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UNC Trustees Approve New Bachelor’s Degree Program
October 9, 2009
- Media contact: Nate Haas
- 970-351-1763 nate.haas@unco.edu
University of Northern Colorado’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved pursuing the creation of a new degree program in nutrition during a regularly scheduled meeting Friday, Oct. 9.
The infrastructure for the proposed addition, which now heads to the Colorado Department of Higher Education for final approval, is mostly in place. If approved, an additional faculty member in Dietetics would be hired, bringing to four the full-time faculty teaching in the undergraduate program that serves about 200 students in traditional and online formats.
"Although we’re looking at a variety of saving strategies for the university, at the same time we’re mindful of investments that we need to make to compete and also look at trends in the marketplace," Provost Abe Harraf told the board.
Dietetics Professor Jamie Erskine said that many students have requested a bachelor’s degree in nutrition. There are 54 students who currently minor in nutrition.
"We expect several of them would like to have a double major with sports and exercise science, or nursing or chemistry and biology," Erskine said.
If approved by the state, the new program would be offered next fall.
In other action, the board also:
- Approved the Dr. Mary Jo Drew Biological Sciences Distinguished Professorship. Drew, a UNC alumna, has made a planned gift of $1.5 million to the university. See story.
- Approved naming of the Doug Lidiak Disability Support Services Conference Room in recognition of the Lidiak’s $40,000 contribution, pledged over four years, beginning October 2009. See story.
- Approved the Faculty Senate ratified sabbatic leave policy that updates language throughout.
- Agreed to table a discussion about refinancing bonds issued in 2001 to take advantage of low rates and federal subsidies. Refinancing would allow the university greater flexibility, provide savings and complete the original renovation scheduled for Butler-Hancock Hall. Construction is already under way thanks to $11.5 million in state-issued bonds called certificates of participation. The remaining $3 million in state funding to complete the entire project never materialized. More about the project.
- Discussed the impending "cliff," when federal stimulus funding ends in 2011-12. That could mean a $14 million reduction to the original $44 million in state and stimulus funding UNC receives. UNC President Kay Norton said while the amount may change, $14 million serves as a good starting point in planning for the cliff. Measures will include identifying ideas for generating new revenue, controlling costs, reducing expenses and smoothing out the effects of the looming reduction by investing one-time funds. The goal is to set aside $4.6 million in an additional reserve ($3.6 million will come from tuition and enrollment increases). The remaining $1 million will likely come mainly, but not solely, from salary savings in hiring achieved through the normal vacancy process. Norton reiterated that the university is not planning furloughs or layoffs and does not anticipate using those as cost-saving strategies unless there’s some "unforeseen catastrophe."
