CU President Bruce Benson complimented faculty and staff in a town hall-style meeting Monday at Berger Hall.
Before more than 150 faculty and staff, Benson summarized actions that by the Colorado General Assembly and the CU Board of Regents that will lead to merit salary increases for faculty, professional exempt staff and state classified employees.
“The fact of the matter is that it costs a lot to replace good people,” Benson said while explaining there will be a 3.6 percent raise pool for classified staff members and 3.1 percent for faculty and professional exempt. “If it were up to me, everyone would get 3.6 percent. I want to thank everyone. Everyone in this university works hard.”
Benson touched quickly on a number of topics ranging from efforts to preserve the university’s reputation by “taking care of bad things quickly” to praising a new UCCS master plan focused on North Nevada Avenue development and community collaboration.
“UCCS is on its way to becoming the key research university in southern Colorado,” Benson said.
While less-than-positive about CU’s state funding, he promised to continue to work to the issue with legislators and voters while also exploring other solutions.
“Five years ago, CU had $229 million in state funding,” Benson said. “Next year, it will be $150 million. It should be $350 million.”
The problem, Benson said, is that public support for higher education generates less support from voters than K-12 schools or transportation improvements. As a result, CU must continue to eliminate bureaucracy, keep administrative costs low, and look for other funding sources including private donors and sponsored research.
The CU Foundation’s Creating Futures campaign now underway has raised $1.3 billion and is on target to reach its $1.5 billion goal. While complimentary, Benson said additional gains are needed and that changes are forthcoming in fundraising, sponsored research and in the classroom.
“Fundraising and research are important,” Benson said. “But they don’t pay the operating bills.”
He cited massive open online courses – MOOCs – as an example of the changing educational landscape, encouraging faculty and staff to not stand on the sideline and watch as change occurs.
“The University is doing well despite funding from the state,” Benson said. “We’re a bunch of entrepreneurs who figure out how to get things done anyway.”“I’m proud of your university and I’m proud to be part of it.”
Benson will continue town hall-style meetings at other CU campuses. He is scheduled to visit CU-Boulder April 24, CU Denver on April 25 and CU System offices on May 8.
Photos by Jeff Foster, University Advancement
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