Published: April 7, 2017
University of Colorado Board of Regents

University of Colorado Board of Regents

At its regular meeting on Thursday and Friday at the University of Colorado Denver Auraria Campus, the University of Colorado Board of Regents voted to approve tuition and fees for the 2017–18 academic year, merit pool increases for faculty and staff, the creation of a Student Relief Fund for DACA students, the purchase of 2369 Arapahoe to expand the Boulder campus and contract extensions for three CU Boulder coaches.

2017–18 tuition and compensation pool approval

Tuition and fees
The board voted to approve the proposed budget for 2017–18. Because the board voted last year to approve a tuition guarantee for undergraduate resident students—to complement the nonresident guarantee that was previously available—the tuition increases that the board voted on today do not affect current undergraduates. Students who were admitted prior to fall 2016 received the guarantee with last year’s class, and those rates remain in effect for the next four years for undergraduate students.

In other board news
  • The board voted by consent agenda to approve contract extensions for Women’s Basketball Coach JR Payne, Volleyball Coach Jesse Mahoney and Men’s Basketball Coach Tad Boyle.
  • The board voted to confer honorary degrees to philanthropists and longtime CU donors John and Anna Sie. Honorary degrees are conferred in recognition of outstanding intellectual achievement in one or more of the following areas: intellectual contributions, university service and/or public service.
  • The board approved an action item that defers the search for a vice president (VP) of diversity, charging VP for Employee and Information Services Kathy Nesbitt and Vice President for Academic Affairs Officer Michael Lightner to coordinate with appropriate officials at system administration and campuses to identify and implement initiatives that improve diversity, inclusion and retention.
  • The board voted 6-3 to pass a motion to consider retaining a consultant to research and assist in the development and presentation of a white paper that identifies the best practices of organizational structures in systems of higher education with multiple public higher education campuses.

Incoming freshmen and graduate students as well as undergraduate transfers will see the following tuition and fee increases, with no further increases for four years:

  • Resident freshmen: $480 (4.9%)
  • Nonresident freshmen: $1,066 (3.2%)
  • Resident graduate students: $324 (3%)
  • Nonresident graduate students: $846 (3%)
  • International students: $1,118 (3.2%)

Total combined tuition and fees for incoming resident freshmen and transfer students will be $12,087, and it will be locked for four years.

The board also approved the students’ proposed increase for student activity fees.

"The student government worked hard over the last year to hold expenses down in order to prioritize the mental health fee," said Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Fox. "This will enable the university to provide increased mental health services to students in the future."

For more information about tuition and fees, see the Bursar’s Office Tuition Guarantee page.

Compensation
The 2017–18 budget also includes a 2.5-percent merit pool increase for faculty and staff, as well as a 1.75-percent cost of living increase and a 0.75-percent merit increase for classified staff.

Approved 2016–17 budget update

Due to an increase in enrollment this year, $7.1 million additional revenue has been generated. These funds are going to be invested to support enrollment growth in the colleges and schools, information technology infrastructure, human resources and insurance premiums increases.

Student Relief Fund

The board voted to approve a Resolution of Support for Students Enrolled in DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and ASSET (Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow) programs, and they announced the creation of a Student Relief Fund for the Boulder campus.

The fund is intended to provide support to students experiencing financial need that prohibits them from obtaining their education at the University of Colorado Boulder and who suffer a legal impediment to accessing federal or state financial aid.

The Student Relief Fund will provide the most benefit to DACA students—people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines.

"This is a fund created through the CU Foundation," said Regent Linda Shoemaker. "There are no monies going towards it from tuition dollars or the general fund. It will all be funded through private philanthropy."

Anyone interested in donating to the Student Relief Fund can do so through the CU Foundation, who is managing this fund.

Acquisition of 2369 Arapahoe (Conoco Station)

The board voted 9-0 to approve the purchase of 2369 Arapahoe Avenue (Conoco Station). The property consists of 0.272 acres of land and a one-story retail building of 1,238 leasable square feet. It stands at the Boulder campus gateway at Arapahoe and Folsom and is of strategic importance for the campus as a major gateway.

"I want to particularly thank our Director of Real Estate Jeff Lipton, who has served the university for many years and was instrumental in securing the acquisition of this property," said Fox.

For more details or to see presentations from the meeting, visit the BoardDocs website.

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