The goal of the University Budget Committee (UBC) is to enhance Naropa’s fiscal sustainability so that the university is positioned for long-term strategic growth. We recognize that the budget reductions necessary to achieve this goal—approximately $1.4 million—cannot be achieved without sacrifices. Nevertheless, we are committed to maintain the integrity of the university's mission throughout this process and to make budget recommendations that we believe will ensure that Naropa continues to provide its students with a strong educational experience. In keeping with this commitment, our research, process and eventual budget recommendations to senior staff and the president will be guided by the following principles:

1. The UBC will keep our students and mission at the center of our deliberations:
   • We strive to ensure that the budget recommendations we put forward will not cause the quality of the student experience at Naropa to be diminished.
   • We endeavor to use this fiscal process as a means to improve the students’ educational experience.
     
     
2. The UBC’s approach to Naropa’s fiscal future will be strategic:
   • Our deliberations will take into consideration all means of improving the University’s operations through greater efficiency and waste reduction, with the goal of achieving long-term sustainability.
   • UBC endeavors to put forward budget recommendations that will lead to greater student satisfaction, higher retention rates, and increased enrollments.
   • We will consider the desirability of including new revenue sources when making our recommendations.
     
     
3. The UBC endeavors to facilitate inclusive dialogue:
   • We encourage Naropa community members to submit their comments and questions regarding the budget process on the budget web page. These comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration throughout the budget process.
   • The UBC members representing students, faculty and staff will establish mechanisms for communicating with and receiving input from their respective constituencies.
   • UBC members recognize that we are charged with holding the interests and well-being of the whole university in mind throughout our deliberations, while at the same time bringing the perspectives and insights of our respective constituencies (staff, faculty, students) into the discussion.
     
     
4. The UBC commits to transparency:
   • We will inform the Naropa community of our guiding principles and timeline.
   • We will inform the Naropa community of the way in which we are proceeding and the general topics that we are considering.
     
     
5. The UBC will maintain confidentiality whenever necessary:
   • We will maintain confidentiality regarding the specifics of discussions in progress in order to minimize speculation, rumor and unwarranted community concern.
   • We strive to maintain proper boundaries between all personnel on matters pertaining to this budgetary process.
   • We will respect the confidentiality and dignity of each individual affected by this process.
     
     
6. When considering personnel reductions, the UBC will follow the principle that all positions, with the exception of the President, are up for consideration:
   • We will consider employment terminations at each level of the University.
   • We will proceed with compassion, but still recognize that our objective of ensuring a better, more sustainable Naropa is likely to entail personnel reductions.
     
     
7. The UBC endeavors to balance thoroughness and a thoughtful deliberative process with the need for timely recommendations:
   • We will balance the values of consensus decision-making and the need to make timely decisions by following the modified consensus process developed by Cauldron. This process is described in the Faculty Handbook in the Governance section.
   • In the event that any vote is exclusively along constituent lines (e.g., students and faculty voting in favor of a proposal, and staff against), we will go back to discussion. If the final vote is still along those lines, we will note this in our recommendations to Senior Staff and the President.
     
     
8. The UBC will produce constructive recommendations:
   • We will facilitate thorough information gathering through research, document review, and interviews when necessary, so that our findings result in fact-based, neutral recommendations.
   • We strive to distinguish facts from opinion and advocacy while conducting our research.