The University of Colorado’s School of Medicine, housed at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, is “a world-class operation,” says university president Bruce Benson. Yet, it is “terribly, terribly underfunded,” and as a result, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, a national body that evaluates medical schools, has listed the school as a concern. If funding doesn’t improve, CU’s medical school could lose its accreditation, writes The Denver Post, and without a degree from an accredited school, graduates can’t get licenses to practice. The school, according to CU officials, is at or near the bottom of a list of 80 publicly funded medical schools nationwide ranked by state support. In 2001, the level of state funding was $19.6 million, says Dr. Richard Krugman, the school’s dean. Today the state of Colorado pitches in just $12.3 million—which is supplemented by $5.5 million from tobacco tax money and limited federal stimulus funds. A lack of diversity within the school’s 600 students and the need for more scholarship money are also concerns. Unfortunately for the state, money remains tight. The higher-education picture doesn’t look good for any school, particularly Fort Lewis College, which would be the “biggest loser” in a proposal being considered by lawmakers. The school is pleading with lawmakers after being slated to lose 31 percent of its state funding, reports the Durango Herald.