Street shots of the new MSU Denver sign on the Jordan Student Success Building facing the Pepsi Center.
The Metropolitan State University of Denver Staff Senate met March 8, led by Senate Vice President Jeremy VanHooser.
The first item discussed was related to a funding surplus. Last year, most professional employees received a 1.75% increase to their base salary. This year, the Staff Senate is collecting feedback for the Budget Recommendation Committee about how constituents would like funds to be used if there is funding available again to be applied toward base salaries. Staff Senate Treasurer Diane Yee voiced her concern that using the funds for flat raises across the board would distribute fewer dollars to those in lower pay grades.
Scholarship-review process
Guests Jake Beaudrie, scholarship processor in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Yvonne Smith, scholarship and fund manager in University Advancement, discussed the need for and importance of scholarship reviewers.
Last year, MSU Denver awarded almost $2.2 million in Foundation scholarships. This year, the University will award around $2.5 million. It’s estimated that the amount will increase to $2.8 million in the next fiscal year. Each spring, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships looks for scholarship reviewers for general applications and for specific scholarships. If scholarships go unawarded because of a lack of applicants, reviewers work with donors to rework scholarship requirements to increase applicant eligibility.
Diversity of reviewers is important, which is why requests have been sent to organizations that reflect and support diversity in the student population. These include the Center for Multicultural Excellence and Inclusion, the Chicana/o Studies Department, the Dreamer Network, the Africana Studies Department, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the African American Affairs Council, the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Faculty and Staff Alliance, the Womyn of Color Collective, the Committee for Sustainable Racial Justice, the Faculty Senate’s Diversity Committee and the Staff Senate’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Anyone interested in serving as a scholarship reviewer can contact Jake Beaudrie or apply here.
Community announcements
- MSU Denver is formally endorsing the bill in the Colorado legislature to make Juneteenth a statewide holiday, which is on the docket next week, Rep. Leslie Herod said. Learn more.
- Mug Club recently celebrated its fifth anniversary and 1,000th member. The program has raised over $50,000 for the MSU Denver Mug Club Endowed Scholarship.
- MSU Day of Giving is March 31. Events include the Day of Giving Corn Hole Tournament on March 28, in which the winner will earn $500 for their favorite campus program; a live talent show during the Day of Giving Telethon on March 31; and opportunities to support student success by making a gift to any of over 60 featured Day of Giving projects.
- Join Campus Recreation, Roadrunner Athletics, the CMEI and the Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy to watch the latest documentary “LFG” by CNN Films and HBO Max, an inside account of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s ongoing fight for equal pay. The viewing party will begin March 28 at 4 p.m. in the Tivoli Turnhalle and be followed by a facilitated discussion.