8/2/2019 Chancellor Response to SGA Resolution 03 16 12
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March 16, 2012
To the Members of the Student Government Association:
I regret that I am unable to attend your meeting in person today
and share my support for theconcerns raised in SR06-11/12 as it is
currently drafted. I was already scheduled to be in Denverand to
meet with members of the Colorado General Assembly to talk about
some of the veryissues raised in your resolution.
Since its inception, UCCS has been dedicated to being an
accessible institution of higher learning.Our campus foundation was
built with the idea that the citizens of southern Colorado deserve
botha high-quality post-secondary education and one they can
afford. As chancellor, this is afoundation that I support
personally and have supported through my tenure.
An additional core value, both of UCCS and for me personally, is
transparency of action.
The universitys budget, including discussions about tuition
rates, is routinely discussed with theUniversity Budget Advisory
Committee of which SGA has voting members along with all
othergovernance groups on campus. The universitys budget is also
routinely discussed in open forumsattended by student leaders.
Finally, the universitys budget documents, including salary
reports,are available for general checkout at the Kraemer Family
Library. Further, I affirm to you that allallocations of tuition
dollars and other university resources have proceeded exactly as
representedto our various constituents. These actions are
intentional as is my standing commitment to allmembers of the
campus community to provide details on any campus project or to
answer any
question.
I, and other UCCS leaders, have worked diligently to make the
university both efficient andeffective. During recent difficult
statewide economic times and reductions in state support
foreducation, many changes were implemented to improve the
universitys efficiency whilepreserving a high-quality classroom
experience. Our actions included abolishing some positionsthe
withholding of faculty and staff salary increases for two years,
decreases in retirementcontributions for some employees for two
years, salary reductions for selected top administrators,and
efforts to reduce the increased costs of health insurance.
While I personally dislike any tuition increase, I am proud that
the result of these efforts is that for
the past four years, UCCS tuition increases have been 2 percent
below the 9 percent cap set bythe General Assembly and among the
lowest among universities in Colorado, including other
CUcampuses.
On average, UCCS tuition increases have been two to three
percent above the national inflationrate which represents clear
direction that we are working to keep UCCS affordable.
8/2/2019 Chancellor Response to SGA Resolution 03 16 12
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March 16, 2012Page 2Members of the Student Government
Association
This year, we are again advocating for UCCS to provide
affordable, accessible high-qualityeducation. A proposed 7 percent
increase for Fiscal Year 2012-13 in UCCS resident tuition will
beless than that of many campuses and likely the lowest increase of
the CU general campuses. Wewill continue to increase institutional
student financial aid as part of our continued mission to be
accessible to the residents of southern Colorado. The 7% figure
is based on a 4% inflation factor,an approximate 4% cut in our
state funding, and a 3% salary increase pool for student workersand
most faculty and staff. Higher paid faculty and staff, including
some administrators are notproposed to have an increase in salary.
I do share your concerns that an increasing part of thetotal cost
of a quality education is shifted to individual students and their
families from statefunding. I do believe a college education is
both a public and a private good.
I look forward to discussing with you in person our upcoming
proposals and the university budgetfor next year.
Respectfully,
Pam Shockley-ZalabakChancellor
