University leaders outline financial planning, highlight innovation and campus achievements at system board meeting

Colorado State University Pueblo is planning for a more sustainable financial future as federal funding grants wind down and enrollment trends evolve, university leaders told the Colorado State University System Board of Governors this week.

Despite the federal financial shifts, the university is continuing to focus on academic success, student engagement and operational innovation.

Enrollment Sees First-Year Growth
CSU Pueblo Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Gail Mackin shared encouraging enrollment news with the board. For the first time in nearly a decade, the university saw an increase in first-year student enrollment. Total enrollment rose 3 percent compared with fall 2024, including a 21 percent increase in new freshman and a 4 percent increase in undergraduate students. The number of full-time students grew by 7 percent, while nonresident enrollment nearly doubled. Online enrollment grew by 2 percent, and the student continuation rate held strong at 75 percent.

Budget Realignment in Progress

CSU Pueblo Vice President of Finance and Operations Garrison Ortiz said institutions across the country are adapting to the new higher education financial realities.

“Higher education is becoming more and more financially compressed on both the federal and state levels,” Ortiz said, “Institutions will have to become increasingly more agile.”

The university has already addressed a $2.3 million budget deficit, which included a $1.6 million reduction in vacant positions. Going forward, CSU Pueblo is preparing for the expiration of $3.6 million in federal Title V Grants, which have supported initiatives as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution. 

While the university secured extensions on four of five grants worth about $1.5 million annually, the university is evaluating future staffing and resource allocation to continue to provide crucial student support programs.

Students stay engaged

Student life remains active across campus. Associated Students’ Government president Shaylan Wilson updated the board on fall engagement efforts, including:

• Reviving the university’s homecoming dance with DJ Rick G and red carpet photos
• Hosting former U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral during Hispanic Heritage Month
• Welcoming four new college deans with community building events
• Organizing the annual Packfest featuring DJs, food trucks and community vendors

Faculty drive research and partnerships

Faculty Senate representative Claire Ramos highlighted recent faculty accomplishments:

• Faculty secured over $1.25 million in grants, including a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and $308,086 awarded to the Institute of Cannabis Research.
• The Discovery Scholars Program engaged 40 undergraduates in early-stage research, supporting retention and a sense of belonging. 
• The College of Health and Education is finalizing agreements with Canon City Schools and Pueblo Community College to create teaching career pathways and developing partnerships with Touro University Nevada in physical therapy and physician assistant programs.

Faculty concerns

Ramos noted that faculty are seeking stronger communication and collaboration regarding campus-wide changes, including state accessibility law compliance and the recent transition to Barnes and Noble bookstore operations.

She stated that faculty felt blindsided when Colorado’s accessibility law took effect July 1 with minimal advance notice. Some professors now share fewer digital resources to avoid compliance issues — hurting students regardless of disability status.

The summer transition to Barnes & Noble for bookstore operations also drew criticism, especially from faculty who’d invested significant time developing low-cost textbook options.

“There is a perceived misalignment of values between the faculty and upper administration,” Ramos said.

Growth and Innovation

Board members approved a new Master of Science in Civil Engineering program, aimed at meeting regional workforce needs.

CSU Strata, the system’s technology transfer arm, announced a collaborative effort with CSU Pueblo to secure a three-year, $400,000 NSF grant to build research commercialization capacity. The initiative aims to support faculty in transforming innovations into market-ready solutions.

Over the past five years, CSU’s intellectual property portfolio generated $16.5 million, with $11.5 million flowing back to campuses and inventors.

What’s next

Ortiz said CSU Pueblo is already taking steps to identify “greater operational efficiencies and create new streams of revenue” to respond to shifting funding models, including changes to graduate student loans and reduced support for minority-serving institutions.

The December board meeting is expected to include a deeper review of  CSU Pueblo’s financial outlook and strategic priorities.

The CSU System Board of Governors oversees Colorado State University campuses in Fort Collins, Pueblo and the online CSU Global program.