Chancellor Sobanet Commits to Removing Barriers to Access, Timely Degree Completion 

Earlier today at the State of UCCS address, Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet announced the elimination of the undergraduate application fee for all Colorado residents.  

“We have a responsibility to build an environment that minimizes barriers to progress and provides students the support and relationships they need to thrive,” Sobanet said. “Sometimes even a relatively small barrier, like an application fee, can be enough to keep someone from taking that first step to becoming a Mountain Lion.” 

UCCS Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Jon Caudill said his division has been working hard to assess the full enrollment cycle and better understand where students need support – either from people or process improvement. 

“Our team identified several opportunities last year that resulted in more new first-time students choosing UCCS this fall and the highest freshman to sophomore retention rate we’ve seen in a decade,” Caudill said. “Eliminating the undergraduate application fee for Colorado residents is the next step in that plan.” 

The elimination of the application fee is part of a larger effort Sobanet announced today to leverage UCCS’s unique status as a regional public research university (RPU) to center the university’s mission and evolve alongside the changing needs of both students and Southern Colorado.  

“For UCCS to continue to serve our region, we must evolve. This might mean doing things differently, but it does not mean changing who we are, who we serve or why we’re here,” Sobanet said.  

(Colorado Springs, Oct. 6, 2026) – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet announced she will retire at the end of her contract in June 2027. 

Sobanet has served as Chancellor of the Colorado Springs campus since 2023, during which time she has focused on initiatives to improve student success, expand the university’s research impact and strengthen its connection to the community it serves. 

 

“It has been my great honor to serve UCCS and the CU System alongside incredible faculty and staff,” said Chancellor Sobanet. “I’m committed to continuing our important work for the benefit of students and our community in my remaining time at UCCS.” 

 

Sobanet began as interim Chancellor on July 1, 2023, and transitioned to the permanent chancellor role in December of that year. She is the 9th UCCS Chancellor. Among her many accomplishments, she has implemented modernization efforts across many areas of administration and finance as well as taking important steps to balance the university’s structural budget deficit and enhance student recruitment and retention work. 

 

“I am grateful for Jennifer’s dedication to UCCS and the whole CU system. She has been a stalwart in the work to prepare the campus for the future of higher education,” said CU President Todd Saliman. “Her efforts to create a successful and sustainable path forward for the campus have laid the foundation for positive outcomes for our current and future students.” 

 

Prior to joining UCCS, Chancellor Sobanet was the Executive Vice Chancellor of Administration and Strategy and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Colorado Denver. Earlier in her career, she served as acting Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Colorado Department of Higher Education during Governor Hickenlooper’s administration. She has also held senior leadership roles at Front Range Community College and within the Colorado Community College System. 

 

“Chancellor Sobanet’s leadership and her continued efforts to forge closer ties between the campus and the community build on the successful origins of the campus,” said CU Board of Regents Chair Ken Montera. “I know we will all miss her contributions when she leaves in the Spring, but the campus is better for all that she has accomplished in her time there.” 

 

About the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) 
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) offers a broad range of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs to nearly 11,000–12,000 students. Located in the heart of Colorado Springs, UCCS is a premier regional research university known for innovation and excellence, with a strong student focus and access mission, fostering a commitment to research, discovery, and community impact. Learn more about UCCS at uccs.edu.