CSU Pueblo Hosts Colorado State University System Board of Governors Meeting
Board addresses FY27 budget, recognizes faculty excellence and hears from students on campus priorities.
PUEBLO, Colo. — The Colorado State University System Board of Governors convened on the CSU Pueblo campus Thursday and Friday, May 7 and 8, for its spring meeting. It was a significant occasion for the university as it welcomed a new president and navigated a demanding budget cycle alongside the broader CSU system.
A New President Steps In
President of CSU Pueblo Rhonda Epper presented her first official board report after approximately seven weeks in the role. She came in, by her own description, skipping the traditional slower summer onboarding and landing directly in a demanding period.
Budget planning consumed much of her early tenure, but she also moved quickly to engage with campus life, attending the annual student research symposium, the scholars reception, a school of business pitch competition, and a tour of American Furniture Warehouse where students met 95-year-old founder Jake Jabs.
“It is truly an honor to serve in this role.”
Epper acknowledged the support of her cabinet and the outgoing interim leadership that helped stabilize the university heading into FY27. She also highlighted encouraging enrollment numbers. Fall 2026 headcount sits 5% above the same point last year, and full-time equivalent enrollment is up 11%.
Budget Decisions and a Structural Deficit
CSU Pueblo entered the year facing a $2.4 million structural deficit, accumulated over more than a decade of using one-time funds to cover recurring expenses. The university responded through a combination of operational efficiencies, departmental restructuring and staff reductions, working through nearly 700 proposals over the course of the year.
Faculty and administrative professional staff will receive a 1% salary increase, applied as a flat dollar amount rather than a percentage. Resident undergraduate tuition will increase 3.5%, and graduate tuition will increase 3%.
The flat-rate salary approach was made collaboratively through the President’s Budget Advisory Council after a faculty member suggested the method so lower-wage employees would receive proportionally more relief. Lecturers and senior lecturers also received equity increases in areas the university acknowledged had fallen behind.
Across the system, the Board reviewed the FY27 budget with a focus on compensation, student services and long-term sustainability. System CFO Brendan presented the strategic investment fund allocations, which include $15 million in projected investment earnings and $2 million in sustainability funding for FY27.
The board approved a 27th supplemental bond resolution authorizing financing of up to $10 million for capital projects and renewed its commercial paper program for short-term project financing.
Excellence in Teaching Awards
The board recognized two faculty members with its Excellence in Teaching Awards, established in 1993 to honor outstanding instruction across the CSU system.
Dr. MD Islam, a newly promoted professor of engineering and director of the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at CSU Pueblo, received the undergraduate teaching award. Dr. Islam has built hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to applied research.
Scholarship Impact and Donor Stories
The board also heard from students and donors on the transformational role of scholarship support at CSU Pueblo. Students described how financial aid removed the burden of working full time while enrolled, allowing them to focus on academics and find a sense of belonging on campus.
One foundation donor, a CSU Pueblo alumnus who built a multi-location service business across the Front Range, said the college experience changed his life and that his leadership team consists entirely of fellow graduates.
The meeting also featured a fundraising update connected to an adaptive athlete scholarship initiative. Race commitments this year surpassed $100,000 in donations, with proceeds supporting students with disabilities.
Student Government Report and Campus Concerns
Outgoing ASG President Shay Wilson delivered her final report to the board, covering a full year of student advocacy. She cited the second annual campus block party, a new student lounge designed by students, a 2.6% student fee increase and ASG elections that brought in new president Nathaniel Krieger and new vice president Molly Charles.
Wilson also addressed concerns directly to the board. She raised the pending closure of the on-campus childcare facility, citing the disruption to 65 families and the already limited childcare options in the Pueblo community.
Wilson also noted that CSU Pueblo stands to lose approximately $3.6 million in federal funding over the next three years due to Title V cuts and urged the board to protect the cultural programs and support services that define the university as a Hispanic-serving and minority-serving institution.
Outgoing faculty representative Dr. Claire Ramos, in her final meeting, noted that more than 100 students presented original research at the spring symposium and praised the level of faculty scholarship engaged with Southern Colorado communities and the practical needs of its student population.
Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, on the CSU Pueblo campus.
