Never Too Late: Former Western Students Earn Degree Through CORE

Like many first-year college students, Donavon and Alana enrolled at Western with a plan.

Donavon was a sixth-generation Gunnison local in his early 30s, and he was looking for a change. After a stint in the Marine Corps and more than a decade managing the family business, he enrolled to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Sculpture and Jewelry. He even pursued a second degree in Environmental Science with the hope of one day becoming a college professor teaching sustainable art practices.

After graduating from Steamboat Springs High School, Alana planned to deepen her knowledge of the natural world with a degree in Environmental Studies.

But for both, life forced them to consider new possibilities.

Two-thirds of the way through her education, Alana had health concerns that forced her to move back home. Donavon had 90 credit hours on his transcript when he got the itch to leave Gunnison and reconnect with an old girlfriend.

Despite spending more time in college than their high school classmates who earned an associate degree, both went home from Western empty-handed. And that was an unfortunate reality for students at colleges and universities all across the country.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, around 40 million Americans have some college credits but no credentials to show for their time or financial investments. Fewer than 41% of first-year college students earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, and fewer than 60% earn one in six years. Disruptions caused by COVID-19 only made the problem worse.

So in 2021, the Colorado Legislature passed H.B.21-1330, the Colorado Re-Engaged (CORE) Initiative, which allows four-year colleges to offer associate degrees to students who had earned at least 70 credit hours in a baccalaureate program.

University staff contacted around 200 former Western students who met the requirements necessary to receive an Associate of General Studies degree. Of those, 38 accepted their degree in December 2024, Alana and Donavon among them.

“[This program] is a great opportunity for folks like myself, who have put in many hours of study and learning to still be rewarded with a diploma,” Alana said. “This is a great reminder that all education matters.”

According to Meagan Tracey, Western’s Reengagement and Transfer Strategist, just hearing from Western staff about the CORE Initiative and the opportunity to receive an AGS degree reminded many students of their educational goals and brought them back into the fold.

“We actually had some students who were so excited about the opportunity, they didn’t opt-in to receive their AGS,” Tracey said, “they just reenrolled at Western to finish their bachelor’s degree.”

Of the students who received an AGS degree, several hoped to someday reenroll at Western to finish their bachelor’s degree, and others reenrolled through Western’s Adult Degree Completion program, which allows non-traditional students an opportunity to finish a bachelor’s degree in a flexible and remote way.

“It’s not just that you get an associate degree, and you’re done,” she said. “We want to help people reach their academic goals and support them and their futures. It’s a lot of individualized support,” Tracey said. “I think Western is really excited. This is the first time we’re awarding AGS degrees as an institution.”

The program’s first class of recipients and any others who are awarded after the spring semester are invited to participate in Commencement in May.

“I am beyond proud to receive any sort of degree and hope to find the time one day to finish my dual degree tract,” Donavon said. “It gives me a great sense of pride and provides an example to our children that no matter how old you may be, it is never too late to accomplish greatness.”

 

Learn more about CORE

Contact the Department for more info.

mtracey@western.edu
970.943.2243

 

Visit Program Page

 

 

Author Credit: Seth Mensing

Photo Credit: Courtesy