During the June meeting of the University of Colorado Board of Regents in Colorado Springs, the Regents approved the annual campus budget, the creation of a new Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage and Environmental Resource Management (CHERM), and a resolution of appreciation for Martin Wood for his 31 years of service. Regent Ken Montera also presented a Memorial Resolution for Regent Emeritus Jerry Rutledge, who passed away on January 9, 2025, at the age of 80.
Nathan Gibson, Executive Director of Athletics, also had the opportunity to provide the first-ever athletics update to the Board of Regents, which will now be a regular agenda item during regent meetings. Sean Belzer, a current UCCS Men’s Soccer student athlete and UCCS Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, also had the chance to speak. Belzer was recently selected to be on NCAA D2 National SAAC, serving as the RMAC rep on the national committee.
The dates of the June meeting were shifted so that the regents and CU leadership could attend the UCCS CSGI Conference on Civic Discourse, a groundbreaking event on topics including civility, open inquiry, viewpoint diversity in higher education, free speech and civics education.
Director of Veteran and Military Affairs Crista Hill also had the opportunity to take Regents VanDriel, Montera, and McNulty to Fort Carson to learn more about UCCS’s educational partnership with the Army.
Approved Budget
The Board of Regents approved a $6.7 billion budget for the entire CU System for fiscal year 2025-26, which included $368.7 million in overall budget for UCCS.
Of this, the Education & General (E&G) Fund accounts for $191.8 million, or 52% of the total. This includes $51.4 million in state support, which represents approximately 14% of the total campus budget.
Auxiliary funds, derived from services such as housing, dining, and health services, make up $112.3 million, or 30.5% of the total budget.
Restricted funds, which include grants, contracts, and private gifts, total $64.6 million, or 17.5% of the budget.
The FY 2025-26 budget can be viewed here.
Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage and Environmental Resource Management
The new master’s degree, which will be offered beginning in fall 2026, aims to draw students interested in museum, heritage tourism, agency and private sector compliance work. This will be the only program of its type in Colorado.
“The importance of these interdisciplinary degrees is really critical for global problem-solving,” said Provost Lynn Vidler. “We can no longer just study and research in disciplinary silos – we need to be proficient in multiple disciplines because that’s where creativity and innovation arise.”
More information about the new degree can be found here.
Martin Wood recognized, granted emeritus title
The Board of Regents of the University of Colorado formally expressed its profound appreciation to Martin Wood for his decades of dedicated service and contributions to the UCCS community and the broader CU system.
Upon his retirement, Martin will be granted the title of Senior Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Emeritus.
As described in the resolution, Martin’s career has been marked by his unwavering dedication to the university’s growth, his leadership in securing transformational funding, and his commitment to fostering strong community partnerships that shaped the future of UCCS. Martin played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the University Advancement division, overseeing development, alumni relations, marketing communications, government and military relations, community engagement, executive events, and public-private partnerships, and his leadership contributed to raising over $320 million for UCCS, growing the university’s endowment to nearly $100 million, and securing funding for the naming and construction of multiple buildings and key facilities on campus.
Martin was also instrumental in landmark university projects, including the establishment of UCCS Downtown, the creation of the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, the acquisition of key university facilities, the advancement of UCCS as a statewide leader in cybersecurity, and the creation of C3 Innovation at UCCS. His commitment to the power of public-private partnerships has aligned with philanthropy to propel UCCS forward through innovative initiatives such as the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center.
He has exemplified a deep commitment to the university’s mission, serving on the Chancellor’s leadership team for over three decades and playing a key role in shaping strategic initiatives that will benefit students, faculty, and staff for years to come.
Martin is known for his unwavering dedication to cultivating meaningful relationships, which we experience through his role as a caring advisor to his colleagues, a teacher in GPS classes, a mentor to deans, faculty, and staff in their growth as “friendraisers” and fundraisers, and in his success in securing boundless support for UCCS.
The full resolution can be read here.
Memorial Resolution for Regent Emeritus Jerry Rutledge
Regent Emeritus Rutledge came to Colorado from Missouri in 1962 to study at the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1966.
As described in the resolution, Regent Emeritus Rutledge was an avid CU sports supporter, as a season ticket and suite holder for over 20 years and a significant donor to CU Football. Rutledge was elected to the University of Colorado Board of Regents in 1994, serving twelve years representing the 5th Congressional District, and during his tenure he was elected board chair twice and vice chair three times and guided the University through three presidential leadership transitions.
While he was serving on the board, Regent Emeritus Rutledge was a key driver for the move of CU’s medical campus to the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, and he eventually served on the UCHealth Board of Directors for eight years. Regent Emeritus Rutledge also served his community through many clubs and organizations over the years, including the UCCS Business School Associates; the Board of Directors of the Golden Buffalo Scholarship Fund; UCCS Engineering Business Advisory Board; the UCCS Chancellor’s Roundtable; Board of Directors of the National Institute of Science, Space and Security Center; American National Bank and Clough Global Equity Mutual Fund; the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce; and the Colorado Springs Economic Development Council of Colorado Springs; and had a strong involvement as a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
The full resolution can be read here.