Leadership Change Headlines February Board Meeting

The February Board of Trustees’ meeting covered familiar ground — including various reports, budget updates and curriculum approvals — but it also marked a pivotal moment for the university as President Andy Feinstein closed his opening remarks with the news he is stepping down from his role effective Aug. 1.

Serving for almost eight years as the University of Northern Colorado’s 13th president, Feinstein told board members that the decision came after a great deal of reflection and many conversations with his family. He also stated that he and his wife Kerry aren’t going anywhere as Greeley has become their home, and the community means a great deal to them.

“I started this role in July 2018, and I can say without hesitation: I love this place,” Feinstein said. “I love UNC — our people, our athletic teams, our campus and especially our students. The students are why we do this work. They are the reason UNC matters. And they are the reason it has been the privilege of my life to serve as your president.”

Feinstein recognized each member of the board, outlining how their contributions have made the institution stronger, and his leadership cabinet, acknowledging their steadiness under pressure and genuine care for UNC’s mission and students. He also had a message for the broader UNC community.

“It has been a privilege — truly. This is a very special place. And yes, it has at times been both a challenge and a pleasure to serve. That’s honest,” said Feinstein. “But it’s been worth it, because this work matters, and because UNC matters.”

Feinstein said he intends to remain fully engaged in leading the university through his departure and will support the board and his successor during the transition.

“What I am absolutely certain of is this: the next leader of UNC will have an extraordinary foundation to build on, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next chapter of this university’s story,” said Feinstein.

Moving into other business, the board approved Vice President for Finance and Administration Dale Pratt’s recommendation for the installation of stadium lights at Nottingham Field. The proposal was submitted under the stipulation it meets several conditions by April 1, including that the funding for the project comes from non-operating sources, and that the cost does not exceed $1.6 million. Pratt said the project will move forward only if the conditions are met by the deadline; otherwise, it will be postponed.

As the only program in the Big Sky Conference without stadium lights, the upgrade will help UNC meet conference facility standards. However, Director of Athletics, Darren Dunn, said the capital project is more than a facility upgrade — it’s a significant opportunity for UNC and Athletics that will impact perception, recruiting and competitiveness.

“’Saturday Night Lights’ represent tradition, energy and community,” said Dunn. “Across college athletics, evening games consistently drive higher attendance and create a true event atmosphere. Lighting Nottingham Field allows us to bring that experience to our campus — drawing more students, alumni, families and community members together.”

Pratt also presented the board with a second-quarter fiscal year 2026 (FY26) report and forecast. Similar to his update in December, Pratt said the estimated net savings from mid-year budget reductions are still projected to be approximately $3.7 million for FY26. However, he noted there has been some positive movement in reducing the projected fiscal-year-end deficit from first-quarter projections of $7.1 million to $6.8 million based on second-quarter results.

Looking ahead to FY27, Pratt said the university faces rising costs — including 3% in employee compensation increases, a 10% increase in health care premiums and non-personnel inflationary increase of 2.6% — while revenue growth remains limited due to a conservative projection of stable enrollment and a modest 1% increase in state funding. Pratt said it was too early to review hard numbers, but he expects FY27 will include the continuation of budget reduction efforts from FY26 and an additional $3.4 million budget-balancing reduction target that will be allocated across all divisions.

In other news, the board:

• Approved several curriculum actions, including approving changes to six undergraduate certificates, three graduate certificates, seven undergraduate degrees and six graduate degrees. According to Provost and Executive Vice President Kirsty Fleming, all of the new programs leverage existing resources while streamlining admissions, connecting degree pathways to professional careers and offer new opportunities for student flexibility. No additional budget allocation was required for the new programs.

• Approved a four-year extension of Sodexo’s dining services contract to run through June 30, 2046. The original 20-year agreement was set to expire on June 30, 2042, and included $17 million in investments. In exchange for the extension, Sodexo is investing an additional $2.5 million to support renovations in Holmes Dining Hall, which will increase the total investment in Holmes to $5.5 million. To date, $14 million of Sodexo’s investment has already been used for the renovation of dining and retail areas in the University Center, construction of the Holmes Starbucks and the renovation of Tobey-Kendel dining hall.
• Approved the naming of the following rooms in Michener Library and the College of Osteopathic Medicine:
  • Renaming the Michener Multi-Purpose Space (L172) to the “James F. and Helen K. Graff Multi-Purpose Room”
  • Naming Michener 115 as the “Suey Hey and Stella Chin Innovation Den”
  • Naming a first floor conference room in the College of Osteopathic Medicine Building as the “Schramm Foundation Conference Room”
  • Naming a third-floor conference room in the College of Osteopathic Medicine Building as the “Clarence V. LaGuardia Conference Room”
• Approved the negotiation and potential sale of the Educational Broadband Services, which has been leased by UNC to a commercial provider since 1992.
• Heard a presentation about strategic enrollment management from Vice Provost for Enrollment Services and Dean of Undergraduate Studies Stephani Etheridge-Woodson and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Pete Lien. The presentation provided a high-level outlook of factors influencing higher education enrollment across the state and nation and opportunities for system-wide innovation to support enrollment stability and transparency at UNC.