(1) (a) The state board for community colleges and occupational education, referred to in this section as the "state board", shall submit to the commission for its approval technical, career, and workforce development bachelor of applied science degree programs to be offered at one or more community colleges within the state system. The commission shall consider the following criteria in determining whether to approve a bachelor of applied science degree program:

(I) Whether the state board provides data demonstrating workforce and student demand for the degree program;

(II) The regional and professional accreditation requirements for the degree program, if applicable, and whether the college can satisfy those requirements, as appropriate, at both the institutional and program levels;

(III) Whether the state board can demonstrate that providing the degree program within the community college system is cost-effective for the student and the community college system;

(IV) Whether the state board can demonstrate that the degree program is sufficiently distinguishable from:

(A) An existing degree program at a state four-year institution of higher education that is provided to a student who resides in the community college's geographic service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), without the student having to change his or her residence; or

(B) A degree program that has been successfully offered previously in conjunction with a state four-year institution of higher education, which degree program will be reinstated sooner than the degree program could be offered by the community college; and

(V) Whether the bachelor of applied science degree program could be provided through a statewide transfer agreement pursuantto section 23-1-108 (7) with an accredited state four-year institution in the community college's geographic service area or with an accredited state four-year institution of higher education that has a statewide service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), that will deliver an existing bachelor of applied science program in the community college's geographic service area sooner than the degree program could be offered by the community college.

(b) In addition, in determining whether to approve a bachelor of applied science degree program, the commission:

(I) Shall consider whether the state board has met the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (I) to (IV) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) and whether the proposed bachelor of applied science degree program is in the best interests of the state of Colorado;

(II) Shall consult with the state board and state four-year institutions of higher education concerning whether the collaboration described in subparagraph (V) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) is feasible; and

(III) May consult with any state four-year institution of higher education that shares the same geographic service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), concerning the proposed degree program to inform the commission of any anticipated systemwide effects of the new degree program.

(2) (a) In determining whether to approve a bachelor of applied science degree program for Aims community college pursuant to section 23-71-102, the commission shall consider the following criteria:

(I) Whether Aims community college provides data demonstrating workforce and student demand for the degree program;

(II) The regional and professional accreditation requirements for the degree program, if applicable, and whether the college can satisfy those requirements, as appropriate, at both the institutional and program levels;

(III) Whether Aims community college can demonstrate that providing the degree program within its service area is cost-effective for the student and Aims community college;

(IV) Whether Aims community college can demonstrate that the degree program is sufficiently distinguishable from:

(A) An existing degree program at a state four-year institution of higher education that is provided to a student who resides in Aims community college's geographic service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), without the student having to change his or her residence; or

(B) A degree program that has been successfully offered previously in conjunction with a state four-year institution of higher education, which degree program will be reinstated sooner than the degree program could be offered by the community college; and

(V) Whether the bachelor of applied science degree program could be provided through a statewide transfer agreement pursuant to section 23-1-108 (7) with an accredited state four-year institution in Aims community college's geographic service area or with an accredited state four-year institution of higher education that has a statewide service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), that will deliver an existing bachelor of applied science program in Aims community college's geographic service area sooner than the degree program could be offered by Aims community college.

(b) In addition, in determining whether to approve a bachelor of applied science degree program, the commission:

(I) Shall consider whether Aims community college has met the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (I) to (IV) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) and whether the proposed bachelor of applied science degree program is in the best interests of the state of Colorado;

(II) Shall consult with Aims community college and state four-year institutions of higher education concerning whether the collaboration described in subparagraph (V) of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) is feasible; and

(III) May consult with any state four-year institution of higher education that shares the same geographic service area, as defined by the commission pursuant to section 23-1-109 (2), concerning the proposed degree program to inform the commission of any anticipated systemwide effects of the new degree program.