Dear Strategic Resources and Support team,听
I am writing to provide an update on the budget conversations I鈥檝e been having with your unit leaders as we look ahead to next year鈥檚 budget and even longer term over the next four or five years. As noted to the regents last month with the 2023-24 budget proposal, overall enrollment is projected to decrease by about 0.7% next fall, though our colleagues in Enrollment Management are working hard to bring students to 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录 for a life-changing educational experience. We all also received early this term about a shortfall in funds that the system office had designated to accelerate priorities outlined in the system-wide strategic plan.
While these factors present some fiscal challenges, 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录 faces these challenges from a position of strength. We have strong enrollment, a stable financial model, and the opportunity to make decisions now that will set us up for long-term success. We know the number of high school graduates will gradually decline in the years ahead, and we need to plan now so we鈥檙e prepared when it occurs.
Some of the key themes the chancellor, provost and I have relayed to the regents and our teams include:听
- Tuition revenue will not fully fund campus initiatives, so we will need to orient our existing resources to our highest priorities, particularly efforts related to student retention and graduation; health and wellness; diversity, equity and inclusion; sustainability and our physical and technology infrastructure.听
- In the past, we鈥檝e often been able to augment our revenues by increasing enrollment. That will be harder for us to do in the years ahead, due to both the decline in high school graduates and because our campus housing assets are near capacity. 听
- As a result, I鈥檝e asked your unit leaders to take a look at everything we do to ensure all our operations support our priorities. Because we may have limited new funds to dedicate to initiatives, we must be open to the idea that we may need to change how we operate or repurpose resources in some areas to achieve this.听
- Our 2023-24 budget enables us to remain mindful of affordability for our students while continuing to address compensation of our faculty and staff amid a competitive employment landscape. Highlights of what we鈥檝e asked the regents to approve include:
- 4% merit pool for university staff for next year, with hope that our revenues will support another 4% merit pool the following year.听
- 5% across-the board increase for classified staff next year in line with the state of Colorado.听
- Minimum wage increase for staff to $18 per hour.听
- Personnel and benefit costs constitute the majority of our campus budget, and we know we must invest in our workforce so that we sustain one of Colorado鈥檚 most valuable educational and research enterprises. I鈥檓 grateful for all you do every day to ensure the success of our students and faculty.
Recent emergency alerts
I know recent off-campus events in our community that prompted the university to send out multiple emergency alerts over the course of a few days created a sense of unease on our campus, as well as questions about what to do in these situations. In the past, we sent alerts for on-campus emergencies, and we heard from our community that we needed to communicate more. So we have expanded our alert radius beyond the campus borders to adjacent areas. I鈥檓 pleased that we鈥檙e using our technology to provide more information. I also realize an increase in alerts increases questions about how to respond.听
We鈥檙e working with our team to refine our communications and provide information. When an emergency occurs, the alerts are happening in real time, and we鈥檙e providing the best information that we can as quickly as we can.听
Here are a few reminders of information sources and steps we can all take in these situations.
- First and foremost, act with care and compassion for our students, your teams and your colleagues during these situations. Campus has a number of support resources.
- The website is where you can find information on how to receive alerts and what different alert levels and notification types mean. It鈥檚 also where you鈥檒l find the most detailed information during an emergency when alerts are sent out.听
- If there is an imminent threat to campus, you will receive an alert as soon as we know about it. For off-campus incidents, the city of Boulder will send alerts. Staff with Boulder residential addresses were opted into the city鈥檚 alerts system in November. Others can .听
- Do not unilaterally make decisions to close buildings or offices if not directed to do so by law enforcement.听
- Our Division of Emergency Management can answer questions and provides training for units on actions to take during emergencies.
Other SRS news and notes 听听
- Action planning dashboard: Last month I highlighted some of the great work our SRS units are doing to create action plans that reinforce our campus values around diversity, equity and inclusion. Subsequently, our DEI office has created a dashboard that tracks the status and progress of each unit鈥檚 efforts. We share a responsibility to make 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录 more inclusive and more welcoming to everyone in our community. Thank you for joining these efforts.
- Pulse survey: We鈥檝e gotten great participation on our first two SRS pulse surveys. Please continue to let me know how you鈥檙e doing by . I hear you and value your feedback.
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With gratitude,
Pat
P.S. Don鈥檛 forget to "stamp"听your passport as you engage in campus events and activities for a chance to win prizes.听
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