Dear Roadrunners,
As this year has been a significant time of transition for the Metropolitan State University of Denver budget process, I’d like to begin with some reflections on these changes.
The process of deciding on MSU Denver’s fiscal 2024 budget has been productive. Speaking on behalf of the senior leaders, I thank all involved in creating a budget that will benefit all students and members of the faculty and staff. After crafting a budget proposal rooted in the work and recommendations of the University Planning and Budget Advisory Committee, President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., will submit her proposal to the Board of Trustees at meetings today and tomorrow. UPBAC representatives from all academic and administrative branches have been meeting for months to provide critical budget advice to the president after carefully considering how MSU Denver’s projected revenue should be spent to best support the University, its faculty, students and the mission of creating changemakers.
You can read UPBAC’s full recommendation here and check out FAQs on the budget process here. A recent Early Bird article also outlined changes, recommendations and next steps.
Vacation-leave rollover
Second, I want to remind everyone of a change enacted in June 2021 regarding vacation-leave rollover.
On June 9, 2021, to help employee-retention efforts amid mandatory furloughs and pandemic impacts, Human Resources suspended the professional-staff leave-rollover limit that would have usually restricted the number of vacation days that can be carried over to the next fiscal year. Normally, annual leave balances above 320 hours are reduced to that threshold each June 30, but the University suspended that until June 30, 2022. The maximum annual leave payout to employees who separate from the University remained at 320 hours.
The three-year gradual-decrease schedule:
- June 30, 2022: maximum rollover 400 hours
- June 30, 2023: maximum rollover 360 hours
- June 30, 2024: maximum rollover resumes at 320 hours.
While raising the maximum was intended to allow employees more time to use excess leave, some employees still have high leave balances that may cause them to lose hours. MSU Denver encourages employees to have a healthy work-life balance, and taking time away from work is good for overall health and well-being.
Employees who wish to donate any hours to the leave bank, please complete the Leave Bank form and submit it to Total Rewards at [email protected].
General reminders
- The annual performance-review process has moved to Workday. Evaluations for full-time administrative-staff members will be completed directly in Workday by June 30. See today’s Early Bird article for a helpful checklist.
- Please continue to visit the Workday Transformation SharePoint page for resources, including Job Aids on reviewing leave balances.
- See Simulation Labs West Classroom Building relocations and Administration Building relocations.
- Remember that the Health Center at Auraria is open throughout the summer.
Thank you again for staying up to date on all the exciting things happening at MSU Denver.
Sincerely,
Larry Sampler, chief operating officer, vice president for Administration