Regents condemn Boulder terror attack, approve CU Boulder budget

At its June 4 meeting, the University of Colorado Board of Regents condemned the June 1 terrorist attack in Boulder and then wrapped up the business of the 2024–25 academic year by approving the CU system’s $6.7 billion budget—including CU Boulder’s $2.6 billion budget. 

In public remarks to open the meeting, Chair Callie Rennison, CU President Todd Saliman, joined by several CU chancellors, including Chancellor Justin Schwartz, all voiced support for the Boulder community and joined in condemning the June 1 terrorist attack in downtown Boulder.

Rennison opened the meeting with a strong statement of support for the victims of the attacks: 

“The CU community strongly condemns this hateful act,” Rennison said. “We stand with and offer our support to those directly and indirectly affected by this vicious attack.” 

Rennison also thanked “the brave bystanders who leapt into action” along with first responders. 

“The entire CU community has the victims [of the attack] in our thoughts and we wish them a speedy recovery,” Saliman said. “We hold them and their families and loved ones close as they struggle with a very difficult time.” 

Chancellors Jennifer Sobanet of UCCS and Kenneth Christensen of CU Denver echoed Saliman, and Schwartz thanked the group. Schwartz also acknowledged the first responders for “quickly apprehending the suspect” and declared in his closing remarks on the issue that “hate, violence and antisemitism have no place in society, in Boulder or on campus.” 

“I want to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our community against acts of hate and violence,” Schwartz said. 

Regent Ilana Spiegel introduced a resolution—later unanimously adopted by the board—condemning the attacks, antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and supporting the CU Boulder community, its Jewish community and all students, while also expressing appreciation of first responders and good Samaritans.  

“As an institution of higher learning, where we prize each individual’s freedom to pursue their chosen path, we must speak clearly and with one voice that antisemitic violence should not and will not be tolerated in our communities, in our state and in our nation,” Spiegel said, introducing the resolution.  

Board approves CU Boulder budget of $2.61 billion

Later in board business and following a presentation by Chad Marturano, CU vice president and chief financial officer, the regents voted 8-1 to approve the university’s $6.7 billion 2025–26 budget, $2.61 billion of which goes to CU Boulder—a growth of 2.2% over last year’s $2.55 billion campus budget. 

Maturano’s presentation showed: 

• CU Boulder’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget increased due to a 2.7% overall enrollment growth on the campus, attributed to steady undergraduate enrollment and improved retention of undergraduate students.
• Resident graduate enrollment is projected to increase by 3.9%; overall graduate enrollment is down 4.5% due to declines in nonresident students.
• There is a decline in projected international student enrollment, with a 24.3% decline in international undergraduate students and 14.7% decline in international graduate students.
• Increases in state support, with $31.7 million allocated for statewide operating increase (2.5%)—an amount that includes $8.7 million for operating increases for the entire system (a 2.4% increase for CU Boulder, 2.9% increase for CU Denver, 2.5% increase for CU Colorado Springs and 2.5% increase for the CU Anschutz Medical Campus).
• The state also authorized a $7.3 million statewide financial aid increase—an increase of 2.5 %—and a 3.5% cap on resident undergraduate tuition rate increases.
• There is an increase of $11.6 million from the state for six controlled maintenance projects across the CU system, including $7.3 million for four projects at CU Boulder.
• Wednesday’s vote is inclusive of the tuition, compensation and fees that were approved by the board in April. 

In other action

• The board approved, as part of the consent agenda, updated program plans for the renovation and renewal of the Macky Auditorium and Guggenheim Geography buildings. The approvals are conditional on the receipt of state legislative appropriations next spring for the 2026–27 fiscal year that would cover about 40% of each project. Program plans for projects seeking state funding are updated and approved by the regents every three years, with the program plans for Macky and Guggenheim last being approved by the regents in 2022.
• The board approved, as part of the consent agenda, 12 Bachelor of Science degrees at CU Boulder that either replace or stand beside current Bachelor of Arts degrees and that require “highly rigorous scientific and mathematical/computational preparation,” according to a presentation by Dean of the Graduate School Scott Adler and Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning and Assessment Katherine Eggert.
• The board approved by a vote of 7–1, with one regent not present at time of vote, two professional master’s degrees: A Master of Science in Sustainable Business and a Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering. Both degrees will be implemented in the fall of 2026. The degrees will “blend curriculum drawing from educational offerings in three different colleges,” according to Adler.
• The board approved a Resolution of Appreciation for CU philosophy professor and incoming Boulder Faculty Assembly Chair Alastair Norcross, who served as Faculty Council chair for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 academic years. Faculty Council is the systemwide faculty governance representative body.
• The board approved a Resolution of Appreciation for CU Student Government Tri-Executive Alex Radz, who served as chair for the Intercampus Student Forum for the 2024–25 academic year. The Intercampus Student Forum is the systemwide student governance representative body.