Jim Jones Leads CMC’s Effort to Grow Colorado’s Trades Workforce

December 1, 2025
CMC Skilled Trades concurrent enrollment student welding.

A new statewide report outlines a pressing challenge: Colorado needs far more skilled-trade workers to meet its energy and infrastructure goals, especially in rural and mountain regions. As buildings undergo efficiency upgrades, renewable systems expand, and older trades professionals retire, communities face widening workforce gaps. Read more: Jim Jones Leads CMC’s Effort to Grow Colorado’s Trades Workforce

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Highlighting Audrey Walker’s Work in Colorado’s Sacred Hot Springs

November 19, 2025
Audrey Walker.

Rocky Mountain PBS’s Colorado Experience: Sacred Hot Springs explores the history, geology, and cultural significance of Colorado’s mineral springs — and prominently features the expertise of Audrey Walker, Adjunct Faculty of Physical Sciences at Colorado Mountain College’s Steamboat Springs campus, where she teaches courses in geology. Read more: Highlighting Audrey Walker’s Work in Colorado’s Sacred Hot Springs

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CMC trustees approve new biology bachelor’s degree, opening doors to health care and research careers

May 22, 2025
Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs viewed from the air.

CMC trustees approve new biology bachelor’s degree, opening doors to health care and research careers Steamboat Springs, Colo. – At its May 2025 meeting, the Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new Bachelor of Science in biological sciences, marking the college’s ninth bachelor’s degree program. Designed to serve students pursuing careers in health care, research and the life sciences, the new degree will provide a direct pathway into high-demand, high-wage professions — including medicine, pharmacy, biotechnology and environmental science. The program will welcome its first students in fall 2026, pending final approvals from the Higher Learning Commission. “CMC’s mission is to enable mountain communities to thrive through education. Our purpose in offering this new degree is to open doors for rural students to pursue careers in health care and rural medicine — all while staying rooted in their communities,” said CMC President Matt Gianneschi. “The Bachelor of Science in biological sciences will enable more Western Slope students to dream big and, eventually, meaningfully impact the health and well-being of their hometowns.” The degree draws upon existing coursework in CMC’s natural and health sciences programs and includes core classes in molecular biology, genetics, physiology and biochemistry. By leveraging current resources and faculty expertise, the program provides a cost-effective way to expand opportunities for students interested in science-based careers. The degree will officially be available in fall 2026, pending accreditation. However, students may begin earning prerequisites for the degree by enrolling in CMC’s Associate of Science program with an emphasis in health science. In other action, trustees held the first public hearing of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, which includes proposed investments in instruction, technology, student services and capital improvements. The budget includes a 3% tuition increase and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for employees. Final approval is scheduled for the… Read more: CMC trustees approve new biology bachelor’s degree, opening doors to health care and research careers

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Colorado Mountain College and Regis University Partner to Create Pharmacy Pathway for Students

May 1, 2025

Colorado Mountain College and Regis University have launched a new partnership to support students interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy. The collaboration establishes a streamlined pathway for CMC students to transfer into Regis University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program, housed within its Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions. Through the agreement, students enrolled in CMC’s Pre-Pharmacy track will have a clearly defined transfer process and priority consideration for admission to Regis’s pharmacy program. The partnership strengthens both institutions’ commitments to increasing access to healthcare careers for students in Colorado’s rural and mountain communities. “This partnership is a major step forward in expanding opportunities for our students,” said John Lawrence, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural & Applied Sciences at Colorado Mountain College. “Many of our students are passionate about serving their hometowns as healthcare professionals, and Regis’s Pharmacy program provides a rigorous and respected pathway to do just that. We’re proud to work alongside Regis to remove barriers and build bridges to professional healthcare careers.” Students who complete prerequisite coursework at CMC and meet admissions requirements will be able to transfer directly into Regis’s Doctor of Pharmacy program, helping them save time and tuition dollars while staying closer to home during the early stages of their education. “This initiative highlights the importance of building clearer, more accessible pathways for students to pursue health profession programs — helping to reduce enrollment barriers and support those considering a future in healthcare,” said Samit Shah, dean of Regis University’s School of Pharmacy. “Together, we’re creating accessible pathways that empower students to become compassionate, knowledgeable pharmacists ready to lead and serve in the places that need them most.” Regis University’s School of Pharmacy utilizes a Team-Based Learning model to prepare students with the clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills necessary to thrive in… Read more: Colorado Mountain College and Regis University Partner to Create Pharmacy Pathway for Students

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