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The University of Colorado Board of Regents received an overview of tuition and fee proposals during its meeting Feb. 6–7, one of several steps leading toward the approval and creation of campus budgets this spring.

CU Boulder budget proposals

Chad Marturano, chief financial officer for the CU system, presented budget proposals for all four campuses. For CU Boulder, the following key elements were discussed.

Student athletic fees

• An increase of the student athletic fee to $90 per semester. The current rate of $28.50, set in 1994, is the lowest in the state and among Big 12 peers who charge fees.
• Funding from the student fee increase would provide support for women’s sports scholarships, as well as for non-revenue-generating sports. 
• Beginning in fall 2025, the increase would apply to all undergraduate students except for continuing Colorado residents, for whom the Colorado Resident Tuition Guarantee applies. Graduate students would remain exempt from the student athletic fee, as they have since 2018.  

Tuition and fee rate changes

• A proposed 2.3 to 4% increase in tuition for all incoming undergraduate students (both resident and non-resident of Colorado) and for all graduate students. Because of CU Boulder’s tuition guarantee, the increase would not apply to continuing undergraduate students.
• Other campus fees are still being determined and will be presented in April. 

Housing and dining fees

• A proposed 4% increase in residence hall fees, 4% increase in Bear Creek apartment fees and 3% increase in graduate and family housing fees. 

Compensation 

• A 4% compensation pool for university staff, faculty and graduate students on appointment, which may include merit increases, compression, retention and equal pay increases.
• And a 2.5% across-the-board pay increase for classified staff in line with the state of Colorado.

Because the campus experienced higher-than-expected student enrollment and retention this academic year, the 2024–25 revenue is 3% higher than budgeted, Marturano said.

Next year, the campus is projecting a 1.3% enrollment increase, roughly 486 students, largely through retention. CU Boulder is proposing increased institutional aid to help maintain access and affordability for Colorado residents. 

The board is expected to vote on the budget proposals during its April meeting. The 2025–26 fiscal year begins on July 1, 2025.

Record retention

Chancellor Justin Schwartz shared an update on the spring 2025 student census, including record retention rates among first-year students.

University Memorial Center improvements

The board approved plans to upgrade the University Memorial Center building to enhance comfort, safety and efficiency. The work will focus on the dining area, bookstore, social and student club space, printing services space, conference/meeting spaces and loading dock. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $8.3 million and will offset $2.9 million in deferred maintenance. The work is scheduled to begin in January 2026 and be completed by June 2026.

Acquisition and gift plans

The board approved plans to further investigate the acquisitions of the Spruce Gulch Wildlife and Research Reserve in Boulder County and the Westmoor parcel in Westminster. No agreements are final.  

Other business

The board also approved a new master of arts degree in artificial intelligence from the Department of Computer Science at CU Boulder and a new two-year contract for football Defensive Coordinator Robert Livingston. The contract runs through the 2026 season. Changes to additional regent policies and procedures will be summarized in the . 

On the second day, the board participated in a panel discussion regarding AI and ethics, with a question and answer session moderated by Michael Lightner, vice president of academic affairs for CU. Sandra Ristovska, associate professor, Media Studies, College of Media, Communication and Information shared insights on the role of images in the legal system and the specific challenges that generative AI and deep fakes pose.

In closing, the board confirmed the continuation of the current board chair Callie Rennison and the current vice chair Ken Montera.

The next regular board meeting will be held on April 10 at CU Denver.