In response to a growing demand for more flexible post-secondary education pathways, the University of Northern Colorado recently added 12 new certificate programs to its undergraduate and graduate academic portfolio. The programs, all of which were approved by the university’s Board of Trustees during their Feb. 23 meeting, make use of existing coursework and are either embedded in or stack directly toward existing undergraduate or graduate degree programs.
“Each of the proposed certificate programs align with our institutional values, support career readiness or career progression for our students or are designed to directly or indirectly attract new students,” said Kirsten Fleming, executive vice president and provost.
Many of the new programs also directly support opportunities identified in Colorado’s Commission on Higher Education five-year strategic plan, Building Skills for an Evolving Economy, including building stackable credentials of quality in critical occupations and aligning curriculum with industry needs.
The updated curriculum offerings come from four of UNC’s five colleges and provide additional credentials in the areas of science, technology, education, art and the humanities.
The board also heard an update from Tobias Guzmán, vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on the university’s recent campus climate survey. The survey aligns with one of the key actions in UNC’s 10-year strategic plan, Rowing, Not Drifting 2030, to create plans, structures and programs that foster an inclusive environment where all individuals feel welcomed and supported.
Guzmán told the board that the university administered three surveys, one to collect aspects of the faculty experience, one to capture staff members’ perceptions of diversity and campus climate issues and one to capture student perceptions regarding the campus climate and student learning outcomes.
The findings, which were analyzed by the Higher Education Research Institute, were presented along five different themes that emerged as relevant across the three groups of respondents: sense of belonging, relationships within and between groups, working and learning environment, safety and wellbeing, and culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Guzmán’s presentation also outlined specific opportunities that were identified under each theme, as well as information about efforts already underway in support of the themes.
While the survey results have been shared with governance groups across campus, Guzmán said the next steps include sharing the information with the greater university community in March through a fireside chat and the availability of an internal dashboard. The survey findings will be used later this summer to inform Phase 3 of the strategic plan and in the development of a multi-year DEI roadmap.
Also on the agenda, which received unanimous approval from the board, was a nomination from UNC President Andy Feinstein to confer an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters upon local philanthropist and community leader Mr. Arlo Richardson during the university’s spring 2024 commencement.
“Much like UNC’s focus on the betterment of our region and state, Mr. Richardson has spent most of his life living in and advocating for the Greeley community,” said Feinstein. “Arlo is an honest and humble leader. He is always learning and growing and has demonstrated his exemplary character and ability to be successful in a number of circumstances and industries. His curiosity and interest in asking questions are unique and are obvious reasons he has created so much success.
“It is evident to me that Arlo is incredibly deserving of an honorary degree from UNC,” continued Feinstein. “Conferring it on him recognizes his numerous contributions to UNC and Greeley and honors the university as well. I consider him not only a friend of the university, but a friend of mine too. Conferring this degree on him in May will be a privilege.”
Other action items that were approved during the meeting included:
- Approval of the UNC’s Spring 2024 Facilities Comprehensive Plan, which is intended to provide guidance for future decisions related to UNC’s physical spaces and landscape.
- Approved setting the tuition for UNC’s proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine at $55 thousand per academic year for both resident and non-resident students. The figure, which is comparative to peer institutions and just below the national average of $56,947 per year, was determined following a national review of current tuition rates for colleges of osteopathic medicine, a review of current tuition rates at medical schools in the region and validation through consultation with Tripp Umbach, the national medical education consulting firm assisting with the development the UNC COM business plan. The tuition rate will remain unchanged until the first cohort graduates and the college receives full accreditation.
- Approved lowering the tuition rate for UNC’s RN to BSN program from $544 per credit hour to $350 per credit hour. The change will make UNC’s program more competitive with the price of similar programs offered at community colleges. In 2002, Colorado legislators passed the Community College Nursing Bachelor Degree Eligibility bill which allowed community colleges in Colorado to confer a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to students who have or are pursuing a practical nursing certificate.
Review all agenda items from the Feb. 23, 2024, Board of Trustees meeting
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