{"id":100150,"date":"2023-06-05T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=100150"},"modified":"2023-06-03T15:59:08","modified_gmt":"2023-06-03T20:59:08","slug":"budgets-benefits-focus-of-junes-all-campus-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/06\/05\/budgets-benefits-focus-of-junes-all-campus-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"Budgets, benefits focus of June\u2019s all-campus forum"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, echoed \u2013 on the heels of an NU Board of Regents meeting outlining the fiscal realities of rising costs and muted revenue growth \u2013 his commitment to maintaining UNMC\u2019s academic and clinical quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a special meeting on May 31, NU President Ted Carter outlined various financial headwinds \u2013 inflation that is driving up payroll and operating costs, declines in enrollment and tuition revenue, limited growth in state funding and changing public narratives around the cost and value of a college degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, during an all-campus forum Thursday, Dr. Gold said he remains strongly optimistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe single best way to deal with all of this is through continued growth,\u201d Dr. Gold said, which includes growth in enrollment (UNMC enrollment has grown 22 consecutive years), retention of students, programs yet to be implemented, research awards and contracts and robust clinical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs President Carter has said, and I agree with him: \u2018We\u2019re not going to balance the budgets on the backs of our students,\u2019\u201d Dr. Gold said. \u201cAs a system, we must maintain a highly competitive and highly affordable system, particularly in the health professions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anne Barnes, vice chancellor for business, finance and business development, agreed. \u201cWe are as prepared as we can be to face those headwinds,\u201d noting that UNMC deans and directors earlier this year went through planning exercises for a 2.5% budget reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 31, NU leadership said the university system faces, in the absence of any tuition increase, an estimated $80 million deficit by the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, driven by inflation, rising health insurance costs, a projected 3% increase in the merit salary pool and anticipated flat enrollment that follows two consecutive years of declines. State funding will increase by 2.5% each of the next two years, with an increase in Nebraska Career Scholars and the funding for the UNMC-University of Nebraska at Kearney Health Science Education Complex operating budget expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read a recap of the May 31 special Board of Regents meeting<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccess and affordability in our health professions programs is our undying commitment,\u201d Dr. Gold said. \u201cWe are not going to dilute the quality of the educational programs. \u2026 We\u2019ll make sure every single individual that we hand a diploma to has had the very best education and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Carter has said budget plans should include vertical, not horizontal, \u201cpeanut butter\u201d cuts. Over the next few weeks, Barnes said, departments and units will focus on how to balance the budget in the least disruptive way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During its June 22 meeting, regents will vote \u2013 as part of the 2023-24 operating budget \u2013 on a proposed tuition increase for 2023-24, as well as new health benefits providers beginning in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnes said the NU System has contracted with Kelly Services Education \u2013 beginning Jan. 1, 2024 \u2013 to serve as an educational third-party employer of remote NU staff who work in states where tax and employment laws are not comparable with Nebraska. Within the next several weeks, details will be shared directly with impacted individuals, which, Dr. Gold noted, make up a tiny fraction of the total workforce at UNMC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work continues, Barnes said, on developing policies related to out-of-state faculty work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of the medical center community can view the forum.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyrbrid work requests also continue to be reviewed based on NU System guidelines and those developed by deans and directors, Barnes said, \u201ckeeping in mind the policy that the majority of time be spent on campus in an office environment.\u201d Among the considerations, too, she said, is examining whether the remote work arrangement places an undue burden on those in the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pending approval June 22 by the Board of Regents, NU will move to new health benefits providers beginning Jan. 1, 2024. Minimal disruption is anticipated with the transitions, Dr. Gold said, and detailed information will be shared after the Board of Regents’ final review in anticipation of open enrollment this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gold closed by thanking faculty and staff for remaining \u201claser focused on the quality of our academic and clinical programs,\u201d adding that \u201cI\u2019ve never been more optimistic about the future of UNMC and our partners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read NU\u2019s announcement on new health benefits providers<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other business, Dr. Gold:<\/p>\n\n\n\n