Mountain College. “Policies are shifting, equity gaps persist, and the future of servingness is on the line. Raíces reminds us that the roots of our institutions, our histories, our choices, our commitments, shape the students’ experience today. Futuro calls us to respond boldly, to influence systems and expand opportunity in rural, urban, and mountain communities alike. The HSI Summit is our collective response to the times: an intentional act of courage and collaboration.”

Distinguished Speakers and Programming

The Summit will feature an impressive lineup of speakers bringing national and local expertise. Dr. Mary Ann Villarreal, Dr. Marla Franco, Dr. Mara Nohemí López, EdD, and Dr. Landon Mascareñaz will address attendees, offering insights from their experience in Hispanic-serving education. 

Dr. Villarreal serves as Special Advisor for Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives at the University of Arizona and Inaugural Director of the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Research Center.  

Dr. Franco is the Executive Director of Member Services with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Senior Vice President for Planning and Advancement with HACU.  

Dr. López is a Senior Research Program Manager and Faculty Associate at Arizona State University, where she works to develop culturally responsive practices to support institutions’ work with Latinx students in STEM. 

Dr. Mascareñaz is the Founding Executive Director of Courageous Colorado and brings a unique perspective as a lifelong coalition-builder advancing efforts across education, democracy, and economic development. He serves as Chair of the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. 

Event Details and Registration

The two-day summit will take place at Colorado Mountain College's Spring Valley campus and Morgridge Commons, located in Glenwood Springs. The full agenda and program details can be found here.

What We’re Reading (and Listening To…)

Postsecondary Education

  • Workforce Pell: For decades, federal financial aid has been tethered almost exclusively to traditional degree programs despite millions of Americans choosing to enter the workforce without a degree. In a recent op-ed, Stand Together Trust’s Policy Director and Senior Fellow Dr. Steve C. Taylor argues that Workforce Pell – enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) – could represent an inflection point by redirecting resources to pathways that meet the realities of today’s learners and employers. [U.S. News]

  • New Apprenticeship Intermediaries: Apprenticeship Colorado has named 12 additional Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries to accelerate high-quality apprenticeship programs across the state. Selected through a competitive application process, these organizations are now eligible for funding and other benefits to support the expansion of the Registered Apprenticeship System in Colorado. The state recognizes two types of Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries: Industry Apprenticeship Intermediaries and Talent Apprenticeship Intermediaries. Read more about those who received this new designation. Related: a take on tech apprenticeships featuring Helen Young Hayes with ActivateWork. [ColoradoBiz Magazine]

Future of Work

  • AI: Only 3% of jobs can immediately be replaced by AI, according to MIT’s State of Business AI report, but eventually, 27% of roles may be replaced by AI. Over 80% of executives in media and tech surveyed for the report anticipate hiring fewer employees over the next two years. Related: According to new research from the Common Sense Institute Colorado, the state ranks third in the nation for tech sector concentration and has the 14th highest number of AI job postings in the country. And, Colorado lawmakers have pulled back on their attempt to tweak the state’s first-in-the nation controversial AI law during the recent special session. More here. [Axios; The Colorado Sun]

  • Skilled Labor + Trades Academy: Lowe’s, in partnership with Hiring Our Heroes, has launched a free, six-week Skilled Trades Academy to train military members, veterans and spouses in high-demand trades such as HVAC, plumbing and electrical work. The program, supported by a $500,000 investment and approved as a Department of Defense SkillBridge opportunity, aims to reduce military unemployment while addressing the national skilled labor shortage. [Fox Business]

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

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