School of Education Budget Sustainability
Like other universities nationwide, the CU Boulder campus is embarking on a transformation and financial resiliency initiative to proactively address projections that expenses will exceed revenues in FY27. The School of Education is simultaneously facing a pivotal juncture for the sustainability of our budget that requires us to think collectively and collaboratively about ways to address our shortfalls in the near term.
The school's budget transformation project aims to provide budget resiliency through transparency and multiple points of engagement for babyÖ±²¥app, staff, and students. A representative Ad Hoc Budget Sustainability Committee will regularly engage with students, staff, and babyÖ±²¥app and advise the leadership team and dean.
Our vibrant School of Education community and our equity and justice commitments are critical parts of CU Boulder’s mission and service to the state and nation — those truths have not and will not waver. We are committed to thinking and working together, remaining student- and people-centric, and upholding our vital research, teaching, and public mission.
Thank you for your collaboration, positivity, and confidence in our positive intent as we work through this process together,
Fernando Rosario-Ortiz, Interim Dean
Budget Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee
Project Timeline
April 3 & 4: Dean presents at babyÖ±²¥app meeting & staff meeting
April 5: Dean hosts information session for all School of Education students
April 10: Committee member nominations and self-nominations due
April 19: First committee meeting: chair selection, charge and scope
April 24: Committee meeting: Overview of CU Boulder and school budget​
May 8: Committee meeting: Overview of school organization​
May 22: Committee meeting: Overview of course releases and leadership roles​
June 5 and 17: Committee meets and develops recommendations​
July 1: Committee recommendations due to the interim dean and leadership team
Early August: Dean shares final recommendations
Fall Semester: Sub-committees review recommendations
Guiding Principles
Our School of Education community and our equity and justice commitments are critical parts of CU Boulder’s mission and service to the state and nation
We will be student- and people-centric in our thinking, while holding care for all our people
We will remain committed to upholding the School of Education’s vital research, teaching, and public mission
Committee Members
- Emily Johns O’Leary, PhD student, literacy studies
- Karla Scornavacco, director of field experiences
- Kelsey Ostenaa, sponsored projects manager
- Oded Gurantz, assistant professor, REM
- Roudy Hildreth, executive director, CU Engage
- Terri Wilson, associate professor, EFPP
- Travis Anderson, assistant dean of academic program and planning
- Valerie Otero, professor, STEM education
Committee Report
The Budget Sustainability Ad Hoc Committee finalized and shared their final report with the interim dean and the leadership team on July 1 and it was shared with the community at large the following week. The leadership team will review recommendations to develop a roadmap and implementation strategy to be released in August and September.
Budget Committee Office Hours
Join office hours either in person (MBE 144A) or via Zoom.
- Monday, May 6, 9-10 a.m. (Oded Gurantz & Roudy Hildreth)
- Monday, May 13, 1-2 p.m. (Terri Wilson & Karla Scornavacco)
- Monday, May 20, 9-10 a.m. (Travis Anderson & Valerie Otero)
- Tuesday, May 28, 1-2 p.m. (Karla Scornavacco & Roudy Hildreth)
- Monday, June 3, 9-10 a.m. (Oded Gurantz & Kelsey Ostenaa)
- Monday, June 10, 1-2 p.m. (Travis Anderson & Emily Johns-O'Leary)
- Monday, June 17, 9-10 a.m. (Kelsey Ostenaa & Valerie Otero)
- Monday, June 24, 1-2 p.m. (Emily Johns-O'Leary & Terri Wilson)
Dean Office Hours
- Thursday, May 2: 10-11 a.m. (in-person, MBE 210)
- Monday, May 6: 3-4 p.m. (in-person, MBE 210)
- Thursday, May 16: 1-2 p.m. (Zoom)
- Thursday, May 23: 1-2 p.m. (in-person, MBE 210)
- Thursday, June 6: 10-11 a.m. (Zoom)
- Thursday, June 13: 10-11 a.m. (in-person, MBE 210)
- Monday, June 17: 3-4 p.m. (Zoom)
Implementation Sub-Committees
Implementation sub-committees that will help us examine and implement the nine main recommendations from the Budget Sustainability Committee Report:
- Teaching Loads and Course Variation
- Leadership and Administrative Roles
- Creative Course Configurations
- Undergraduate and Teacher Education
- Graduate Education
- Research Mission
- Campus Funded Programs
- Organizational Structures and Budgetary Practices
- Ongoing Advocacy for the School of Education
These nine areas were combined into five sub-committees, with a member of the leadership team and a budget committee member informing the conversation for each bin:
- Undergraduate & teacher education: Led by Elizabeth Dutro (4)
- Committee includes: Karla Scornavacco, Melissa Braaten, and Ashley Cartun
- Leadership structure/support: Led by Fernando Rosario-Ortiz (1, 2, 8, 9)
- Committee includes: Oded Gurantz and Travis Anderson
- Research: Led by Joe Polman (6)
- Committee includes: Kelsey Ostenaa, David Webb, Derek Briggs and Debra Haffey
- Campus funded programs: Led by Fernando Rosario-Ortiz (7, 9)
- Committee includes: Emily Gleason, Valerie Otero, Tania Hogan and Roudy Hildreth
- Graduate education: Led by Millie Gort (3, 5)
- Committee includes: Natalie Koster, Emily Johns-O’Leary and Terrenda White
Over the fall semester, the sub-committees will review the corresponding recommendations; identify short-term (< 1 yr) and long-term goals; outline an implementation process; think about communication plans and change management approaches; identify barriers to implementation; and develop a budget impact statement.
Organizational Diagnostic Study
The Organizational Diagnostic Study aims to examine and recommend improvements for the School of Education staff functions at CU Boulder as part of the school's 2024-25 priority to further stabilize budget and operations. The school partnered with an external agency and CU Boulder partner, C-Shift, on a three-month study which focused on understanding the current roles, process and systems for School of Education staff. More than 20 staff members participated in the assessment process through documentation meetings, and those insights and documentation meetings aimed to inform the assessment and final report for the School of Education.
School of Education Budget Sustainability FAQs
- You are encouraged to use this webpage, submit , to nominate a colleague or self-nominate for the School of Education Budget Sustainability Ad hoc Committee, attend open office hours, or stay informed through email communications and existing group meetings.
- You can also participate in the university financial resiliency process by staying informed or submitting ideas through the web form.
- As a school and university, we remain committed to work on competitive salaries for our babyÖ±²¥app, staff, and also to maintain stipends for graduate students at rates that are comparable to other AAU peers.
- For more information about upcoming compensation plans, please read the Provost and COO’s March 5 messageabout financial resiliency commitments, including competitive pay for babyÖ±²¥app and staff.
- The committee will provide recommendations to the interim dean by early July 2024. The interim dean, in collaboration with the leadership team, will evaluate the recommendations. This process will occur in July and early August. Ultimately, the interim dean will make final decisions.
- Participation from committee members in addition to babyÖ±²¥app, staff, and students at large will be a key component in the co-creation of the interim dean’s final recommendations.