Evaluation: CU-Boulder's administrative cost containment and streamlining programs maintain efficiency in our business practices. We hope that new methods of allocating resources to units will enhance efficiency even more.

Just as importantly, several programs for students ensure that students use their time well, in efficient academic careers. These programs include advanced credit, advising, degree audit, four-year guarantees, and careful monitoring of course availability. They have paid off with relatively high graduation rates, relatively short average time to degree, and increasing student satisfaction. Continuing improvement of student efficiency programs and services for students is a part of our focus on undergraduate education.

In 1996-97 CU-Boulder awarded 4,306 degrees at all levels to Colorado residents; the same year our share of state general fund appropriations was $66.5 million. We invite comparison with other institutions on this state cost of $15,445 per degree.

In addition, CU-Boulder offers a high quality education at reasonable costs to our students. The 1998 Fiske Guide to Colleges rates CU-Boulder as a "best buy" for undergraduates, stating that schools in this category offer "remarkable educational opportunities at a relatively modest cost."

65% of fall '91 freshmen had graduated from CU-Boulder by the end of their sixth year. 57% of these graduated in four years, up from 50-54% for the 7 prior freshmen classes. 57% is slightly above average for highly selective public universities nationally.

Students who take more than four years do so for a variety of reasons, including pursuit of double majors and degrees, paid employment, time off for travel or work, pursuit of educational or professional interests beyond the major, and changes in direction.

• CU-Boulder participates fully in post-secondary enrollment options act provisions. We enroll over 120 area high school students each year and also grant credit for college courses taken during high school from other institutions.
• Each year CU-Boulder grants credit for qualifying Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams to about 1,100 new students, who enter with an average of 9 hours of credit through AP and IB.
• We help new students learn to use campus resources at a formal orientation program and through academic advising.
• We use a number of programs to make the transition of transfer students to CU-Boulder as smooth as possible.
• With our innovative four year guarantee for freshmen, students following specified criteria are assured that they can complete degree requirements in four years.

Continuing students get information on their progress and remaining requirements

• CU-Boulder's degree audit system produces a computerized summary of a student's progress toward graduation requirements, in both the core curriculum and the major. Major degree audits are distributed through colleges and departments. Many departments mail audits to students; others distribute them at advising sessions.
• Printed core curriculum degree audits are mailed to most students before registration each term. Copies are also placed on the web in PLUS, a secure personal-lookup service. Students may use the web to access their own audit and to request an update.
• We mail letters about graduation and advising requirements and options to over 6,000 students per year who have completed 80 credit hours.
• Highly qualified juniors in some fields can enter programs in which they can earn both bachelors and masters degrees in five years

Students can get the courses they need

• Our course registration system features phone registration, automated wait lists, and a reservation system. A web course builder allows students to gather information on courses and instructors, including student ratings of instruction, while building course schedules. Seniors' evaluations of registration processes have steadily increased with introduction of these and other features.
• We routinely track course offerings, demand, and use, and adjust offerings to accomodate demand. In 1995-96 (the most recent year analyzed) 99% of the over 100,000 attempted enrollments in core curriculum courses were met by enrollment in the initially-requested course or by acceptable substitutes that obviated the student's need to wait for another semester
• Web listings and on-site advisors help students find open courses fulfilling needed requirements

Cost containment programs

Those listed here are only a sample.

• E-mail distribution lists and an electronic memo system for both students and faculty/staff allow fast and inexpensive distribution of official information, event announcements, and the like
• The acquisition card (A-card) program improves purchasing timeliness and flexibility and will generate $120,000 in savings per year
• Internal reorganizations and streamlining in many departments have saved personnel costs
• Placing required crime statistics in an existing publication, Ralphie's Guide to Student Life, saves printing and mailing costs
• Campus police do some patrols by bicycle, reducing costs and increasing responsiveness
• Active management of unemployment claims saves over $50,000 per year
• A contract with MCI for long distance service will save the state $3 million over five years
• Many departments now use the web for collection and distribution of information, saving money and paper
• In-house irrigation and solid waste systems save money, labor, and water
• The 1999 implementation of new CU-system-wide financial and personnel systems through the administrative streamlining project will save money and bring these systems to users' desktops