The University of Northern Colorado’s Finance and Audit Committee and Board of Trustees met last week to discuss several topics and updates. 

Finance and Audit Committee Meeting 

The Finance and Audit Committee met on Thursday, Feb. 10 to discuss a preliminary outlook for the university’s FY23 budget, UNC’s FY22 second quarter (Q2) financial report and the annual intercollegiate athletics financial report and FY21 audit. 

FY23 Budget Outlook 

UNC President Andy Feinstein provided a high-level overview of the university’s FY23 budget, including an update on state funding. According to his report, UNC is in its strongest financial position in over a decade, despite anticipating a decrease of approximately $4.3 million in revenue next fiscal year compared to FY22, due in part to an estimated 10% decline in undergraduate enrollment.   

Back in November, the governor's office proposed an increase of $42.6 million in state funding for higher education with a 0% tuition increase. According to Feinstein, that modest 4.6% increase from last year isn't enough to cover core minimum costs from inflation, salaries and insurance. He, along with the chief executive officers from three other research institutions, met with the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) in early January to present alternative models that would more adequately fund higher education. Colorado currently ranks 47th in the country for spending on higher education. 

While more than one alternative was presented to the JBC, Feinstein’s overview included the assumption of an additional 6% increase in state funding and a 3% increase in tuition. Nothing will be decided until after the state finalizes higher education funding, expected sometime in May.  

Other FY23 budget planning included the continued management of expenses to ensure spending aligns with the university’s priority to increase student success, and what Feinstein referred to as a critical investment in faculty and staff with a planned 2-3% compensation increase in July. Budget planning will continue through April.  

FY22 Second Quarter Report 

UNC’s enrollment was lower than anticipated this year with final undergraduate enrollment at 6,213, 218 full-time equivalent (FTE) students below budget, and graduate enrollment at 1,637, or 45 FTE below budget. Despite the enrollment-related shortfall in revenue, with the benefit of a combination of unbudgeted proceeds from oil and gas lease royalties, forecasted to be $4.8 million this year, and $10.9 million from the supplemental federal relief package, referred to as Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF III), the university is projecting $20.3 million operating surplus for FY22. That’s compared to the budget surplus of $2.9 million. Additionally, the university’s cash position is projected to be at $73.7 million at fiscal year-end, $17.3 million more than the FY21 ending cash position of $56.5 million.  

Forecasted personnel expenditures have been reduced by $5.6 million following Q2, reflecting the general challenges experienced in the labor market nation-wide, as the university has seen increased turnover and difficulty filling vacant positions. UNC has implemented several strategies to improve employee recruitment and retention, including a $1,500 increase to the base salary for full-time employees and a prorated increase for part-time employees, minimum wages increased to $15/hour for staff and $14/hour for students and adjunct faculty and graduate teaching assistants received a one-time payment of $250. Non-personnel expenses, which have been reduced by $1 million following Q2, continue to reflect conservative spending, even with a full return to on-campus instruction and activities. Other contributing factors that have been beneficial in minimizing spending, such as slower deliveries related to supply chain issues and reduced travel, have been mitigated by increases in inflation which have affected significant increases in utilities and some categories of supplies and purchased services.  

Overall, the positive results following Q2 allow the university to reinforce its commitment to strengthening the institution’s financial health with the same agility and responsiveness demonstrated consistently over the last four years, despite pandemic pressures. 

View the Finance and Audit Committee’s Feb. 10 meeting documents, including the annual intercollegiate athletics financial report and FY21 audit.

Board of Trustees Meeting 

The Board of Trustees met on Friday, Feb. 11 discussing updates to the university’s progress in exploring an osteopathic medical college, UNC’s Students First Framework and other curriculum updates. 

Osteopathic Medical College Exploration 

Senate Bill 56, which would allow UNC to offer specialized degree programs in osteopathic medicine, was introduced in the State Senate on Jan. 18. It was passed unanimously by the Senate Education committee on Feb. 9 and will make its rounds in the full Senate and House in the coming weeks. Feinstein informed board members that he is optimistic about the positive progress so far, reporting that the university has raised $6 million in cash to date, the application for accreditation with the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) has been submitted and a national search for the founding dean has already begun.  

Students First Framework and Strategic Enrollment Management 

Interim Provost Lisa Vollendorf and Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Pete Lien provided an overview of UNC’s Students First Framework. 

As part of UNC’s strategic plan Rowing, Not Drifting 2030, the university created a Students First Framework to advance strategic efforts related to improving recruitment, admissions, retention rates, graduation rates and the overall student experience. Some of the strategies discussed include personalized outreach, enhanced campus support, clear communication with students and families and focused efforts to improve retention and eliminate equity gaps. 

Vollendorf also discussed strategies to strengthen and diversify the university’s academic portfolio, identifying areas of persistent enrollment decline and creating new programs in response to workforce needs and student demand. To that end, she provided a summary of the changes to existing degrees and recommended the board take action to approve a new academic degree program and update several others, all of which passed. Beginning academic year 2022-23, UNC will offer the following: 

• New bachelor of science degree in Health Science with concentrations in Healthcare Administration, which is a collaboration with the Monfort College of Business, and Public Health, a natural pipeline into the master’s degree in Public Health offered through the Colorado School of Public Health. 
• Three existing bachelor of arts degrees in the School of Theatre Arts and Dance and the College of Performing and Visual Arts will be updated to bachelor of fine art  degrees to reflect the type of work students are already doing in those programs. 
• The addition of a Writing, Editing and Publishing concentration will be added to the current English bachelor of arts program, providing students with better preparation for careers in technical writing. 
• Three new concentrations will be added to the current Mathematics bachelor of science program, Pure and Applied Math, Computer Science and Statistics and Data Science. 

In other news, the board: 

• Heard an update on UNC's dining contract with Sodexo, a global food service and facilities management company, intended to significantly enhance the food service options on campus. New additions coming to UNC in fall 2022 include a Starbucks in Holmes Dining Hall and several additions to the University Center, including Empire State Pizza, Crisol Latin Kitchen, Bowlful and Burger & Co.  
• Approved an amendment and ratification of an oil and gas lease, correcting the legal description of the parcel of land covered under the lease. 
• Approved the 8th supplemental resolution, allowing UNC to refinance bonds.  

View the Board of Trustees Feb. 11 meeting documents. 

— written by Deanna Herbert