As students, teachers, and school administrators and as citizens of Colorado, we urge you to reject the 300 million higher education funding cut proposed by the Colorado Joint Budget Committee. Higher education offers graduates more job opportunities than those who choose not to pursue their education beyond high school. In a day and age where companies need the best-educated and qualified workforce available to compete on a global market higher education provides indispensable tools for ultimate success. As patrons of higher education concerned about the future availability of quality higher education we ask that you reassess alternatives to bridging the Colorado state budget deficit gap.