Fall 2022 Town Hall Follow-up
Good afternoon, Bears:
Thank you to the more than 300 faculty, staff, and students who participated in last week’s town halls, where Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration Dale Pratt and I discussed the University of Northern Colorado’s current financial health and budget outlook.
As discussed at each session, there is much to celebrate. We concluded in June the first phase of UNC’s strategic plan, Rowing, Not Drifting 2030. I highlighted some of our many accomplishments during my State of the University address, and a full summary is available on the Strategic Planning website. Looking ahead to Phase II, we have defined five key actions:
- Develop and implement a Strategic Enrollment Management plan
- Build on Phase I foundational work to ensure UNC is a Students First university
- Continue development and implementation of faculty and staff recruitment, engagement, and retention plans
- Create plans, structures, and programs that foster an inclusive environment at UNC where all individuals feel welcomed and supported
- Create and implement an academic portfolio management plan
These actions and a set of associated tactics will continue to move UNC toward our vision of being the institution that Colorado looks to as the future of higher education. I expressed during the town halls my confidence that as we embark on the second two-year phase of our plan, we will be able to position ourselves to invest in the university and our strategic priorities.
During the town halls, Dale and I reviewed the realities of the changing higher education landscape and their impact on our revenues. We also discussed the opportunities we will pursue to invest in our future. These are both important factors to consider as we work to present a balanced budget for FY24. Balancing the budget and maintaining financial stability will require that we align revenues with expenses, direct adequate funding to address critical resource needs, and focus on our long-term priorities.
If you were unable to attend the town halls, we have posted a video recording on the Office of the President website. The recording includes the introductory remarks that Dale and I presented, which were the same at both sessions, and the combined discussion from both days.
I remain optimistic about the future of UNC. We are well-positioned thanks our exceptional students and dedicated faculty and staff.
Thank you for all you do.
Andy Feinstein
President
