Answers to your consolidation
questions
The following questions and answers about the consolidation are from brown
bag sessions held in March with Teresa Berryman, vice chancellor for Finance
& Facilities and Dana Gibson, vice chancellor for Administration and Information
Systems.
Q.) Why were the ‘Brown Bags’ sessions held and will there
be more?
A.) The issue of wanting a vehicle to communicate directly
with Teresa Berryman and Dana Gibson came out of the Change Management Workshops.
Brown Bags Luncheons will be offered every six to eight weeks.
Q.) Why are we consolidating the two campuses now?
A.) Consolidation has been discussed for a long time. A unique
opportunity occurred when both chancellors discussed retirement. Their transitions
presented an opportunity to explore the feasibility of consolidation. Therefore,
after Dr. Lesh-Laurie retired, Dr. Shore was both chancellor at HSC and interim
chancellor at UC Denver. Following the decision to consolidate, he became
the first chancellor of the combined entity. He has since announced his final
retirement plans, and therefore a search is underway for a new chancellor.
Q.) What are the benefits of consolidation?
A.) First and foremost the consolidation will create academic
and research opportunities that will benefit the consolidated campus. New
sources of research funding are available to entities that have both strong
undergraduate and graduate/professional programs. In addition, during challenging
economic times it is beneficial to have the funding diversity that comes from
combining a campus that derives monies from research and clinical enterprises
with a campus that derives monies from tuition. It also gives us the opportunity
to strengthen the administration that has undergone significant budget cuts
for the past two years. By combining our administrative staff we gain expertise
and productivity without additional funding needs. The consolidation also
creates programmatic opportunities. One of the more prominent examples of
this is the ability to create a School of Public Health.
Q.) With the current State Budget situation will the consolidation
stretch us even further?
A.) No, it should position us to be more economically viable.
Consolidation should generate more revenue through new research, educational
and collaborative opportunities, including adding more students. And there
are new opportunities to provide pipelines from undergraduate to graduate
and professional programs. The consolidation has never been about reducing
costs; therefore, there have been no layoffs due to consolidation.
Q.) Why did we consolidate without more planning and preparation?
A.) After our feasibility studies were complete, it was determined
that we would have to be legally consolidated in order to appoint a single
chancellor for new UCD, and as a result, the regents appointed Dr. Shore
as the chancellor and consolidated July 1, 2004. Also, the feasibility teams
did such a good job that is was felt that much of that work could take us
directly into consolidation. Therefore, the regents voted in June 2004 to
consolidate rather than waiting until July 2005.
Q.) How is the consolidation impacted by President Hoffman’s
resignation?
A.) The consolidation will continue. It is a positive event
for the University of Colorado and was supported by a unanimous Regents vote.
Q.) Why is the academic consolidation going slower?
A.) Academic programs have a cycle of four to seven years
whereas administrative cycles occur annually. In addition, the two campuses
used similar business systems and processes. Therefore our consolidation was
determined to be relatively easy and quicker compared to academic programs.
It is expected that the academic consolidation will take many more years.
During the feasibility studies we learned from two other similar consolidations
that the full academic consolidation may not be realized for 10 to 20 years.
Q.) Why did/does some of the Fitzsimons administrative staff have
to move downtown?
A.) There was an opportunity to purchase the Dravo and Lawrence
Street Center buildings. And even if the purchase of the buildings doesn’t
go through, there was affordable space available in those buildings. Fitzsimons
was already getting short on administrative space. Additionally, the physical
collocation of administrative units offers increased productivity, collaboration,
and efficiency.
Q.) Will some of downtown Denver campus employees/programs move out
to the Fitzsimons Campus?
A.) The Downtown Denver campus is deeply rooted in its urban
setting and the University is committed to maintaining the campus in the heart
of downtown Denver.
Q.) Has there been any discussion about consolidating with UCB and
UCCS?
A.) No. Bringing those two campuses together doesn’t
offer the diversity of programs and funding as our consolidation does.
Q.) How are we dealing with the different cultures and missions of
the two campuses?
A.) The consolidation of campus cultures and missions takes
time. First and foremost we need a ‘brand’ for our new entity.
It was decided that effort will not take place until the new chancellor is
here. In the meantime, we can deal with cultures and missions by educating
each other and improving communication. In general, the downtown Denver campus
(DDC) is more process/governance driven while HSC tends to be more entrepreneurial
and administratively driven. These differences have led to different decision
making processes. The DDC way of doing things is in fact typical for the traditional
academic world. HSC has traditionally been a more fast-paced environment with
a more decentralized campus structure. In addition, the HSC has been in major
change mode for the past six years with the move to the Fitzsimons campus.
Q.) What plans are being worked on to improve transportation/logistics
between the three locations?
A.) The cost of operating a shuttle service has been determined
to be too expensive. The use of CU cars/van is being explored. Also, we need
to make use of teleconferencing, better meeting planning and scheduling. Virtual
office technologies such as hand-held ‘Blackberrys’ and other
wireless technology offer solutions to some issues.
Q.) Where do I park when I have to visit another campus?
A.) Reciprocal parking has been offered as a solution for
those with parking permits. HSC permit holders driving downtown can park in
E and W lots on the AHEC campus as long as their HSC permit is displayed.
Conversely, those who park in the UCD garages are allowed to park on certain
lots on the 9th/Colorado and Fitzsimons campuses. A contract with the Denver
Center for Performing Arts which provides covered parking with in-and-out
privileges is going to be available shortly. AHEC offers more affordable parking
although it is not covered and there are no in-and-out privileges. There are
also Light Rail and RTD bus stops within two blocks of the downtown Denver
campus. Employees who need parking information, including reciprocal parking
locations should go to www.uchsc.edu/facilities/parking/reciprocal.htm.
We invite additional questions through the following email addresses:
consolidation.admin@uchsc.edu
OR
admin@cudenver.edu
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