Ali Ashraf

The meeting included an update on SCITT activities, noting the completion of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-funded Climate Change and Extreme Event Training and Research (CCEETR) program tasks, nearing completion of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)-funded wildlife collision project, and the continuation of the Colorado State Patrol funded seat belt violation project. A new Department of Labor grant will support the development of three training programs: Road Materials, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Analytics. SCITT is also awaiting two hydrogen technology development grants from the FRA and FHWA. Academic program updates detailed the enrollment in the new Baccalaureate Certificate in Transportation Engineering and the progress of graduate programs awaiting review by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Outreach activities included promoting programs at local high and middle schools and reviewing the second annual Southern Colorado Transportation Conference (SCTC) 2025, which attracted 253 attendees. Strategies for funding the SCTC 2026, including introducing a registration fee and seeking sponsorships from CDOT and the City of Pueblo, were discussed. The board also reviewed the draft of the SCITT strategic plan, with specific emphasis placed on including transit and multimodal transportation topics, and establishing a fundraising committee. The next meeting is scheduled to finalize the strategic plan and review the FY 2027 budget.

The meeting addressed several key areas including the fiscal year 2026 budget, ongoing activities, revisions to bylaws, and state-mandated annual training. The budget discussion focused on managing a projected deficit contingent on securing pending grants, faculty salaries, potential revenue streams, and indirect cost negotiation strategies. Updates on activities included progress on newly funded grants, student programs, upcoming proposals, and academic initiatives. Bylaws were revised to clarify the board's role in directing spending and the selection/removal process of board members. The state-mandated annual training covered the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), the Colorado Open Meetings Law (OML), and conflict of interest regulations.

The budget forum addressed the university's projected deficit for FY 15, which is expected to be 3.3 million dollars. The deficit is attributed to factors such as the lack of a tuition increase for FY 14 and FY 15, and flat enrollment projections for the fall of 2014. Measures to reduce the deficit include faculty teaching 12 credit hours per semester, cuts in operating dollars, elimination of vacant and filled positions, and potential restructuring of colleges. The university is also working with legislators to secure funding for buyouts and is aiming to build contingency funds for the future.

The board of governors meeting included updates such as the approval of new curriculum, including a certificate in diversity studies, a certificate in creative industries essentials, a retitled degree of the bachelor of science in media and entertainment and a new degree program, a bachelor of fine arts in gaming and immersive media. Additionally, there was discussion of budget scenarios for fiscal year 23, based on funding requests to the joint budget committee, and the potential for holding tuition increases.

The strategic plan for CSU Pueblo emphasizes empowering students by giving them a voice and preparing them to be well-educated, engaged global citizens. It focuses on investing in faculty and staff dedicated to the university's mission and the futures of its students. A key component involves engaging the community through creative collaborations to prepare the university and its students for 21st-century work and the complexities of the modern world. The plan also explores leveraging resources like the Toto Santos Center in Baja California Sur, Mexico, to enrich educational opportunities and differentiate CSU Pueblo in the higher education landscape.