Leaders from the University of Colorado (CU) and other higher education institutions in the state urged lawmakers to maintain strong investment in higher education despite a projected $800 million shortfall in the state budget. The request was made during last week’s annual hearing before Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee (JBC), ahead of the start of the 2026 legislative session.
CU President Todd Saliman, joined by shared governance leaders including Faculty Council Chair Jorge Chavez, Staff Council Co-Chairs Ja’Net Hurt and Kimberly Slavsky, Intercampus Student Forum Vice Chair Camden Sharkey, and Board of Regents Chair Callie Rennison, testified about the need for continued state funding.
Saliman invited these representatives to participate in the hearing again this year. He was noted as being the only leader from a Colorado university to do so. Each gave brief remarks on how state support is important for CU and higher education throughout Colorado.
Rennison thanked the JBC for previous funding that helped keep tuition increases manageable. She said, “Investments from the state are critical to support our students. The Board of Regents is focused on student success – in particular, improving student retention and graduation rates for all our students – and supporting our employees to recognize the incredible work of our staff and faculty. This is paramount, as we want to do all we can to ensure that CU reflects all of Colorado’s communities and is a top choice for Colorado high school graduates.”
The governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 would leave more than $58 million unmet in base core minimum costs across public institutions statewide. This gap affects salary competitiveness, cost-of-living raises for CU employees, and efforts to control tuition increases.
Hurt addressed these challenges: “Your support in funding the full base core minimum cost increase will help the university recruit and, more importantly, retain talented and dedicated staff who serve our students and support our faculty. To remain a competitive employer and economic driver in the state, we must adequately compensate our employees.”
State lawmakers create and approve Colorado’s budget with input from both the governor and recommendations developed by the JBC.
Chavez spoke about faculty concerns: “It takes people to educate people, and in partnership with university staff and leadership, faculty maintains a core focus on supporting student success. Faculty face the same inflationary salary pressures that our non-faculty staff face. The university also has the added challenge of competing with the pay offered by peer institutions and outside industries.”
Sharkey provided a student perspective: “Many students take out loans to afford an education. Your investment keeps college accessible and tuition stable for me, my friends and fellow students,” he said. “Additionally, your support helps fund compensation for the faculty we learn from and staff we rely on … who help us pursue our dreams.”
Other higher education leaders present included Paul Johnson (Colorado School of Mines), Tony Frank (Colorado State University), and Andy Feinstein (University of Northern Colorado). All requested enough funding to meet their respective institutions’ minimum operational costs.
Saliman emphasized: “We understand the pressure you’re under. Our request is that you consider (higher education) the same way you consider other state agencies when you’re thinking about the core components of operating: compensation, benefits and inflation,” he told JBC members. “You know better than anyone that your decisions have a direct impact on us and our ability to keep tuition in check, pay our employees and maintain our facilities. We thank you for your support in the past and humbly ask that you do what you can to dig deep for us again this year.”
According to testimony at the hearing, CU alone generated $12.2 billion in economic impact statewide last year while playing a key role training Colorado’s workforce.
A joint letter outlining these points had been sent earlier this year by higher education leaders statewide to members of the JBC.
The 2026 legislative session began Wednesday with an expected conclusion date of May 13. More information about CU’s State Government Relations Team or current legislation can be found at cu.edu/office-government-relations/state-relations.
