Dear Colleagues:

As we prepare to enter the winter break, we want to provide a brief update on the Budget Model Redesign timeline and most importantly, express our sincerest gratitude to you for your significant and numerous contributions to this campus-wide effort.

Since our October campus forum, the budget model committees have been working diligently to deliberate and refine components of a new campus budget model. They have discussed expanding the model revenue sources to include a subset of state appropriations, explored and defined mandatory costs, discussed guardrails, and are working to refine the metrics informing formulaic allocations to the academic units, including a metric to reflect research.

The work of these committees will continue in the spring semester, as we learn not only from their internal deliberations, but also from the evolving landscape of higher education. We are closely monitoring any proposed changes to federal higher education structures which may impact the success of the new budget model and the fiscal sustainability of our institution. Above all else, the budget model redesign effort remains committed to our guiding principle that the model should serve the long-term mission and success of our university.

The Learning Year will continue in Spring 2025 as the committees learn from, inform, and adjust the model in preparation for the ‘Hold Harmless Year’ to begin on July 1, 2025, with the new fiscal year. While maintaining this forward momentum, we will closely monitor and learn from any headwinds which may impede our progress and communicate any modifications, if necessary. We will provide a more substantial and detailed update in February including more information on details of the model and the ‘Hold Harmless Year.’ But please know for now, the work is moving forward.

Over the past year, our campus community and dedicated members of our Steering and Technical committees have invested considerable time and energy, as well as valuable perspectives and experiences, to a new budget model that will help move CSU Fort Collins into the future. We offer our appreciation on behalf of the entire campus community.

We wish you a wonderful winter break and holiday season.

Sincerely,

Executive Sponsor Committee of the Budget Model Redesign