Colleges, military welcome new tuition bill

Daily Press

MONTROSE — Local colleges are welcoming a new bill that grants in-state tuition to armed service members and their families.

Gov. Bill Ritter signed House Bill 1163 into law last week. The bill extends in-state tuition privileges that were perviously only available to members of the armed forces and their dependents if they were in Colorado on a permanent change-of-station basis.

With the new bill, those who are in Colorado on a temporary assignment duty or members of the Colorado National Guard, can also receive the rate.

"These individuals are serving their country and are often sent to locations away from their home. Having the opportunity to pursue, or to continue, a college education should not be detoured by having to pay out-of-state tuition," Jay Helman, president of Western State College in Gunnison, said.

Ben Keefer, Mesa State director of the Montrose campus and extended studies, also said it was a great idea.

He said the largest benefit will go to institutions where military bases, such as Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, are located. According to Keefer, Carson will be expanding by around 15,000 soldiers and their dependents. "We're looking at a considerable amount of people that are at college age," he said.

On-line degrees is another large market soldiers can tap into.

Keefer said the Montrose campus has national guard students who will be impacted by the new bill.

Currently, out-of-state students pay about $410 per credit. In-state tuition is considerably less, costing only $218.40 per credit hour.

"This is the right thing to do," bill carrier Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, said in a press release. "We should welcome each and every one of these brave men and women to our state and while they are here we should treat them with the same respect and deference that we treat long-time Coloradans."

Not only does the bill help those in the armed forces, Keefer said, but it also allows for the college to tap into another recruiting resource.

"It provides us with the ability to talk to students who are just leaving the military or discharged," he said, adding that it closes the 12-month period out-of-state prospects would have to wait to receive in-state tuition.

It will also help the military retain soldiers.

"Primary reasons to leave (the military) is financial," Keefer said. "If I am a soldier and my spouse can qualify for in-state and get an education, I can stay in the military."

The bill passed the House on a 60-5 vote and by the Senate on a vote of 33-1. It became effective upon Ritter's signature May 31.

Contact Kati O'Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com