Despite system-wide financial pressures, CSU Pueblo administrators outline plans for land development, athletic partnerships, and digital marketing expansion at February 2025 Board of Governors meeting
The CSU Pueblo Board of Governors met February 4 and 5 with budget constraints hanging over the proceedings. Instead of dwelling on what they couldn’t do, administrators spent two days outlining current and future plans to better meet the challenge.
The challenges facing CSU Pueblo mirror broader trends hitting public universities nationwide. State funding has flattened while federal research dollars face uncertainty, according to a November 2025 Pew Research analysis. Enrollment pressures from declining birth rates and drops in international student visas are squeezing revenue streams that universities have relied on for decades. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education projects steady declines in college-age students starting in 2026, though the National Center for Education Statistics predicts enrollment levels will hold steady through at least 2031.
Garrison Ortiz, Vice President of University Operations and Chief Financial Officer, presented the budget reality. Ortiz talked about strategic spending and developing revenue streams that are not tuition-based. The university is looking at the land around campus differently and building potential partnerships and development opportunities to bring in funding while serving the community.
Paul Plinske, Vice President for Athletics and Strategic Partnerships, laid out how the athletics department fits into that bigger revenue picture. The ThunderWolves compete at a high level, he said, but the real value goes beyond wins and losses. “Athletics creates visibility for the university in ways that traditional marketing can’t match,” Plinske told the board. Student athletes maintain strong academic performance while serving as ambassadors in the community.
The RISE tuition program is changing recruitment patterns for athletics. California leads with 58 student-athletes, followed by Texas with 48 and Arizona with 32. New Mexico brings in 11, while Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming, and Kansas each contribute between four and six athletes. Nevada rounds out the list with two. The 2025 recruiting class alone brought in 30 athletes from California, 26 from Texas, and 14 from Arizona. Those numbers show how the RISE program is opening doors in markets that previously saw CSU Pueblo as out of reach financially.
Plinske emphasized that the athletics department is building leaders who compete in their sports and their classrooms. Student athletes learn time management under pressure, how to work as part of a team, and what it means to represent something bigger than themselves. Those skills transfer directly into whatever careers they pursue after graduation. The visibility they create while competing helps the entire university attract students who might not otherwise consider Pueblo.
Plinske talked about how engagement goes past the playing field with alumni staying connected through athletics. Local businesses also want to be part of something visible and successful. The department is working on expanding those partnerships in ways that create mutual benefit by using athletics as a platform for broader institutional goals.
Gena Alfonso, Senior Director of Marketing, Communications, and Community Relations, told the board that consistent communication matters most during transitions. Her department shifted to a primarily digital marketing strategy, with over 80% of activity now online. That shift allows for better targeting and stronger return on investment, she said.
The university launched a new campaign called “Your World Your Way” in February. Alfonso also talked about PackChats, a student-created internal communication initiative that’s been connecting with campus through short weekly videos. The RISE tuition program’s early marketing results have exceeded industry benchmarks, she reported. Out-of-state inquiries for Fall 2026 are already at 78% of last year’s total.
Community engagement continues to be a priority. The university showed up at the Colorado State Fair, Fiesta Day and Fright Night, reaching thousands of people. Alfonso told the board they’re working on website improvements focused on user experience and AI search optimization.
“What we are building is a brand that is authentic, consistent, and flexible enough to meet different audiences where they are,” Alfonso said. She added that they are prioritizing a strategy that prioritizes depth and is grounded in data and measurable momentum that they could build on year after year.
Interim President and Provost Gail Mackin kept things focused. She outlined three goals: submit a balanced budget, keep operations running smoothly until the new president arrives, and make sure the transition goes well. She also highlighted the return of Associate Professor and Director of the BSE program, Bahaa Ansaf. He spent two years serving as president of the University of Baghdad. His global experience brings strategic insights back to campus, Mackin said, and strengthens CSU Pueblo’s international connections.
Shaylan “Shay” Wilson, the Associated Student Government president for 2025-2026, opened her report with stories of student action. ASG has been pushing for concrete change, she said, including advocacy work for housing-insecure students.
The student government also hosted a Winter Wonderland community event in December that brought in more than 150 families. Wilson talked about her own growth, too. She’s been interning with a state senator at the Capitol and attending political forums. “Real-world political engagement matters for students,” she told the board, as showing up as engaged and informed citizens matter more than learning political theory.
Faculty Representative Claire Ramos shifted the conversation to shared governance. She spent most of her time on the proposed hiatus of the physics major, a decision that was paused after faculty raised concerns about the process. Faculty want a more structured approach to evaluating low enrollment programs, she said. They’re looking for data driven frameworks and transparent collaboration with administration. And they’re hoping the new president will be a partner in shaping the university’s direction.
The meeting wrapped with a brief Q&A about the communication strategy for the incoming president. But the underlying theme stayed constant throughout both days: CSU Pueblo is navigating significant financial challenges by being strategic about spending and creative about developing new revenue streams while maintaining focus on its mission of making opportunity visible to students who might not otherwise see themselves in college.
