The Metropolitan State University of Denver Board of Trustees on Friday greenlit funding for major student-housing and Auraria Event Center projects, approved the fiscal 2026 budget and advanced new academic offerings.
The unanimous approval of funding for the University’s first-ever student housing project and construction of event space at the Auraria Event Center marks a strategic step in enhancing student life and campus infrastructure. In approving the projects, the board granted the University’s administration authority to issue debt to fund construction.
“Even with this debt issuance, MSU Denver will remain the second-lowest (institution of higher education) in debt-per-student in the state,” said Trustee Laura Pinnie, chair of the board’s Finance and Audit Committee.
The 12-story Student Housing Building, to be located across from Ball Arena and east of the Tivoli Garage, will include a new home for the University’s Classroom to Career Hub as well as new retail and dining spaces along with residences, creating a vibrant, community-centric environment. Friday’s approval paves the way for construction to begin this summer. The new building is expected to be completed in 2027.
“It’s good for our students, and it’s good for our community,” said Trustee Ryan Frazier, “and I think we have the right leadership team behind this.”
FY26 budget: prioritizing people and student success
The Board of Trustees voted to approve the $222.9 million FY26 operating budget, which includes:
- A 2.5% raise for faculty and administrative staff beginning July 1. The increase also applies to part-time administrative-staff members and tenured/tenure-track faculty members who work less than 40 hours per week. Classified employees will see a 2.5% pay increase, as required by the state. Affiliate-faculty pay is not eligible for the across-the-board increase but will be adjusted separately within the Academic Affairs pay scale. Student employees aren’t eligible for the pay increase, as their compensation is adjusted per city and state minimum-wage laws.
- Nearly $800,000 in strategic investments for academic support, cybersecurity, marketing, scholarships and development positions.
- A 3.5% tuition increase, which is in line with increases at other state four-year institutions.
“Our job is to make sure (faculty and staff) have what they need to be awesome and are fairly compensated,” MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., said of the new budget. “I am happy we were able to hold the line on that.”
MSU Denver President Janine Davidson and Trustee Russell Noles participate in the June 13 Board of Trustees meeting in the Jordan Student Success Building.
MSU Denver identified $3.9 million in internal savings across branches to offset a reduced state allocation compared with the previous year. Savings include shifting costs to alternative revenue sources, consolidating or eliminating vacant positions and reducing contract spending.
The approved plan largely aligns with the recommendation from the University Planning and Budget Advisory Committee, or UPBAC, a shared-governance group that advises Davidson and other senior leaders in budget planning.
Academic approvals: innovation and recognition
The Board of Trustees approved four new academic programs*:
- Master of Science in Business Intelligence
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Security
- Minor in Museum Studies and Heritage Management
- Secondary Teacher Licensure in Theatre
*While approved by the MSU Denver Board of Trustees, these new programs still require additional external review and approval from the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Higher Learning Commission prior to being considered fully approved.
Board members also voted unanimously to confirm 17 faculty members for tenure and promotion to associate professor, 20 faculty members promoted to professor and 13 faculty members granted emeritus status, acknowledging decades of service and scholarly contributions.
Tenure and promotion to associate professor
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Wilfredo Alvarez, Ph.D. | Communication Studies |
| Ke Bao, Ph.D. | Engineering and Engineering Technology |
| Julie Clockston, DSW, LCSW | Social Work |
| Jeanne Connelly, Ph.D. | Special Education |
| Lincoln Davie, Ph.D. | Exercise and Sport Sciences |
| Jonathan Dyhr, Ph.D. | Biology |
| David Farrell, D.M. | Music |
| Glenn Furton, Ph.D. | Economics |
| Brandon Gilbert, Ed.D. | Early Childhood Education |
| Elmer Harris, Ed.D. | Early Childhood Education |
| Bill Herman, Ph.D. | Marketing |
| Sung Hee Joo, Ph.D. | Engineering and Engineering Technology |
| Lina Martin-Corredor, Ph.D. | Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education |
| Dennis Rudnick, Ph.D. | Elementary Education |
| Richard Sandoval, Ph.D. | Sociology and Anthropology |
| J. Renee Trombley, Ph.D. | Criminal Justice and Criminology |
| Ann Yoncha, MFA | Art |
Promotion to professor
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Jenny Allert, RNC-OB | Nursing |
| Tyler Bachelder | Aviation and Aerospace Science |
| Mallory Brunel, R.N. | Nursing |
| Gregory Clifton, J.D. | Accounting |
| Gina Cook, Ph.D. | Management |
| Cynthia Erickson, Ph.D. | Psychological Sciences |
| Patrick Griswold, R.N. | Human Services and Counseling |
| Tara Hammar, Ph.D. | Human Services and Counseling |
| Jovan Hernandez, Ph.D. | Psychological Sciences |
| Chadwin Kendall | Aviation and Aerospace Science |
| Amy Kern | Industrial Design |
| Joshua Martin, Ph.D. | Chemistry and Biochemistry |
| Shawn Meek, MFA | Art |
| Tony Nuñez, Ph.D. | Exercise and Sport Sciences |
| Ann Obermann, Ph.D. | Social Work |
| Jooeun Pak, D.Mus. | Music |
| Deanne Pytlinski, Ph.D. | Art |
| Eileen Starr, Ph.D. | Social Work |
| Patricia Surman, D.Mus. | Music |
| Justin Young, Ph.D. | English |
Emerita/Emeritus
| Susan Barnd, Ed.D. | Professor Emerita; Secondary Education, K-12 Education and Educational Technology |
| William Carnes, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus; Management |
| Andrew Evans, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus; Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Mark Harris | Faculty Emeritus; Music |
| Hsiu-Ping Liu, Ph.D. | Professor Emerita; Biology |
| Fordyce Lux, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus; Biology |
| Ann Murphy, Ph.D. | Professor Emerita; Accounting |
| Andrew Pantos, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus; English |
| Marina Pereira, MSW | Faculty Emerita; Social Work |
| John “Jack” Schultz, Ph.D. | Faculty Emeritus; Sociology and Anthropology |
| Mark Segall, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus; Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics |
| Pamela Troyer, Ph.D. | Professor Emerita; English |
| Peter Vigil, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus; Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education |
Additional updates
- Meredith Jeffers, Ph.D., executive director of University Strategy, and Will Simpkins, Ed.D., vice president for Student Affairs, led a review of the new Student Success dashboard, spotlighting key indicators and affordability efforts.
- The Board of Trustees welcomed new Student Trustee Maria Garcia and Faculty Trustee Mona Mocanasu, Ph.D.
- A representative from the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges presented the Board of Trustees with the Nason Award for Board Leadership.
- Terry Bower, associate vice president of Innovative and Lifelong Learning, delivered a presentation on concurrent enrollment, highlighting expanded access to higher education for high school students.
- The Board of Trustees approved policy revisions regarding academic policy enactment, naming rights and sunsetting professional-development policy.
- Trustees celebrated the Met TV student team for its Emmy Award-winning work.
