Regents hear budget proposals for 2022-23

The Board of Regents on Friday heard details of three potential budget scenarios for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Chad Marturano, acting chief financial officer for the CU system, introduced the overview during the second day of the board’s two-day meeting at CU Boulder. The presentation offered a first look at potential state funding, tuition, compensation and fee scenarios for the 2022-23 budget.

The board in April will receive budget resolutions with recommended tuition, compensation and fee changes, with a final vote on the budget scheduled for the June meeting.

Proposals for the board to consider include increases for undergraduate resident tuition ranging from 0%, 3% or 2% for CU Denver, UCCS and the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. At CU Boulder, new tuition tiers and continuation of the four-year tuition and mandatory fee guarantee for first-time undergraduate resident students received approval from the Board of Regents last year, and is pending legislative approval. The adopted changes will go into effect for new incoming students in fall 2022.

Proposed fees vary by campus.

Compensation for classified employees would increase 3% in all three scenarios, while the 3% increase would apply to faculty and non-classified employees in scenarios where additional state funding and tuition increases are present.

Preliminary enrollment projections for 2022-23 vary across the campuses as pandemic-related disruption continues. Overall enrollment increases are projected at CU Boulder (0.6%) and CU Anschutz (2.3%). Overall enrollment decreases are projected at UCCS (0.05%) and CU Denver (1.3%).

In other business at last week’s meeting:

• The board awarded the Regent Emeritus designation to Regent Chance Hill, who resigned last November to pursue new professional opportunities outside the state. Last week’s meeting was the first regular, in-person meeting for Regent Ken Montera, whom Gov. Jared Polis named to the board in December. Montera represents the 5th Congressional District.
• The board welcomed five CU Boulder honorees who last fall were named Distinguished Professors, a title signifying the highest honor awarded to faculty across the CU system’s four campuses. Appearing for the formal recognition were: Andreas Becker, Diane McKnight, Gifford Miller and Helen Norton; joining via video was José-Luis Jimenez. CU Boulder’s Ruth Ellen Kocher will be honored at a later date, as will the most recent Distinguished Professor designees from CU Denver and CU Anschutz.
• Regents heard initial results of the Campus and Workplace Culture (CWC) Survey, in which CU students, faculty and staff provided information about their academic, workplace and residential environments.
• The board formally stated its support for expanded access to lactation spaces across CU’s four campuses and system administration, as well as the pursuit of robust lactation policies exceeding all federal, state and local policies and guidelines. In another ongoing effort addressing health and wellness needs across the university, CU’s campuses are taking action to make menstrual hygiene products more widely available in public restrooms.
• Regents learned how CU Boulder is nurturing its research and innovation environment. The board also approved the 2021 Campus Master Plan. Read more in CU Boulder Today.
• Regents approved two new bachelor’s degrees and a certificate program at UCCS. Read more in Communique.
• The board approved a new degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at CU Denver beginning fall 2022. Read more in CU Denver News.