The Colorado Department of Higher Education received a formal request from Red Rocks Community College and the Colorado Community College System for a gtPathways waiver tied to a new Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Health, Mental Health and Wellness. The program is explicitly framed as a workforce-development pathway created under Senate Bill 22-181 in partnership with the Behavioral Health Administration, with an emphasis on streamlined completion for working adults and alignment to state credentialing requirements. The document notes that multiple memoranda of understanding are in progress between CCCS and four‑year institutions to create non‑competing transfer and graduate pathways for BAS graduates.This indicates active planning for new or expanded partnerships, curriculum alignment work, and potential student support, advising, and reporting infrastructure, but no vendors are identified yet. Vendors in education technology, behavioral‑health training content, online/hybrid program delivery, assessment, internship management, and workforce analytics could help CCCS and partner institutions design, scale, and support these pathways as the BAS rolls out and MOUs are finalized.

Waiver is requested under Colorado statute §23-1-125(3) C.R.S. to allow the BAS to deviate from full gtPathways requirements while still ensuring embedded general-education competencies.