Town Hall Q&A

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions ahead of and during the town hall hosted on August 16, 2022. The following questions include those asked during the town hall, as well as those that were submitted but not able to be addressed due to time constraints. 

Talent and Compensation

Q: Will the second half of the raises identified in the compensation study be disbursed in 2023?

Yes. The FY23 budget has a $2.75M total rewards allocation and the FY24 proposed allocation is $3M, meant to cover most, if not all, of the remaining salary increases that were identified in the compensation study. Allocations will still need to go through the regular budgeting process (approval by the University Budget Committee and BOT), which is anticipated to occur in January/February 2023 for disbursement in May/August 2023. 

Q: Will affiliate faculty receive a pay raise like full-time faculty and staff?

Affiliate faculty compensation is the next phase of our compensation study. We have begun gathering data through comparing our rates with those from other AJCU schools and other Colorado schools. Please keep in mind we are very early in this process. 

Q: With many employees departing Regis, remaining staff have been managing a much heavier workload. What is the plan to address our own internal labor shortage?

We are asking division leaders to work with their teams to prioritize work, ensuring key services are offered while also identifying tasks that can be delayed or even eliminated. Additionally, our engagement with Mindstream will assist us in determining short-term and longer-term tactical and structural approaches that will position Regis to organize and, in some cases, reorganize itself for success.

Q: What is being done to reward, encourage and support long-term commitment to Regis by staff? What is being done to address employee morale?

We are planning to revive the annual Employee Recognition program in October 2022 to recognize years of service and annual service rewards. Additionally, MarCom has organized a series of events under the umbrella of BASH Wednesdays, designed to provide opportunities for us to gather as a community. The first BASH Wednesday will be on Sept. 7 and feature free donuts, faculty and staff appreciation night at the women's volleyball game, in addition to a weekly afternoon walking club and a happy hour at Walker's Pub. 

As mentioned at the Town Hall, let each of us offer one another encouragement and gratitude for the individual efforts made each day to support our students and our greater community. We encourage you to continue utilizing the Mission Moments program, and if you have any other ideas or suggestions please share them with your cabinet member or forward them directly to HRinfo@regis.edu. 

Finance and Budget

Q: What is Regis doing to stabilize its budget and move out of a reactionary budget response to a more proactive approach?

The FY23 budget takes an important step at stabilizing student revenue projections by significantly reducing both credit hours and tuition revenue. Most units were asked to reduce their budgets by 5% to account for these revised projections. From a spending and investment perspective, roughly $6M was added to our overall operating expense budget to cover compensation and contractual increases. We are happy to have further discussions with any departments that feel it would be helpful.

Q: We heard a lot about prioritizing retention and persistence - are there plans to reallocate funding to support the critical student-facing programs and departments essential to retention? Why was admissions/enrollment identified as one of the only departments who didn't have to cut their budget?

There is sensitivity to limiting or minimizing the impact of budget reductions on some revenue generating units (admissions and advancement) or athletics. Academic Affairs is reallocating resources within the unit to promote retention and persistence, including investing in programs to grow revenue and promote the academic enterprise for the University. At this point, the budgets have not been finalized however more information will be shared within various units once that occurs.

Q: With the financial strain Regis has experience, will we be closing down any programs?

While finances are one factor for program review, decisions regarding the elimination or closure of an academic program rests with the Provost, and would be a collaborative discussion with the appropriate Deans and department. At this point the goal is to gather data so that we can make informed decisions about all aspects of the University, including academic offerings.

Q: Can we expect Regis University to exist in 5 years?

Yes. We join the confidence expressed by the Board, our bondholders and the DeSmet investors who made 20-year investments in our beloved institution.

Q: Can you please explain in more detail Mr. Scarth's comment about a cash flow problem vs. a budget problem?

The Board approved an operating budget that is projected to spend $20M more than the revenue we expect to collect. To ensure we have the cash to cover our expenses, we will need to tap into our savings and other resources. We are well-positioned to address this challenge.

Executive Searches

Q: Is there an update on the CSRE restructuring and talent search? Where do conversations stand on research-focused faculty positions?

We are currently at the Zoom interview stage for candidates for the Associate Provost for Research and Scholarship. These will be completed by August 19, and we expect on-campus interviews to be completed by mid-September. We wanted to ensure all faculty were back so that there could be broad participation in the selection process. 

The concept of research-focused faculty is part of a broader faculty series discussion. This would need to have broad faculty engagement, and a unified faculty senate would serve as a foundation for this type of work. The Provost's Advisory Council is meeting to discuss this topic. 

Q: Is there an update on the presidential search?

The presidential search committee is currently narrowing down their list of candidates with the goal of selecting a set of finalists for interviews and vetting. Final interviews are currently anticipated to take place at the end of October. Regis community members are encouraged to visit regis.edu/presidentialsearch for an update from Dr. Jo Ann Rooney, chair of the search committee and answers to frequently asked questions.

Miscellaneous

Q: Is it possible for non-traditional and adult students to opt into Follett Access, rather than having to opt out every term?

While Follett Access operates during the fall and spring terms, we will continually monitor programs and make adjustments for the following academic year. These adjustments may include removing programs that no longer make sense for Access, as well as adding programs that would provide benefit to students. Any feedback from faculty members is greatly appreciated and can be directed to Josef Rill, AVP of Auxiliary and Business Services (jrill@regis.edu).

Q: When will the new student center be open for faculty and staff?

Our new dining offerings are open! The student center main cafe is now called The Table at Regis, and Claver's dining offerings have been updated as well. Updated hours and menus can be found at rangerdining.com

Interested in a faculty/staff meal plan? Blocks of 25 meals can be purchased via credit card or payroll deduction, saving you approximately $2 off the door price per meal. Individual meals can also be purchased at any cash register.

Q: Will the University invest in safety tools and resources for classrooms and offices like 3M lining on windows, glass breakers, curtains instead of blinds, etc? These were identified as helpful during the recent ALICE training. 

We will share these suggestions with the folks responsible for these areas.