A college education can transform lives, and no one should have to mortgage their future to get a college education.

Let’s keep tuition in check, provide more affordable student housing, lower the cost of books, lock in tuition rates starting Freshman year, and build up our endowment and use that money to drive down the cost of tuition.

Let’s promote programs that help students bridge to college and persist to graduation, especially for first-generation college students and students from low-income backgrounds.

We also need to push for more state funding and fix TABOR so we can better fund higher education in CO, now ranked near the bottom in the nation in higher-ed funding.

I will push the university to become a more sustainable enterprise.

To start, we need to address the climate crisis by setting ambitious and measurable targets for reducing our carbon emissions. As CU Regent, I will push the university system to set a goal of net zero emissions.

To accomplish this goal, we will need to invest in clean, renewable energy sources for our buildings, divest from fossil fuel securities, and use our multi-billion procurement power to contract with green businesses.

We also need to better conserve water—our planet’s most precious natural resource—and protect our environment.

Too many of our students, especially students of color and first-generation college students, drop out after their first year or otherwise fail to graduate. We need to address this problem by promoting programs that build a sense of belonging and community and help our students overcome barriers to getting their degree.

Academic freedom ensures that students and faculty can pursue knowledge without interference from politicians–a core value of higher education.

Yet academic freedom is under assault in states across the country: conservative leaders are banning what can be taught and limiting faculty and student speech in pursuit of a partisan political agenda.

As Regent, I will fight for academic freedom and ensure that CU continues to protect this core value of our university system.

We must build a more diverse body of students, faculty, and staff and address lingering gaps in recruiting, achievement, and graduation. We also must build a welcoming environment for everyone to share perspectives and learn from differences--a core benefit of attending college.

The Regents recently enacted a policy that commits the university system to these goals and directs our campuses to set ambitious and measurable targets.

I support this policy, and now the hard work begins to give it some teeth.

As Regent, I will work with our administrators, faculty, and students to build more diverse and inclusive campuses, especially in areas where the data shows we need to do better, such as improving our retention rates for students and faculty of color and increasing geographic diversity among students. And I will push CU to promote more opportunities for civil discourse and engagement, especially on issues of public concern, so we can learn from each other instead of talking past each other.

CU is one of the leading teaching and research university systems in the world. We need to build on that legacy by promoting a culture that both emphasizes innovative research and celebrates great teaching. Along these lines, we must attract and retain the most promising scholars--both faculty and students--to our university and create a thriving environment for them to pursue truth and knowledge and build a better, smarter, and more connected world.

As a former union worker myself, I believe that every employee deserves a voice in the workplace and should have the right to collectively bargain and join a union.

Unions help employees obtain fair wages, working conditions, and benefits, including healthcare and retirement plans. Union workers are happier, more invested in their employer's success, and often stay on the job longer. They also can partner with employers to efficiently address concerns or maximize opportunities in the workplace.

Some employees at CU are currently unable to collectively bargain and unionize. As regent, I will work to change this policy and support the ability of all CU workers to collectively bargain and unionize. It's the right thing to do for our workers, who are essential to our university's success.

CU athletics is a big part of the university’s culture, is a huge driver of alumni engagement, and generates revenue for the university. Our student athletes, whether in NCAA or club sports, not only make us proud but also learn important skills like diligence and leadership that will serve them well in career and in life.

As Regent, I will be a strong supporter of CU athletics and our student athletes.