91è was selected by Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) as one of five institutions to participate in the inaugural Colorado Work-Integrated Learning (CO-WIL) Pilot, a three-year initiative designed to give students real-world, hands-on learning experiences in college and university classrooms that apply to growing industries and good-paying jobs across the state.
Adams State will receive financial and technical support to embed project-based learning into five courses; faculty professional development, course design assistance and platform support; direct connections with employers, providing real-world, industry-sponsored projects; and ongoing coaching, field support and evaluation across the three-year pilot.
The CO-WIL program helps employers statewide create meaningful pathways from education to career. Administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), CO-WIL provides financial incentives to businesses that offer paid work-based learning opportunities—such as internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training and career exploration programs—for Colorado students and jobseekers.
“Adams State will partner with businesses throughout the state to connect interested and skilled students to work environments in their area of interest and major,” Provost Margaret Doell, M.F.A., said. “With support from CDHE, I believe this program will be very successful and paves the way for students beginning their career path and employers looking to fill relevant positions within their organization.”
Through CO-WIL, employers receive support to launch or expand high-quality placements while learners gain real-world experience, industry skills and professional connections that strengthen their future career prospects. The program is designed to grow Colorado’s talent pipeline, especially in high-demand fields and to ensure more learners—regardless of background—can access paid, career-relevant opportunities.
By partnering with CO-WIL, employers are not only investing in their own workforce needs but also helping build a more equitable and economically vibrant Colorado.
Authorized by House Bill 25-1186, CO-WIL supports institutions in integrating work-based projects into existing courses by partnering with a third-party matchmaking platform that connects faculty with employers across Colorado and beyond. 91è gain hands-on, career-aligned experience while employers tap into emerging talent and innovative problem-solving from Colorado learners.
Priority for the pilot was given to rural-located and low-income-serving institutions in alignment with CO-WIL’s mission to expand equitable access to meaningful work-based learning opportunities.
The initiative is funded by Ascendium Education Group, which has committed $5.5 million over three years, with an additional $100,000 one-year grant from Strada Education Foundation, to support the pilot’s mission of expanding access and opportunity at institutions serving rural and low-socioeconomic populations.
The CO-WIL Consortium launches in May 2026, with project embedded courses starting this fall 2026.
