Early Bird

Budget Recommendation Committee meeting recap

The committee discussed an analysis of the tuition window and various state-funding and tuition-rate scenarios.

By Lindsey Coulter

March 16, 2021

Friday’s meeting of the Metropolitan State University of Denver Budget Recommendation Committee focused on factors that will influence the University’s tuition-rate recommendation.

Compensation Subcommittee update

The subcommittee is brainstorming compensation models that include possible one-time funding and base funding (based on availability). Those ideas are being organized based on different funding scenarios, with the ultimate goal of increasing compensation and benefits for faculty and staff. Any compensation recommendations made would potentially be part of the Phase II budget and would become effective in October.

Tuition-window analysis recap

The presentation demonstrated what analyses were conducted in 2018 that led to the decision to recommend to the Board of Trustees that the tuition window be closed and showed movement in tuition-window participation since the closure. See the full presentation for an in-depth analysis of the tuition window by the University’s Business Intelligence team.

State-funding and tuition-rate options

The meeting also focused on state-level funding proposals and rate limitations as well as the potential impact of rate adjustments on affordability and access for students. The presentation provided an overview of three funding proposals from Gov. Jared Polis, the state’s higher-education CEOs (MSU Denver did not join fellow state institutions for this request) and the Joint Budget Committee’s figure-setting document. Members also discussed four tuition scenarios with regard to additional revenue and anticipated impact to students. See the FY 2021-22 State Funding and Tuition Rate Options presentation for more details.

Next BRC meeting

Please mark your calendar to attend the next BRC meeting March 26 from 10 a.m. to noon via Teams. The discussion will focus on revised enrollment figures and updates from the state’s Joint Budget Committee.