Last Thursday, the Legislature advanced the University of Nebraska’s budget for the next biennium from general file to select file.
“We appreciate the Legislature’s support for the university’s budget,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., noting that the budget enables the university to achieve three key objectives: meeting core operating needs, keeping tuition affordable and moving forward on initiatives that grow Nebraska’s economy.
The state budget that advanced to second reading includes these items for the University of Nebraska:
- A 3 percent increase for core operations, which includes salaries.
- $2 million for academic programs at the Health Sciences Education Complex in Kearney, which will house expanded nursing and allied health programs to meet workforce and health care needs in rural Nebraska, plus $424,000 for building operations and maintenance.
- $1 million for a new biomedical technology institute led by UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
- $100,000 to expand the activities of the UNO-based Nebraska Business Development Center.
- $25 million for construction of a simulated education building at UNMC, as well as $2 million for operations and maintenance of this new facility.
- $1.25 million for a proposed international trade and finance institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln named in honor of NU alumnus and trade expert Clayton Yeutter.
- $320,000 for talent enhancement and $100,000 to hire a veterinarian at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, investments that would help NCTA build on its momentum in serving students and meeting the needs of Nebraska agriculture.
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