After a phenomenal semester, summer is here at last! The campus has become quieter with many students graduating or moving away until the fall. Now is a good time to review our strategic plan and priorities for the upcoming academic year. I am happy to report that we are in a strong position thanks to two significant achievements that will transform our university and define its future for decades.
- We are proud to be Colorado’s newest Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). In March, we earned the official designation by the U.S. Department of Education that has been years in the making. This achievement opens doors for all students and faculty since the university is now eligible for new funding opportunities to support student success and help build and foster more cultural responsiveness on our campus. It also signals to our students, their families, and the broader community that UNC is a place committed to creating a sense of belonging and supporting student success. This bold vision is fundamental to who we are and to our future. ¡Vamos Osos!
- Our ambitious plan to establish a College of Osteopathic Medicine is moving closer to fruition. Colorado lawmakers passed House Bill 24-1231, which Governor Polis signed into law on May 1. The investment includes $127.5 million for construction, startup and accreditation expenses and $41 million for the escrow needs of the project. The college will enroll 150 medical students annually, with an inaugural class anticipated to start as early as fall 2026. The college will play a pivotal role in strengthening the state’s health care workforce, particularly in rural communities, to address Colorado’s staggering 65% of unmet physician needs (U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration).
Our progress has been nothing short of remarkable. Despite the long road and challenges of such monumental initiatives, our university community has shown incredible resilience and determination to not only maintain but also to raise our standards of excellence. These accomplishments will transform our community and our university. I hope you will share in our Bear Pride!
Join me in celebrating our 1,500 spring and summer 2024 graduates who come from 46 Colorado counties, 45 states and 21 countries. The Class of 2024 reflects the largest percentage of first-generation students receiving a bachelor’s degree and is UNC’s most diverse class of graduate and undergraduate students in the past five years. I think you will enjoy the story of business alum Kayla Minton, ’23, with her service dog and constant companion, Banjo, from our winter Commencement.
As you take in the beautiful, long summer days, I invite you to read through the amazing stories highlighting alumni, students and faculty and their extraordinary accomplishments in this issue of the UNC Magazine. Thank you for all you do to support UNC.
Go Bears!
Andy Feinstein, President
