UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., on Wednesday morning sent a message to faculty and staff regarding proposed cuts to the state’s biennial budget.
The text of the message read:
Dear UNMC faculty and staff,
Yesterday, we all received a very clear message from President Bounds with information about the current legislative session as well as details about the proposed cuts to the state’s biennial budget, including reductions to the University of Nebraska. Under the current proposal, the University of Nebraska funding for the current year would be reduced by an additional $11 million, and next year’s appropriation would be reduced by an additional $23 million.
As a result of ongoing broad and deep discussions regarding campus and system-wide finances with President Bounds, the Chancellors and the Academic and Business and Finance Vice Chancellors have formulated a careful plan to actively communicate current information and to obtain feedback regarding recommendations for both budget reductions and revenue enhancement from our faculty, staff, students, alumni and others.
Given the gravity of the consequences of the proposed additional cuts to the University of Nebraska in the state budget and the very tight time line, every idea needs to be on the table, and we need your help.
This link will bring you to a form that will allow you to share your suggestions to “Maintain Our Momentum” well into the future. We need ideas for increasing revenue and reducing expenses. You can do so anonymously or if you choose, share your contact information. Please use a separate submission for each suggestion that you might have.
We very much appreciate your input on these important matters and look forward to receiving your feedback and ideas over the next week. Given the very tight timeframe that is necessary because of the pending legislative action, it is important for us to be able to assimilate all suggestions and to collate them in a rapid fashion. Therefore, please submit your recommendations in the very near future and no later than the evening of Jan. 22, 2018, next Monday.
We are committed to a very careful review of all recommendations through the input of our vice chancellors, deans, and directors to compile a thoughtful approach to the 2018-2019 budget in the event the proposed additional budget cuts are enacted by the Nebraska Legislature. We have also reached out to the faculty, staff and student leadership, as well as Vice Chancellors, Deans, Directors and others.
We remain committed to our mission, our core values and our strategic plan. We will transparently share all updates and provide multiple opportunities for input as they arise.
I thank you again for all of your hard work and commitment. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with any suggestions regarding these matters.
Most sincerely,
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
Chancellor