June 17, 2026
Aurora, Colo. – The Community College of Aurora (CCA) is one of the first institutions in the state to earn the new Basic Needs Campus Designation at the Comprehensive Tier from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). The college earned the highest level of recognition for the services and resources it provides to support basic student needs including food security, housing stability, and mental health. The designation recognizes institutions that take a comprehensive approach to removing barriers to student success, ensuring learners have access to the resources they need to persist, graduate and thrive.
Part of achieving CCA’s role as a leader in the field of transformative academic excellence and ensuring students are transfer and career ready involves starting with a deep understanding of their needs,
said Beau Green, CCA’s Executive Director of Student Advocacy. When their essential needs are secure, students are able to leverage their strengths and meet their goals. Well-being is at the root of being able to go to college while providing for your family and working.
The Comprehensive designation, the highest of the two recognition levels, acknowledges institutions that provide an extensive network of coordinated services while demonstrating continuous improvement and measurable commitment to student well-being. Recent enhancements at CCA include opening the Wellness Den and Foxy’s Fitness Center earlier this year.
Meeting students’ basic needs is one of the most effective ways we can improve outcomes across higher education,
said JB Holston, Executive Director of CDHE. These campuses are demonstrating what it looks like to take a comprehensive, data-informed approach to student success—breaking down barriers, aligning resources, and centering equity in their work. Their leadership is critical to building a stronger talent pipeline for Colorado.
The new designation launched this month with CCA in the inaugural cohort of institutions leading the way in supporting student well-being.
Through its Office of Student Advocacy, CCA coordinates an integrated network of wellness services designed to help students overcome barriers that can interfere with academic success. Their commitment to support is already well-established, as CCA received CDHE’s Hunger Free Designation and Healthy Minds Designation in 2023. The Basic Needs Campus Designation replaces these former honors under a more unified framework.
The college has also earned national attention for its commitment to student well-being, having received the following designations:
- FamilyU Seal, for work supporting parenting students
- Swipe Out Hunger Designation, for significant steps taken to address hunger among students
As colleges across Colorado continue to address the evolving needs of today’s learners, CCA’s Comprehensive Basic Needs Campus Designation underscores the institution’s belief that student success begins with stability. By investing in resources that support the whole student, the college is creating an environment where learners can focus on achieving their academic goals, building meaningful careers and strengthening the communities they serve.
About the Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora, Centennial, and Denver, Colorado. With a vision to aspire to be a college where every student succeeds, CCA is the most diverse college in the State of Colorado. Focused on creating social and economic mobility for its students, the college offers courses on three campuses, online, and through its high school concurrent enrollment programs. For more information, visit www.ccaurora.edu.
Contact
Courtney Butler
ExecutiveDirector of Strategic Communications and Special Initiatives
Strategic Communications and Alumni Engagement
P: 303-340-7201 | E: [email protected]