FAQ

Aims Community College began when electors approved the creation of the Aims Junior College District on January 24, 1967. During the spring of 1967, the first Board of Trustees was selected and the college’s first president, Ed Beaty, arrived in June of that year. The first classes at Aims were held that fall. Please visit the History of Aims page to learn more.

The Learning College model was created by Terry O’Banion stating that it, “places learning first and provides educational experiences for learners anyway, anyplace, anytime." 

“The role of the Learning College at Aims Community College is to contribute and shape scenarios that empower learning through discovery, shared learning environments and construction of knowledge.” -Learning College Vision Statement

The overall Learning College objective at Aims Community College is that students and employees engage in learning collectively.

Specific objectives used as a framework for developing and assessing Aims learning initiatives are:

• Organizational Culture. Aims cultivates an organizational culture where policies, programs, practices and personnel support learning as a major priority.
• Staff Recruitment & Development. Aims creates or expands recruitment and hiring programs to ensure that new staff and faculty are learning centered and professional development programs that prepare all staff and faculty to become more effective facilitators of learning.
• Technology. Aims uses information technology to improve and expand student learning.
• Learning Outcomes. Aims addresses strategies to assess and improve learning outcomes, improve assessment processes that measure the acquisition of the learning outcomes and improve on means for documenting achievement of outcomes.
• Underprepared Students. Aims creates and expands learning centered programs and strategies to ensure the success of underprepared students.

Aims Community College promotes the Seven Principles for Good Practices in Undergraduate Education adopted from Arthur W. Chickering and Zelda F. Gamson.

As a local taxing district college, Aims assesses a mill levy on all property within the tax district. Aims is one of only two local district colleges in the state of Colorado. While Aims does not participate in the Colorado State College Opportunity Fund (COF), it does receive funding from the state through a line item in the annual Long Bill, approved by the Colorado Legislature each year. Tuition and fees make up approximately 20 percent of the college’s budget.

Many students at Aims rely on scholarship support, made possible through generous donation funds. To donate, visit the Aims Foundation page.

Aims is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of five members elected at public elections. For more information about the current board of Aims and its responsibilities, visit our Board of Trustees page.

Additionally, the college president is charged with performing the duties of the Chief Executive Officer including implementation of policies, procedures and contracts; administration of the employment relationship with college employees, as well as employment policies and regulations and administration of all educational programs and business affairs. For more information about the current CEO/President the duties of the role, visit the Office of the President page.

The boundaries of the Aims Junior College District align with the boundaries of 12 school districts in Weld County plus small portions of Adams, Larimer, Logan and Morgan counties and the city and county of Broomfield. Residents within these districts qualify for in-district rates. For more about in-district tuition and tuition-associated inquiries, please visit the Cashier’s Office page.

Aims is one of the most affordable 2-year colleges in the state.Tuition and Fee rates for Aims can be found here. Aims Community College rates are based on the residency of the student at time of registration.

Aims employed 818 full- and part-time employees during the 2022-23 school year, with over 48% of those being instructional staff.

During the 2022-23 school year, 9,664 students were enrolled at Aims. Students attended the college’s four campuses, took online classes, or took part in early college and off-campus concurrent courses. Over 67% of the student body attends part-time. 

Aims is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Accreditation information can be found here.

Please see the online job listings on the Human Resources page.

An educational alliance between Aims Community College and Franklin University provides students an opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree. Franklin University is a private university located in Columbus, Ohio. It is accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Open admission is a policy that permits all students with a high school degree or GED to enter the college and enroll in course work. As an open enrollment college, Aims does not base admission on academic achievement or test scores.

Entrance into specific courses or programs, however, is limited to those who have demonstrated the ability to handle the work. Aims Community College will not deny admission to any district resident because of financial need as determined by the Student Financial Assistance Office. Admission to the College does not imply entry into any program which has selective admission standards. Minimum skill levels are required for admission to even basic education courses. Please visit the Degrees and Certificate pages for more specific requirements.

Specific information can be found in the Event Management page or by contacting the Events department at (970) 829-4943.