UC Regents Consider Budget, Concealed Carry and More | CU Boulder today

The University of Colorado Board of Trustees this week approved the 2024-25 budget for all four campuses, voting unanimously on a plan that calls for an overall 0.5% increase in enrollment at CU Boulder this fall .

The regents also approved the construction of a solar array and an 18-building energy efficiency project.

The Board of Trustees also discussed concealed carry on campus and recognized Philip DiStefano with the new title of Chancellor Emeritus.

Budget approval

The board voted to approve the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. Key aspects of CU Boulder’s budget include:

• Tuition increase of 3% for new resident undergraduate students.

• Tuition increase of 4% for incoming non-resident undergraduate students.

• Tuition increase of 3% for graduate students.

• 2.7% increase in mandatory fees for new undergraduate students.

• Compensation increase of 4% for academic staff, professors and graduate students.

• 3% across-the-board pay increase for classified personnel, consistent with State of Colorado guidelines.

The 2023The –24 budget included a 4 percent merit pay reserve for university staff and faculty following state approval of an 8 percent raise over two years.

The board also approved a proposal to roll most mandatory fees into tuition starting in fall 2025. While this change will not reduce costs for students, it will reduce administrative burden and builds on the elimination of program and course fees in the 2018-2019 fiscal year. the elimination of the student information systems fee in the 2020-2021 fiscal year and the elimination of the capital construction fee in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Next year, the campus expects enrollment to increase by 0.5 percent, or about 200 additional students. The 2024-2025 fiscal year begins July 1.

Concealed Carry

The Board of Trustees discussed a resolution to change the campus’ current concealed carry policies to bring them in line with state law. Earlier this year, Gov. Jared Polis signed a law making it a misdemeanor to knowingly carry a firearm on school grounds. The law, which takes effect July 1, includes open and concealed carry of firearms.

Sustainable development projects on campus

The regents approved the construction of a 1.1 megawatt solar array on East Campus and 18-building energy efficiency project.

Chancellor Emeritus Philip DiStefano

DiStefano was named chancellor emeritus in a resolution issued by the board of trustees.

“The impact you have had over 50 years in Boulder is truly incredible, and the fact that you have been able to weather so many storms during that time is a testament to your ability to work with people of different backgrounds and interests , and to handle different situations,” Regent Frank McNulty said.

During his tenure as chancellor, CU Boulder created the College of Media, Communication and Information, navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and doubled research funding, among other highlights and challenges.

DiStefano will retire as chancellor on July 1 and return to the School of Education as a faculty member. He will also serve as executive director of the CU Leadership Center.

Other business

The board of directors also:

• I heard public comments from several speakers calling for UC to divest from Israeli companies and filing complaints about pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

• Passed a resolution condemning protests at the regents’ home and encouraging the public to pursue other avenues to share their input.

• Approved a resolution recognizing Alan Slinkard, Project Specialist with Campus Building Services, for his service as a leader in shared governance.

• Approved tenure and sabbatical grants to CU Boulder faculty members.

• Approved an amended and restated employment contract for Thomas “Tad” Boyle, men’s basketball head coach.

• Approved the rescission of a civic resolution reporting policy that had been approved in 2019.

• Updated several regent policies.

• Voted to re-elect Regent Callie Rennison as Board President and Regent Ken Montera as Board Vice President.

The next regular meeting will take place on September 12 and 13 at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.