(Dec. 19, 2008) The Joint Budget Committee (JBC) held a hearing on Higher Education. David Skaggs, executive director of the Department of Higher Education and the other presidents and board members of other higher education made a presentation to the committee. In addition to the JBC Members, Sens. White, Tapia and Keller, and Representatives Pommer, Ferrandino and Marostica, the other legislators in attendance were Reps. Ken Summers, Debbie Benefield, Randy Fischer, Cherylin Peniston, Senator-elect Rollie Heath and Sen. Bob Bacon.

Chair of the Board of Regents Steve Bosley, President Bruce Benson and Vice President for Budget and Finance Robert Moore presented to the JBC on behalf of the University of Colorado. They responded to questions asked of the university with regard to CU’s salary comparisons to other peer institutions and the importance of general fund dollars to support higher education.

Bosley thanked the committee for its hard work addressing higher education funding during the budget process, especially during challenging economic times. He informed the JBC that he, along with his colleagues on the Board of Regents, were ready to work with them in these challenging times. He also introduced Regents-elect Joe Neguse and Monisha Merchant along with many student government leaders from each of the campuses.

Benson discussed the decline in state funding allocated toward higher education. He outlined the steps the University is taking to address this issue, such as improving fund-raising, increasing federal research awards and strengthening citizen support for the university through outreach. He also talked about the work that he and the chancellors are doing to raise awareness among Colorado citizens regarding the lack of funding for higher education. Benson highlighted some of the great work that Chancellors Shockley-Zalabak, Wilson and Peterson along with their faculty, staff and students are doing on our respective campuses. 

Benson requested that all of the higher education institutions be granted flexibility in several key areas including: fiscal rules, policies and regulations, cash-funded capital projects and tuition setting. This idea was well received by the JBC. Keller asked that CU flesh out these important concepts with more details, noting it would be helpful so that she and her JBC colleagues could carry the issues across the street to the capitol.

Several higher education institutions including CSU and Fort Lewis thanked Benson for his well prepared remarks and for sticking up for all of higher education.

Some of the questions and comments that JBC Committee members and legislators had were the following:

·         Rep. Don Marostica: We can’t afford Higher Education anymore.  Colorado is having a paradigm shift, we have to work with higher ed to come together to figure out how we make the budget work. Currently we can’t afford K-12 transportation, human services or higher ed. The universities and colleges have the best and brightest faculty and staff, we need you to work with us to lead the way. 

·         Sen. Bob Bacon:  President Benson, we need a conversation with the citizens of Colorado that higher education is on life-support.  I appreciate what you have said and your efforts to travel around the state on behalf of not only CU but higher education.  We are not doing our job in Colorado for higher ed.  I hope the newspapers report this.  We cannot do this on the meager resources that are allocated currently.  If we don’t do something to change our constitution we are in big trouble.  We have to find what needs to be in place to preserve our public universities.

·         Senator-elect Rollie Heath: Higher ed is an economic driver.  We have to make sure people of this state understand that we need to reinvest in higher education. President Benson, when you go around the state are you getting any sense from the community that they want to invest in higher ed? Are you giving them the message that they need to invest?

·         Rep. Ken Summers: Given the current economy, there are no gifts under the tree for higher ed.

·         Sen. Moe Keller: I am concerned that every time we increase tuition more students drop out and cannot afford to go. How do we do a better job in terms of financial aid? How do we promote access? Are higher ed presidents lobbying the Congress for funding for higher education and the economic stimulus package? (President Benson let the members know that CU is doing its part to lobby the federal government for much needed resources.  We are hoping to get key capital construction projects funded in the economic stimulus package.)

·         Sen. Abel Tapia: Complimented the University of Colorado on the increase in diversity numbers and the good work CU is doing with the community colleges.