May 3, 2024

Dear CSU Community,

As we approach the end of the academic year, I would like to share some significant updates on items that moved forward in conjunction with this week’s CSU System Board of Governors meeting in Fort Collins.

Budget and Tuition

The board has approved CSU’s budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1.

We’re sincerely grateful to all the campus partners who helped navigate planning for what could have been a much more difficult budget year. Early uncertainties about state funding and tuition revenue forced us to model some tough scenarios. By leveraging our faculty and staff shared governance networks on campus, we were able to navigate this uncertainty and produce a budget that protects our common values. Thanks to stronger-than-expected state funding, we needed to make only modest spending cuts, with an aggregate budget reduction of 2.4%.

As noted in previous messages, reductions will not be uniform across the University. Instead, we have adopted a strategic approach. Some units will see budget increases, some budgets will be flat, and others will see varying levels of reductions. We have protected programs tied to institutional priorities, and are investing in a handful of promising initiatives that hold the potential to generate new revenue. The reductions avoided significant impacts to our mission and our current employees.

The budget reflects a commitment to enhance compensation for State Classified employees, incorporating a 3% across-the-board increase along with additional pay improvements established in the COWINs agreement. Furthermore, faculty, administrative professionals and graduate assistants will receive a 1% increase and some market adjustments. While this investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to employee compensation, we know more needs to be done in future budgets. It is our hope that the budget measures taken this year provide the foundation for greater increases in the future.

Deans and vice presidents have details about their respective budgets, and will be communicating with individual units over the coming weeks.

Our tuition rates for next year mirror the allowable levels set by the Colorado General Assembly and proposed rates at many other public universities in the state. Undergraduate tuition and fees for Colorado resident students will go up by $186 a semester, which includes a 3% tuition increase. Nonresident undergraduate tuition and fees will rise by $653 per semester, which includes a 4% tuition increase. Approximately 25% of new tuition revenue will be used to support student financial aid, and tuition increases will not affect the University’s lowest-income students.

We greatly appreciate the support provided by the Colorado General Assembly this year. It has enabled CSU to maintain both a strong value proposition for students and a solid financial footing.

CSU Spur

During my previous time at CSU, I was part of the team that conceived of and started building CSU Spur, our campus in Denver that is part of the National Western Complex. All three buildings on the Spur campus – Vida, Terra and Hydro – have been open for more than a year and have enjoyed impressive success. CSU Spur stands as a valuable resource for CSU, Denver and the entire state of Colorado.

The Board of Governors this week approved moving administrative management of Spur from the CSU System Office to our Fort Collins campus. This is a recognition that the System is set up to incubate and launch big initiatives. Our flagship campus is best equipped with the faculty and staff infrastructure to efficiently lead and sustain projects for the long run, continuing the momentum that CSU Spur has built.

The upcoming transition in administrative oversight represents an evolution in the partnership between CSU and Spur while preserving Spur’s mission and its daily operations. Importantly, this change will not affect the funding Spur receives from the CSU System, nor will there be any alterations to the reporting lines or compensation structures for Spur’s staff. Notably, Associate Vice Chancellor Jocelyn Hittle, the leader of Spur, will now enhance our CSU team as Associate Vice President, reporting directly to me.

This transition presents exceptional opportunities for continuing and expanding working relationships between CSU and Spur. The shift will facilitate opportunities to launch additional academic programs and research at the site and will leverage Spur as an enrollment pipeline, further enhancing the face of CSU in Denver.

Veterinary Health and Education Complex

Yesterday, we marked the groundbreaking of our new $230 million expansion of the veterinary medicine and education facilities on CSU’s South Campus. It was a wonderful opportunity to express our appreciation to Gov. Jared Polis and members of the General Assembly for providing $50 million in funding for this project.

CSU has been at the forefront of veterinary medicine for more than 140 years, and this revitalization will position CSU to continue to lead in this space far into the future. The Veterinary Health and Education Complex (VHEC) is slated for completion in 2026. It will allow the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science to update the curriculum and expand the size of veterinary program.

Ranked at No. 2 nationally, the veterinary program exemplifies CSU’s academic and research excellence. We can all take immense pride in our program that leads the world with innovations in education, animal care, biomedical discovery and public health. This new effort will strengthen it in a way that benefits the entire university community.

We have much to celebrate and much to look forward to in the coming year. As we anticipate commencement next weekend, let’s take pride in our students’ successes and in all we have accomplished together. Thank you for your extraordinary commitment to shared governance and for all you do to move our university forward. Student success depends on your efforts, you drive our research and artistry forward, and you propel the engagement and extension efforts that deliver CSU’s impact across the state and around the world.

With gratitude,

Amy Parsons

Colorado State University President