猫咪tv

With a focus on long-term financial stability and continued investments in strategic priorities, the Board of Trustees approved the University of Northern Colorado's (猫咪tv) $219 million fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget during their June 6 meeting.  

The balanced budget, presented by Vice President for Finance and Administration, Dale Pratt, projects a cash balance of $63 million by fiscal year-end, a $3.2 million increase over the projected FY25 ending cash balance of $59.8 million.  

As indicated in his budget preview during the May Finance and Audit Committee meeting, Pratt took a more conservative approach in projecting revenues and expenses for FY26. The change is partially in response to 猫咪tv鈥檚 $4 million budget shortfall for FY25 and reflects a deliberate commitment to mitigate the risk of such a shortfall for FY26. 

Included in the budget is a $1.5 million increase in state funding from last year. The increase, which was in doubt for much of the year considering the state鈥檚 $1.2 billion budget shortfall, was the result of a successful collective lobbying effort from statewide higher education institutions.  

鈥淲e benefited again from the support of the Joint Budget Committee, which preserved funding for higher education amidst a very challenging budget year at the state,鈥� said 猫咪tv President Andy Feinstein. 鈥淭hanks to their efforts and our advocacy at the Capitol, 猫咪tv鈥檚 $69.0 million state funding allocation will increase to $70.6 million next year.鈥� 

Feinstein cautioned the board that while it鈥檚 still early, there are indications the state鈥檚 financial picture is unlikely to substantially improve next year. 

With the next fiscal year starting on July 1, Pratt said the university is projecting stable enrollment at the undergraduate level and a slight decline of 2.4% at the graduate level for the fall. Undergraduate resident tuition is slated to increase by 3.5% and student fees by 4%, for an overall net increase in tuition and fees of $431 for the academic year, prior to financial aid awards. Graduate tuition is also slated to increase by 5% and undergraduate non-resident tuition will increase by 4%.  

One key area of success Pratt shared with the board was the positive trends in student retention and persistence rates, which is one metric the university uses to predict future enrollment. The most recent fall-to-spring (90.7%) and projected fall-to-fall retention rates (76.5%) of new, first-time, full-time undergraduate students are at some of the highest levels ever recorded. The projected fall-to-fall persistence rate for all undergraduate students, which includes students who are expected to return or have graduated, is the highest rate ever for 猫咪tv at 86%. 

In alignment with the institution鈥檚 strategic priority to Enhance and Invest in its employees, the budget allows for continued investments in employee compensation. FY26 increases include a 3% pool for faculty and professional administrative staff effective Jan. 1, 2026, and state-mandated raises for classified staff effective July 2025. The increases represent the seventh pay increase in a four-year period for 猫咪tv employees. 

Pratt said the university鈥檚 stable outlook heading into the new fiscal year is largely due to the collective efforts of the campus community, including the cost control measure implemented in February to temporarily pause and review hiring activities for all new and vacant positions. Those efforts saved approximately $1 million during the last six months of the fiscal year, and they will be extended through the coming fiscal year to provide additional cost savings. 

鈥淎s we enter FY26, 猫咪tv is well-positioned for the future,鈥� said Pratt. 鈥淚n the coming year, we will continue to prioritize financial stability by aligning revenues with expenses, directing adequate funding to address critical resource needs and focusing on our long-term priorities.鈥� 

During their meeting, the board also approved the renaming of the Campus Commons Art Gallery to the Lydia and Robert Ruyle Art Gallery. The renaming recognizes the legacy of lifelong Greeley residents Bob and Lydia, M.A. 鈥�92, Ruyle. The Ruyle鈥檚 children recently honored their late parents by donating over 500 pieces of Lydia鈥檚 artwork to the university, creating a learning library of unprecedented resources for the university鈥檚 School of Art and Design.  

An internationally recognized artist, scholar, educator and leader, the gallery will feature a wall with Lydia鈥檚 biography and a rotating display of works from her Ruyle Collection, including from her globally celebrated Goddess Banner Collection. A celebration to dedicate the space is scheduled for Sept. 11, at the gallery. 

Wrapping up the meeting, Feinstein provided the board with an update on the university鈥檚 strategic plan, Rowing, Not Drifting 2030. As the end of June marks the halfway point of the 10-year strategic plan and mid-point of the current two-year Phase III efforts, Feinstein took a moment to highlight key progress from the past year.  

Of note, Feinstein pointed to the university鈥檚 continued efforts to support open educational resources (OER), including serving as host for the 2025 OER conference last month. OER are teaching learning and research materials that are released under an open license and free to students.  

鈥淣ationally, public four-year students spend nearly $1,300 per year on books and supplies, which can present a significant barrier to students over the course of earning their degree,鈥� said Feinstein. 鈥淭he recent conference brought together leaders from across the state to discuss strategies to make more affordable, high-quality teaching and learning materials available to students.鈥� 

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RELATED: Open Educational Resources Save Students Nearly $500K in Course Costs This Past Year

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In other news, the board: 

• Approved a contract extension through June 30, 2030, for men鈥檚 head Basketball coach, Steve Smiley. 

• Approved various faculty emeritus and promotion and tenure recommendations.  

• Approved the FY27 State Capital Construction Request. The request, which the Colorado Department of Higher Education requires board approval for, includes a list of prioritized capital construction projects over the next five years.  

• Approved a Supplemental and Deposit Fee Proposal for the university鈥檚 proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine. The new fee structure sets the application and enrollment deposit amounts for when the college begins to accept applications.  

• Approved adding the Young House, located at 1855 10th Ave. and the former home of 猫咪tv鈥檚 ROTC, to the list of real properties the university is selling.  The group requested relocation to another facility on campus, which the university is helping to facilitate. 

• Read a Resolution of Appreciation, acknowledging Student Trustee Keegan Bradley, who concludes his service on the board at the end of June.