A Message from the President | University of Colorado

Keep apprised of CU's interests in the 2015 legislative session

The first few weeks of the 70th Colorado General Assembly proved to be active, with legislators proposing several higher education bills and Gov. John Hickenlooper outlining priorities for his second term in the State of the State address. In addition to higher education, Hickenlooper also covered the issue of TABOR refunds and future budget pressures that need to be addressed to enable the state to remain strong.

This session, CU is working on several key areas:

Secure support for Hickenlooper's budget request announced in November, which holds good news for CU and higher education.
Lobby for the agreement around the new funding formula supported by all higher education leaders in December.
Focus on legislation that supports workforce needs, STEM education and university infrastructure.

Higher education highlights from the governor's budget request:

A 10 percent operating increase for public higher education totaling $60.6 million;
An additional $15 million to help offset the impact of implementation of HB 1319 (for a total operating increase of $75.6 million);
$30 million for the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Fund, a fund created last year. Institutions must apply to access funds, which are awarded based on the quality of the proposals submitted by institutions.
Continuing construction funding for the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building at CU-Boulder ($20.2 million) and the Visual and Performing Arts building at CU Colorado Springs (UCCS) ($9.6 million).

Budget and new funding formula

The governor's budget request has an increase for public higher education of $107.1 million. This is good news because the amount is in addition to last year's increase, which is a move in the right direction to help restore the cuts that began in 2009.

The passage of HB 1319 in 2014 required a new funding model be established for public higher education. While the model is not perfect, all public colleges and universities reached consensus on a plan that doesn't leave any institution behind. See a letter to the JBC chair showing unanimous support by the institutions. CU is working hard with elected officials to maintain the model as it was agreed upon.

What this means to CU

If the model and budget hold, CU's four campuses would share about $16 million, a 10 percent increase that will help minimize tuition increases for the coming year.

New tuition cap bill killed

A bill that would have extended a 6 percent tuition cap indefinitely, SB 15-062, Extend Restriction on Tuition Increases at Higher Ed Institutions, sponsored by Sen. Andy Kerr and Rep. Brittany Pettersen, was postponed indefinitely, with committee members of both parties complaining about the bind created by state underfunding of higher education. Last year, CU came in well below the 6 percent tuition cap that the state instituted in part because of the increased state funding for higher education.

Because it is early in the session, it's impossible to know how much will change with bills being introduced for higher education, so we will continue to keep you apprised of developments and further details on how some of the bills could impact CU and higher education in general. To help stay abreast of the latest developments in this legislative session, click here to join the CU Advocates program.

Federal Relations

Congressional members also returned to Washington last month. CU will be working at the national level where appropriations for the 2016 budget year hold ramifications for CU. Research efforts and financial aid funding depend on federal investment; the next fiscal year also will see the return of sequestration, which tightened budgets for many researchers across the CU system two years ago.

Other issues expected to draw attention nationally: reauthorization of the Higher Education Act; the Campus Safety and Accountability Act; reform of tax, patent and immigration laws; the America COMPETES Act; and potential legislation related to college athletics.

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