ÌÇÐÄVlog

Dear Roadrunners,

The flywheel we have been spinning together—growing enrollment, improving retention and reinvesting in student success—continues to create momentum, enabling ÌÇÐÄVlog Denver to enter fiscal year 2027 from a position of strength.

Over the past three years, undergraduate enrollment has increased by 9%, and student retention has reached record levels. At a time when many colleges and universities are facing significant financial challenges, ÌÇÐÄVlog Denver is not operating in a deficit and is well positioned to invest in future growth.

Before sharing details of the FY27 budget, I want to thank the faculty, staff and student representatives who served on the this year. Their thoughtful work helped balance affordability, employee support and student success while maintaining the University’s long-term financial sustainability. The final budget remains aligned with the priorities they identified, and I am grateful for their partnership throughout the process.

As we worked to finalize the budget, stronger-than-expected revenue and lower-than-anticipated mandatory costs improved the University’s financial outlook, creating additional flexibility for investment.

As a result, the FY27 budget includes:

• A 2% across-the-board compensation increase for eligible faculty and nonclassified staff members, including part-time administrative staff members and tenured/tenure-track faculty members working fewer than 40 hours per week. Although affiliate faculty members are not eligible for the across-the-board increase, their pay will be adjusted within the Academic Affairs pay scale. Staff will see the increase in July paychecks, and faculty will see it when new contracts begin. Classified employees will receive step and range increases under the state compensation plan. The University will fund those increases and cover the full health insurance premium increase for classified employees. While compensation and benefits for classified employees are set by the state, they are funded by the University. This 2% increase exceeds and reflects the University’s improved financial position and continued investment in employees.
• A 3.5% resident and nonresident undergraduate tuition increase that balances affordability with the sustained financial aid resources to ensure students with the greatest need are held harmless. Continuing students already covered by the Tuition Lock Guarantee will not see a tuition increase. The 3.5% increase in nonresident tuition is slightly below UPBAC’s recommendation, helping keep our out-of-state rates aligned with peer institutions.
• Continued funding for mandatory cost increases.

The budget also makes targeted investments in the areas that will help drive success and keep the flywheel spinning, including:

• Funding strategic marketing efforts that continue to support enrollment growth and maintaining market penetration that was developed with one-time funding.
• Fully funding the undergraduate teaching assistant program for FY27, creating more opportunities for students while strengthening academic support.
• Bringing graduate programs into the University’s operating budget (where they were previously not part of the overall budget).
• Combining the Campus Recreation fee into the Health and Wellness fee, and expanding Athletics fees and offerings to online-only students.
• Using one-time investments to generate ongoing revenue and savings, including capital improvements that reduce energy costs, and bringing Bursar functions in house to improve student service, enhance operational efficiency and create new revenue opportunities.

These investments accelerate the flywheel we have been building together: Enrollment growth fuels student success, student success strengthens our institution, and that strength creates new opportunities to reinvest in our mission. The FY27 budget reflects confidence in our future. We are financially strong and continue to make investments that support employees, strengthen the student experience and position ÌÇÐÄVlog Denver for continued growth.

Thank you for everything you do to help our students succeed. Your dedication is the reason for the momentum we are experiencing, and I am excited about what we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Janine Davidson, Ph.D.
President