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David Crouse, Ph.D., interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, and UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., talk after Tuesday’s first forum. |
UNMC is in the top of the third inning in dealing with potential state budget cuts, says UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D.
The full impact of the cuts won’t be known until the ninth inning when the Legislature finalizes the state budget and the University of Nebraska Board of Regents vote on tuition increases and the university’s budget.
“Our goal is to minimize any adverse effect on the medical center,” Dr. Maurer told a standing-room only crowd at the first of two forums Tuesday in the Eppley Science Hall Amphitheater. Others watched the forums from University Hospital’s Grissom Conference Room and UNMC campuses in Kearney, Lincoln and Scottsbluff.
What lies ahead
During the hour-long presentation, Dr. Maurer outlined the state’s $761 million budget shortfall and how the governor and lawmakers have proposed cutting higher education funding. While the governor has proposed cutting the university system by 10 percent, state lawmakers have proposed a 6 percent cut.
Either way, it will mean substantial cuts to each campus, Dr. Maurer said. On Monday, UNMC announced its plans to reduce its budget by $2 million for the fiscal year 2003-2004. State support equaling $2 million will be cut in two areas at UNMC – academic support services and faculty support. In all, the state support for 34 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions – including 8.5 FTE faculty positions – will be eliminated. Academic support services includes those programs, other than faculty salaries, that support academic programs.
It’s too early to determine how many, or which, employees and faculty will be affected, Dr. Maurer said. UNMC will search for revenue sources other than state support to fund those jobs deemed essential to the Medical Center mission, he said.
Impact on salary increases
It is not yet known whether UNMC employees will receive salary increases this year, Dr. Maurer said, although he believes UNMC employees deserve a pay raise. The final determination will be made after UNMC leaders know whether appropriate levels of funding are available after the budget cuts.
Campus revenue
Overall, only 28 percent of the UNMC budget is state-supported. The rest of the campus’s revenue comes from cash accounts such as student tuition and clinical revenue; federal grants and contracts; restricted funds from non-federal grants and contracts, private gifts, professional fee income and University of Nebraska Foundation distributions; and auxiliary funds such as campus’s printing services, bookstore, parking and child care center.
Next phase of cuts
UNMC officials plan to announce the campus’s next set of budget reductions in early April. If necessary, the final phase of cuts will be announced in June, after the Legislature has adjourned and the NU Board of Regents has set student tuition rates.
Human Resources services
UNMC employees, especially those who may be affected by budget cuts, can learn more about available Human Resources services by e-mailing questions or concerns to the “UNMC HR Info For You” e-mail account at
hrinfo@unmc.edu.