On Feb. 12, members of UCCS administration explained their plan to close the $27.7 million budget gap, and a student proposed a forum between students and administration to the SGA senate.
Budget deficit roadmap
Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Student Affairs Stephanie Hanenburg and SGA President Aidan Burke presented the university’s plan to close the $27.7 million budget gap.
After previous Scribe reporting, SGA was not formally presented with the school’s plan following the University Budget Advisory Committee (UBAC) meeting on Jan. 30, which includes closing the gap in five years by cutting approximately $11 million in the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1.
According to Hanenburg, the gap is due to expenses outpacing revenue, as UCCS has been using reserves and CU system funds to cover costs and enrollment has been declining since 2018.
Average credit hours per student have decreased, partially due to students working and attending school half-time, although enrollment increased by about 100 students from the fall 2024 to the fall 2025 semester. By current UCCS projections, enrollment is expected to rise in fall 2026, according to Hanenburg.
Enrollment, which is 10,319 students this semester, decreased by about 800 students compared to last semester and 400 compared to the previous spring semester.
Additionally, marketing has fallen short. According to Hanenburg, the marketing budget for a university of UCCS’ size should be roughly $5.5 million, yet UCCS’ budget has remained under $2 million.
“We’ve had donors commit $3 million to marketing for the next few years to help increase our marketing dramatically,” Hanenburg said.
The university is using budget cuts to reflect on the university as a whole and create a more sustainable model that includes an increase in compensation for staff and faculty, preparation for a world of AI and maintenance.
Colleges will look into programs to determine if the program is meeting the demand of the U.S. workforce, and smaller programs are more likely to be cut.
“We’re still funding programs that might have 10 students, and we’re spending a ton of money on those programs because they used to be more robust,” Hanenburg said.
According to Hanenburg, research and CU Granville Health programs will not be cut due to their success and tuition will not be increased to fill the gap. Program cuts for next semester are expected to be announced before summer.
Student and administrators open forum
During public, Jae Brown, a graduate history student, proposed an open forum between students and administrators to inform students about the budget and its impact on students.
“I want it to be low stakes — not interrogative. An open conversation about what is happening with the budget and how it affects students,” Brown said.
Brown explained that students would have access to pre-prepared questions. Topics include food, safety, academics, campus management, IT and enrollment/tuition. It’s unclear if students would be allowed to ask their own questions.
Brown advocated for administrative attendance that includes Chancellor Jenifer Sobanet, Provost Lynn Vidler, Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Jeff Green, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives Robin Parent and Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Student Affairs Stephanie Hanenburg.
The proposal will not be followed through unless at least one member of SGA formally introduce it as a bill.
In other news:
- Air Academy high school has invited SGA to attend their student government meeting on Mar. 12.
- Vice President Isabella Polombo reported that a GroupMe was created for conversation between student club and organization leaders, which has already involved 15 groups.
- Polombo reported that Clyde’s Cupboard has a new clothing Grab & Go in the Sustainability House every Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- There will be no Senate on Feb. 26.
Graphic via The Scribe archive.