The University of Colorado Board of Regents today heard a proposal to increase tuition by 3 percent 鈥� the lowest tuition increase for resident undergraduates the campus has brought forward in nine years. The Regents also approved a new degree on the CU-Boulder campus: a Masters of the Environment in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Below is a roundup of news items from the Feb. 20 Board of Regents meeting:
CU-Boulder leaders propose 3 percent tuition increase
The University of Colorado Board of Regents today heard a proposal to increase tuition by 3 percent 鈥� the lowest tuition increase for resident undergraduates the campus has brought forward in nine years. When coupled with a proposal to reduce student fees, this would bring the net increase for a full-time resident undergraduate student in the College of Arts & Sciences to 2.8 percent. Campus leaders are not planning a larger tuition increase because of an expected state budget allocation increase of 10 percent. The CU-Boulder campus is projecting a slight enrollment increase for the 2015-16 school year, growing to 30,363 students from the current enrollment of 30,323. The Board of Regents plans to vote on tuition and student fees at its March 30 meeting. For more details, see the given to the Regents.
Three percent salary pool proposed for faculty, university staff, classified employees
Campus leaders have proposed a 3 percent salary pool for faculty, university staff and classified employees. The Board of Regents plans to vote on a compensation increase pool at its March 30 meeting. Campus leaders have proposed that faculty and university staff be eligible for a 3 percent merit pool. Under the proposal, classified employees would receive a 1 percent cost-of-living increase and be eligible for a 2 percent merit pool. For more details, see the given to the Regents.
The Masters of the Environment (MENV)
The Board of Regents voted 9-0 today to approve a new Masters of the Environment (MENV) degree. This interdisciplinary, professional degree program is intended for new or early career professionals. The 17-month, 36-credit program will be broad and inclusive; will be populated by students from a wide range of backgrounds, professions and disciplines and will focus on applications and problem-solving.
Provost Russell Moore explained that this new professional degree is intended to help graduate students who are prepared to meet the immediate needs of Colorado鈥檚 economy.
鈥淭hese degrees are expected to culminate in jobs immediately upon completion and to help CU-Boulder better prepare students for careers that are needed right now,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淭hese decisions are market-driven, and they are responsive to industry demand.鈥�
Moore explained that the new degree program will employ classroom methodologies, distance learning methodologies, internship methodologies and a hybrid of all three models.
Masters of Science and Doctor in Philosophy in Environmental Engineering
The board also heard discussions to add new master鈥檚 and doctorate degrees in Environmental Engineering beginning in Fall 2015. The board will vote on these degrees at its next meeting on March 30.
Professor Jana Millford from CU-Boulder鈥檚 Department of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Applied Science presented the proposal to the board. She explained that Environmental Engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the protection of human health from environmental factors, as well as the protection of environments from the effects of human activities.
鈥淭he U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics projects strong growth in this field,鈥� said Millford. 鈥淭hese focused degrees will help prepare students for careers in this demanding and rewarding part of the Colorado economy.鈥�
Millford added that the faculty she represents are excited about these new degrees.
鈥淲e believe that these degrees will help us recruit students to our already successful Environmental Engineering programs at CU-Boulder,鈥� she said.
CU-Boulder Professor Leslie Leinwand, Ph.D., honored as Distinguished Professor
The Regents honored CU-Boulder professor Leslie Leinwand, Ph.D., who had recently been named a 2014 Distinguished Professor, the most prestigious听honor for faculty at the university. The award recognizes Professor Leinwand for her outstanding outstanding work in the field of molecular, cellular and developmental biology, excellence in teaching and commitment to service.
Shelly Bacon, assistant dean of advising for Arts & Sciences, added that advisors today add different value than when their primary job was to grant students permission to sign up for a particular course.
鈥淭he value that advisors bring today is helping to pull all the pieces together,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want students to experience both curricular and co-curricular activities, and students don鈥檛 know what all those opportunities are. They rely on advisors to help them understand all the opportunities CU provides to them.鈥�
Bacon also explained that the new system, called MyCUHub, will enable advisors to perform targeted outreach to students who would most benefit from a meeting with an advisor.
鈥淢yCUHub will make that doable with the click of a button,鈥� Bacon said.
Online Initiatives (Academic Affairs)
The Regents also heard a presentation by the campus chancellors on a plan to bring forward a system-wide online education platform in the fall. The platform will focus on delivering pre-collegiate classes to high school students around the state, some limited degree-completion options, some professional masters degrees and select Ph.D. programs. 听The campus provosts are working together to define what will be made available. More information will be brought forward to the Regents in July.
Fossil Free CU presentation
More than 50 students representing Fossil Free CU attended to support a movement encouraging the university to divest from fossil fuel industries. Student representatives argued that the fossil fuel industry is declining and that it is more economically advantageous to invest in green energy industries.
The regents commended the group for its passion and respectful dialogue, and reiterated willingness to continue the conversation.
Regent Michael Carrigan echoed these sentiments, encouraging them to understand that 鈥渃hange does not come quickly.鈥�
Regent Linda Shoemaker shared that she believes climate change is the defining issue of today鈥檚 college students鈥� generation. Shoemaker said she would support reasonable divestment from fossil fuels, but that she does not believe that the students鈥� proposal is realistic at this time.听