On Sunday, July 20, 107 GSBC students stepped away from their weekend activities in Boulder to fill the courtroom of the Wolf Law building on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Their purpose? To explore opportunities for affordable housing from a community bank perspective and obtain a micro-credential on affordable housing.
The one-and-a-half hour session led by Andy Proctor in partnership with FHLBank Topeka’s Affordable Housing Institute and Metropolitan State University of Denver explored one of the most urgent issues facing communities across America: access to affordable housing.
Why It Matters
Our students–community bankers and regulatory professionals from across the country–demonstrated curiosity and leadership by stepping outside of regular curriculum hours to tackle a challenge that affects families, neighborhoods and economies nationwide. Affordable housing is not just a social issue; it’s a community banking issue. Banks are uniquely positioned to support solutions through lending, partnerships and advocacy.
Inside the Session
The curriculum guided students through the history of affordable housing programs in the U.S., highlighting both ideas and policies that worked and those that fell short. From there, discussion turned to today’s affordable housing landscape, with examples of models that have proven successful and insights into how community banks can engage in the space.
“Many affordable housing developments have been successful in large part because of the innovation and participation of community bankers,” said Andy Proctor. “It was a privilege to share tools that have been successful in helping to solve community challenges with engaged bankers from around the country.”
Reflection in Action
To complete the credential, each student submitted a reflective workbook. They weren’t just asked to absorb information—they were challenged to connect it back to their work and communities by answering:
- What’s one new insight you learned?
- How does the housing need show up in your market?
- What role could your bank play and how would you move the conversation forward with leaders and partners?
One student captured the spirit of the session well: “This [micro-credential] opened my eyes to the complexity of affordable housing programs and how much more I need to learn.”
This reflective exercise ensured that the program wasn’t just academic, it was personal. Students left considering not only what affordable housing means in theory but what it could mean for their neighbors, customers and institutions.
Bolder Banking® in Action
The Affordable Housing Micro-Credential is one of several curriculum innovations GSBC offers through its Bolder Banking® campaign, designed to cultivate bold, future-ready leaders for community banking. Initiatives like this micro-credential empower students with the knowledge, tools and connections to tackle challenges head-on and lead with intention toward a vibrant future for their institutions and communities.