{"id":123790,"date":"2025-07-17T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=123790"},"modified":"2025-07-16T16:04:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T21:04:54","slug":"123790","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/07\/17\/123790\/","title":{"rendered":"UNMC leaders discuss budget restrictions at campus forum"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At the July 15 all-campus forum, Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, shared updates on university operations, including results from the 2025 employee engagement survey<\/a>, budget strategy and recent employee benefits additions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was joined by Linda Cunningham, interim executive director of human resources, and Anne Barnes, UNMC vice chancellor for business, finance and business development, and senior vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Nebraska System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Cunningham said the 2025 employee engagement survey received a 52% response rate, with 2,642 employees participating. Results showed that most employees enjoy their work, feel it uses their skills effectively and believe it provides a sense of accomplishment. She said pride in working at UNMC remains high, staying consistent with responses from UNMC\u2019s last survey in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you to each and every employee who took the time to complete the survey,\u201d Cunningham said. \u201cSurvey results will be shared with managers, not just senior leadership, who will lead conversations with their teams exploring the \u2018why\u2019 behind responses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cunningham also discussed the new paid parental leave policy<\/a>, effective July 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a huge step forward,\u201d Cunningham said. \u201cIt recognizes the real-life needs of working families and offers a benefit that will truly impact employees\u2019 lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnes provided an overview of the university\u2019s proactive financial strategy amid uncertainty around federal research funding and limited state increases. UNMC\u2019s approach involves strategic shifting or reallocating research infrastructure costs from federal indirect cost funds (F&A) to state-aided budgets to avoid disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barnes also addressed employee concerns around the salary freeze and increased workloads, acknowledging the frustration and hardship it presents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe absolutely recognize that salaries are top of mind for many,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cBut the alternative of funding raises by cutting positions was not acceptable. We chose to preserve jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She outlined the university\u2019s proactive approach to financial planning in the face of uncertainty at both the state and federal levels. Barnes said UNMC is strategically reallocating internal resources, particularly related to research infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMuch of our research infrastructure has historically been supported by federal F&A dollars,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cWith a possible cap on those funds being discussed in Washington, we\u2019ve shifted those costs to the state-aided budget to protect core operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership emphasized this is a temporary, proactive step and not a response to financial deficits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not cutting for survival,\u201d Dr. Davies said. \u201cWe\u2019re planning for sustainability and for growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paula Kohles, director of the UNMC Financial Aid Office, shared updates on significant changes to graduate student loan programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNMC\u2019s financial aid office is taking proactive steps, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n