The University of Colorado regents voted 7-0 this morning to waive the traditional search for a chief fundraiser, a newly created position that is part of the school's efforts to increase private donations.
Instead, CU President Bruce Benson, the campus chancellors and Chief of Staff Leonard Dinegar will carry out the search for an "executive president for advancement" who will be in charge of coordinating fundraising efforts across the CU system.
Typically, the university would have assembled a search committee with faculty, staff and student representatives -- but CU President Bruce Benson said the university needs to move more quickly in making the hire.
The nine-member Board of Regents passed the measure 7-0. Regent Stephen Ludwig, D-Denver, was absent from the meeting and board chairman Michael Carrigan, D-Denver, exercised his right as chairman to not vote.
Carrigan, at the meeting, said that governance groups will be able to provide feedback on finalists before any hiring decisions are made.
"It is our understanding, and it is the representation of President Bruce Benson, that while governance groups may not be a part of the search committee, that any finalist or finalists will meet with governance leaders before any decisions are made so that representatives of the faculty, staff and students will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the finalist or finalists prior to President Benson making a hiring decision," Carrigan said.
Last week, CU officials released plans for restructuring the CU Foundation, its fundraising arm, and the hiring of a chief fundraiser.
Beginning in July, campus fundraisers will report to university leadership instead of the foundation. CU, on the heels of a record-breaking fundraising year, hired a philanthropic consulting firm for $380,000 to work with the CU Foundation to explore ways to bring in additional revenue.
"The president feels that we have to move as quickly as possible on this search because so much of the realignment of our fundraising operations relies on having this new person on board quickly," CU system spokesman Ken McConnellogue said.
University officials say increasing fundraising is important since the state ranks No. 48 in the nation for higher education funding. CU expects to receive about $150 million from the state in the upcoming fiscal year, which is slightly more than last year, but less than in 2008 when the university received $229 million.
Last year, CU received a record $221 million in donations and has raised about $1.4 billion of its $1.5 billion Creating Futures fundraising campaign.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at 303-473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com. ___
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