Program Planning

Projects and Equipment exceeding $2,000,000

Facilities projects initiated at Colorado State University must be part of the Ten-Year Physical Development Plan (PDP). Non-maintenance PDP projects and equipment purchases exceeding $500,000 must have a Program Plan approved by the Board of Governors and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education prior to initiation regardless of funding source.

Program plans are developed during the fiscal year before the year a project is to be funded either locally or legislatively. In general, the Program Plan must be complete by June in order to include that project in the University’s Capital Construction Budget Request for the following legislative funding cycle.

A Program Plan Committee is formed in order to develop the appropriate project. This committee is responsible for gathering data, developing a plan consistent with the Campus Master Plan and the University Strategic Plan, and documenting the plan in the format required by Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE). A project may require extensive involvement with the entire campus community or it may involve only the occupants that will use the facility. The program planning team consults with the Physical Development Committee and appropriate deans and department heads during this process. Program Plans are then presented to the President for approval. Final approval by the Board of Governors and CCHE is required.

Non-prioritized (NP) projects are listed on the PDP for future planning purposes. NP projects are recognized needs that currently fall beyond the projected ten-year planning and funding window. Non-prioritized projects appear after the ranked projects in alphabetical order by submitting unit at the end of the PDP.

Each fiscal year, facilities needs requests are carefully ranked for funding consideration. High priorities are assigned to achieve the following outcomes:

  • Complete currently funded phased capital construction projects.
  • Meet changing programmatic demands identified in the University Strategic Plan.
  • Provide for major maintenance items identified by Facility Condition Audits.

Equipment purchases over $500,000 require either a program plan or a waiver from program planning from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE).

Additional Resources

For more information, please contact Shelly Carroll at 970-491-0167.