An idea three years in the making is finally a reality, thanks to dedicated educators working behind the scenes to make it happen—and students in the Pikes Peak region will benefit. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) have established a new partnership that creates a dedicated transfer pathway for PPSC students to continue their education at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, strengthening access to a liberal arts degree for students in the Pikes Peak region.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ President Manya Whitaker and PPSC President Lance Bolton signed the formal agreement at a ceremony at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s Gaylord Hall on Thursday, April 30. On hand to witness the historic initiative take flight were area educators, leadership from both colleges, civic leaders, staff, and members of the media.
“Pathways to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ” is the newly named initiative, and “Pikes Peak State College Transfer Pathway” is its inaugural transfer pathway. The first cohort is slated to begin at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ in the fall of 2026. Through the partnership, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will guarantee enrollment of up to two transfer students from PPSC each year. The program is designed to support students from early planning through enrollment, including pre-application advising on admission, financial aid, and transfer credit evaluation from both PPSC and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ staff.
“At Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, we think a lot about pathways—how students find their way to college, how they navigate their education, and how they go on contribute to their communities,” says Tony Cabasco, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Vice President for Enrollment. “Of course, those pathways are not always straightforward—and that’s why we are here today.”
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunity in our community,” says Whitaker. “By creating a clear and supportive pathway, we aim to ensure that talented students from Pikes Peak State College can access the distinctive academic experience offered at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.”
Under the agreement, PPSC students who earn an associate degree with a GPA of 3.3 or higher will be eligible for admission consideration at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, subject to standard review by Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s Admission Committee. Admitted students who complete required financial aid applications will be considered for all available need-based and merit-based financial aid, including the newly-expanded Four Corners Pledge. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ remains one of only 84 colleges and universities nationally that meet full demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
Sami Koller ’27 is a PPSC to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ transfer student who was admitted this academic year and representsthe kind of student ideally geared for this transfer pathway. She earned her associate degree in Geology at PPSC in 2025, transferred to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ last fall, and plans to earn her BA in Geology in 2027.
“I was convinced Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ was out of my reach,” Koller told the audience at the partnership signing ceremony. “I was a nontraditional student, attending a then-community college, and I was certain I was not the kind of student private institutions were looking for. I had accepted that I was not smart enough to apply.”
Koller says she studied hard at PPSC and made the Dean’s List and President’s List nearly every semester, and submitted her application to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. Once she was admitted, it came down to how she was going to pay for it.
“I’m an independent student without financial support from either of my parents, so how could I possibly be able to pay for that?” Koller says. She says she learned Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for students. “By taking advantage of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s amazing financial aid program, my tuition is almost completely covered. Don’t let financial insecurity stop you from applying to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. The staff in financial aid are so helpful, understanding, and will work with you regardless of your financial situation.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Bolton, who praised Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ for providing a pathway for access to local students who may have never had the rigorous liberal arts college on their educational radar.
“We’re grateful to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ for their partnership and for their commitment to students across our community,” he says. “This agreement reflects what’s possible when educators come together with a shared purpose. Our students are talented, driven, and ready for what’s next. This creates a meaningful pathway for them to continue their education and contribute to our region.”
“What I love about this collaboration,” Cabasco adds, “is that it’s proof that institutions with different missions and distinct strengths can work together to support students in intentional ways.”
Key features of the PPSC to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ transfer pathway include:
- Academic Advising Support: Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will provide advising to prospective transfer students on academic programs, transfer credits, and course planning. Students are encouraged to begin the process during the fall term prior to graduation.
- Transfer Credit Policy: Up to 64 approved semester hours from PPSC may be transferred, in accordance with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s transfer credit guidelines.
- Graduation Requirements: Transfer students must complete a minimum of 16 units at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and meet all institutional graduation requirements.
- Undergraduate Opportunities: Eligible students may participate in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ-affiliatedgrants, summer institutes and projects, as well as study abroad programs, depending on their academic course of study.
The partnership underscores both institutions’ commitment to student success and to building stronger educational connections within the region.
“We also know that students who begin their journeys at community colleges bring valuable perspectives and experiences that enhance liberal arts education for everyone,” Cabasco says. “They enrich classrooms, strengthen campus communities, and go on to contribute meaningfully to their fields and to civic life.”
“I am so grateful to be a Tiger,” Koller says. “I hope my story can inspire others in our community to never give up on your dreams, and to always believe in you.”
In their Own Words
Hear more about the impact this educational opportunity will have on students in the Pikes Peak region and the community at large from Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ President Manya Whitaker, PPSC President Lance Bolton, and PPSC to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ transfer student Sami Koller '27. Video by Julia Fuller / Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.
