On Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, Gov. Bill Ritter ordered a freeze on state hiring and new capital construction as a cautionary measure amid concern over the national economy. The University of Colorado is ready to work with the governor to address the state’s fiscal challenges.

The governor’s hiring freeze does not apply to Colorado’s higher-education institutions. However, Gov. Ritter is encouraging universities and colleges to consider similar policies.

In response, the University of Colorado will continue its practice of carefully evaluating all hiring decisions. In addition, as part of this evaluation, the university will add an additional level of review in the hiring process to ensure all state-funded positions are assessed in the context of the current economic climate.

The governor also has called for a freeze on all new state-supported higher education construction projects through Jan. 31, 2009.

We are working with the governor’s office to determine what effect this mandate will have on a project that is already well underway on the Colorado Springs campus and two that are planned for renovation on our Boulder campus. We hope to share more information on these capital projects with you and our other stakeholders in the coming days.

We are committed to supporting the efforts of our state’s leadership to protect the Colorado economy. We will also continue our own efforts to carry out our role and mission efficiently and to meet our commitment to serving our nearly 54,000 students and 24,000 employees, as well as the citizens of Colorado. I ask all our employees to increase their awareness of the need to exercise good judgment when hiring and making other funding decisions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we—along with the rest of the state and nation—face these challenging economic times.

Sincerely,

Bruce D. Benson
President, University of Colorado