{"id":105238,"date":"2023-11-14T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=105238"},"modified":"2023-11-14T14:39:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T20:39:21","slug":"unmc-leaders-address-campus-growth-budget-headwinds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/11\/14\/unmc-leaders-address-campus-growth-budget-headwinds\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC leaders address campus growth, budget situation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, was joined by Anne Barnes, UNMC\u2019s vice chancellor for business, finance and business development, and Jane Meza, PhD, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and associate vice chancellor for global affairs and strategic planning, in addressing budget concerns, strategic planning and many other issues at last week\u2019s all-campus forum. The \u201chybrid\u201d forum was the first to feature an in-person open discussion option since before the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gold said the medical center\u2019s \u201cgrowth mode\u201d makes it uniquely suited to withstand and minimize future headwinds. UNMC\u2019s momentum remains unimpeded, the chancellor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy confidence in our growth and our ability to weather future headwinds is as optimistic as ever,\u201d Dr. Gold said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See a recording of the November all-campus forum online here.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of the new Rural Health Education Building in Kearney, the CORE Building in Omaha and several other ongoing projects also boosts that future growth, Dr. Gold said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are going to increase the rural health professions workforce, increase our rural health research, make all of Nebraska healthier and at the same time partner with the state of Nebraska do it,\u201d the chancellor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnes also expressed confidence: \u201cWe are in a mode of growth in nearly every area of campus. We will look for ways for greater efficiency. We do not anticipate layoffs because that would impede our growth,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Gold concurred. \u201cGrowth is what we are focused on; however, there is much to focus on to sustain our future growth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where are we now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campus zero-based budget templates have been completed and turned in. Leadership is studying them and looking for ways to gain efficiencies, while also noting things unique to UNMC that are essential contributions. UNMC will work with its colleges, centers and offices to explore potential future reductions into the FY24 budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Varner Hall also is hard at work, Dr. Gold said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A collective zero-based budget will be submitted by the Dec. 1 regents meeting, and the university community will know more then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forum also touched upon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n