It's no secret: I love Colorado! Our spectacular state offers so many things to celebrate every day. From our mountains to our plains, our big cities and small towns, our terrific weather, and, most importantly, the many wonderful people who enrich the Centennial State with a wide array of cultures.

Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off September 15, giving us another opportunity to celebrate the contributions, achievements, history and culture of Colorado's Hispanic community, which has long been our fastest growing.

With the state's Hispanic population at nearly 25 percent of the total population, Hispanic students make up 35 percent of the state's high school students. It's critical for the University of Colorado to reflect this demographic reality – and we know we have work to do.

While the decision to enroll or work at CU is a personal one, it's clear from the many people I meet with across the state that a CU education is considered the gold standard in Colorado. Make that the black and gold standard.

Students like Daniel from Pueblo see a path to opportunity starting on one of our campuses. Daniel has found a transformative education at CU Denver, as well as the community and support that has made the campus his home away from home.

I want all our students to think of CU as their home away from home and to thrive here, and we're committed to fostering campus communities and cultures that allow for this. There's been much discussion about the US Supreme Court’s decision on race in admissions – and for good reason. But know this: the ruling does not impact our existing undergraduate admissions process, and it will not change our commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive campuses that showcase all of Colorado’s communities. We want students from all backgrounds and ethnicities to know CU's four campuses welcome them.

In his CU Journey story, Daniel said it best by stating, “You belong at the table … your voice needs to not only be included, but uplifted.” So, if you know someone who is on the fence about going to college, my only message is: Apply! We want you!

In addition to college-ready students, we're also working to make sure younger Coloradans see that a path to success via higher education is within reach. We have robust and wonderful pre-collegiate programs focused on students whose parents didn't go to college. Each of our campuses has pre-collegiate development programs that reach out to Colorado families as early as middle school to help motivate and prepare them academically, socially and emotionally for postsecondary education. Young people participating in these programs have an outstanding record of success. Learn more about our programs at CU Boulder, CU Denver, UCCS and CU Anschutz.

In response to many concerns we hear from communities across the state, we're continually finding ways to make college cheaper through programs like the CU Promise, which covers tuition and fees for Colorado resident students who are eligible for Pell Grants. CU Boulder's recent expansion of the program has doubled the number of state resident students with significant financial need who are eligible for free tuition and fees. We’re working hard to make it easier to transfer high school and community college credits to our campuses while also providing meaningful supports to transfer students. Transferring credits can shorten the time it takes to earn a CU degree, which makes a CU education cheaper.

We're connecting with Colorado's diverse communities and serving as a resource for them. With funding from system administration, I worked with CU Denver to reinvigorate and strengthen the Latino Research & Policy Center (LRPC). The LRPC will do important research and create a gathering space for Latinos at CU Denver. With its certificate in Latino health, the Colorado School of Public Health, a collaboration between CU Anschutz, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado, is working to develop the talent pipeline of health care professionals who can address health disparities in Hispanic communities. At UCCS we offer ongoing support, online resources and advising to undocumented students. This includes training for faculty and staff on supporting undocumented, DACA and ASSET students, as well as those from mixed status families.

We're steadfast in our belief that a vibrant and inclusive community leads to a richer educational experience for all, contributes to a positive society, and prepares our graduates to excel in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world.

I hope you find many opportunities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month over the next few weeks. And know that through our ongoing work to foster diverse and inclusive communities systemwide, CU celebrates all cultures, experiences, identities, religions and ideas every day.