Is Clyde hiding your tuition dollars?

Due to tuition increases, there has been, and continues to be, a lot of talk in the UCCS Student Government Association about writing a resolution to the Regents in protest. One such proposal was actually approved on February 10th. This was initiated at an Inter-Campus Student Forum [ICSF] (a CU committee composed of the student government executives from all four CU campuses) meeting where the attending members decided to go back to their campuses and ask each student government body whether they would support the ICSF writing and sending a resolution against tuition increases at all four CU campuses to the CU Board of Regents. Even though we are only facing a possible 7% tuition increase in comparison to the proposed (yet now tabled) 15.7% increase at CU Boulder, UCCS was the only campus to tell ICSF yes on the resolution. (UCCS has historically had the lowest tuition increases in both the CU system and in the state.) As a group, ICSF decided not to write the resolution. 

Today, the news is all abuzz about the fact that the CU Boulder faculty are concerned about a recent analysis that revealed that nearly a third of last years 9.3% tuition increase went to faculty raises. (Colorado Springs Gazette). Thankfully, we aren't facing the same situation. In a recent article by The Scribe, Chancellor Shockley-Zalabak stated that only 1.38% of our tuition increases actually went to raises on the UCCS campus and such raises were dependent upon review. Yet, some members of the UCCS SGA still don't appear to be satisfied. 

Certain members are currently drafting a SGA resolution asking for more accountability and transparency in budget decisions that affect tuition. Maybe they don't understand the process. 

The University's Budget Advisory Council [UBAC] as well as all Regent meetings where budgets are voted on are open to the public. There are always at least 2 representatives from the SGA that serve and have a vote on this council, one always being the Director of Finance for the SGA. Currently, there are 3 representatives that attend these meetings: Evan Shelton, Director of Finance; Diana Timmerman, President of the Senate; and Jay Burton, current Representative at Large and 2012-13 Director of Finance-Elect. Additionally, university budget information is posted online both by UCCS and by the Regents. Additionally, President Benson has a Task Force on Efficiency that has helped to increase efficiency and accountability across the CU system. Moreover, the state reviews these budgets through the Colorado Commission for Higher Education. 

It seems like there is an overwhelming amount of accountability and transparency when it comes to CU and UCCS budgets. I feel pretty confident that my tuition and fee dollars are being spent carefully as well as responsibly. 

It's not like they're hiding a stockpile of cash somewhere in Clyde's habitat.