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Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Today caught up recently with Senior Vice Chancellor for Business, Finance and Infrastructure Todd Haggerty to discuss major accomplishments from the fall and projects to watch for 2026.

The office of Business, Finance and Infrastructure (BFI)—formerly Finance and Business Strategy—comprises the units of Budget and Finance, Business Strategy, Auxiliary Services and Infrastructure & Resilience.Ìý

Overseeing the campus budget—approximately $2 billion in annual financial resources—BFI and its component units play a critical role in ensuring Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s resources are aligned to best support student, faculty and staff success, research excellence and sustainability.Ìý

How has BFI helped advance Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder priorities this semester?

We made meaningful progress this semester in aligning our physical and financial resources with Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s teaching and research mission in a number of ways. Highlights include:

• Brought together Finance & Business Strategy and Infrastructure & Resilience under the new Business, Finance and Infrastructure (BFI) organization, creating a more integrated approach to resource, both financial and physical, planning and management
• Advanced theÌýFinancial Stewardship Initiative, including:
  • Launching the campuswide budget allocation model review, engaging units across campus—with representatives from colleges, schools, shared governance groups and administrative units serving on the project’s strategic alignment and design review committees—to examine how resources are allocated and identify improvements for future cycles
  • Implementing updated budget guidelines that clarify expectations and support more consistent, mission-aligned decision-making ahead of fiscal year 2026 planning
• Wrapping upÌýa transformational renovation of one of our most historic academic buildings, Hellems Arts and Sciences, which is on track to reopen in January with modernized, flexible learning environments
• Advanced construction on theÌýnew Chemistry and Applied Mathematics building that marks our elevated commitment to research excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Partnered closely with the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) to navigate the federal funding landscape, ensuring critical research projects could continue and identifying paths forward during a time of transition
• Made progress on ourÌýClimate Action Plan implementation on multiple fronts, including:
  • Breaking ground on a new East CampusÌýsolar array that will expand our renewable energy portfolio and accelerate progress toward climate goals
  • Advancing geothermal andÌýdecarbonization planning to guide future infrastructure and energy decisions
  • Growing the electricÌý to improve sustainable mobility and reduce transportation-related emissions
  • Completing newÌýenergy-efficiency upgrades across campus facilities
• Continued to make meaningful progress on expanding student housing options with our pursuit of a public-private partnership along Colorado Avenue and the ongoingÌýconstruction of Code Talker Hall
• Reduced student financial barriers by rolling mandatory fees into tuition, improving predictability for students and simplifying administrative processes across campus
• ·¡±ô¾±³¾¾±²Ô²¹³Ù±ð»åÌýsingle-use beverage plastics across campus, marking a significant sustainability milestone that reduces waste and supports Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s broader environmental commitments
• As part of a public-private partnership, saw the opening of theÌý conference center and hotel, providing a new venue for showcasing innovation and leadership occurring on our campus and in our community
• Advanced theÌýCampus Wayfinding Revamp Project, rolling out new signage to make it easier for the community and visitors to navigate campus
• Achieved a record-low opt-out rate (under 5%) in theÌý, ensuring students receive course materials on day one and reducing unanticipated costs
• Celebrated one of the highest accreditation ratings ever for the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØChildren’s Center, recognizing exceptional early childhood education and support for campus families
• Continued progress on the university’s strategic partnership with the Sundance Film Festival, which will create long-term engagement opportunities

What projects are you most excited about for the year ahead and why?

I am excited about a number of efforts—ongoing and upcoming—that position Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder to thrive in a rapidly changing higher education landscape.Ìý

• Reopening Hellems, bringing modernized and flexible learning environments back online
• Continuing the Financial Stewardship Initiative, including the Budget Model Design Review recommendations coming this spring, which will guide the tools and accountability structures needed for more strategic, mission-aligned resource decisions
• Opening Code Talker Hall in fall 2026, creating new housing on campus and enabling the modernization of some of our older housing buildings on campus, like Farrand Hall
• Making progress on the design of the decarbonization project, a cornerstone piece of our Climate Action Plan that will convert our steam heating on campus to a more energy-efficient low-temperature hot water system
• Breaking ground on the Colorado Avenue student housing project in the summer, an important step in expanding access to on campus housing

This work strengthens our foundation and continues to align our resources with our mission in ways that support the success of our students, faculty and staff.

And finally, I’m looking forward to Radio 1190’s move into the Carlson building, providing a refreshed home for a Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder staple. As a loyal listener, I’m eager to hear the energy this new space brings.