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Does UNO yet know how much our budget reduction will be?
UNO had a permanent reduction of $2.7 million for Fall 2022 that we are currently addressing. There are also temporary challenges related to remissions and enrollment. Beyond that, the UNO campus has not yet received a specific dollar amount that we will be asked to cut as part of the University of Nebraska System’s overall $58M deficit in this biennium. We have not yet been given a timeframe in which UNO’s specific dollar amount reduction will be determined.
Which units at UNO are being asked to provide documentation into the NU System’s Zero Based Budget (ZBB) process by December 1?
Pathway 1. As President Carter noted in Summer 2023, all units except the academic colleges will participate in a modified zero-based budget exercise in which every expenditure for FY2024-25 will be analyzed, and units will justify the need and impact of each line item. There are 175 areas at UNO that are required to submit reports. These areas fall within 16 major units that have been flagged to participate in a “pathway 1” inventory, including:
- The Office of the Chancellor
- UNO Athletics
- Business and Finance
- The Division of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success
- Compliance
- Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI)
- The Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives
- The Division of Student Life and Wellbeing
- Academic Affairs
- Criss Library
- The Office of Graduate Studies
- The Division of Continuing Studies
- The Office of Research and Creative Activity
- Government Relations
- The Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- The Office of Engagement
Pathway 2. As President Carter also noted in Summer 2023, a report is being prepared on all functions performed by another unit which are also provided by a University-wide or Campus-wide office. In cases where decentralized or distributed services exist, units are being asked to provide a written explanation regarding (1) why the localized function is needed and (2) real or perceived deficiencies in University-wide or Campus-wide services. This is referred to as “Pathway 2.” Pathway 2 asks units to detail how their staff and operations are decentralized or distributed across five strategic areas identified by the NU System, including IT, Administrative/Business, Advising/Career/Student Services, Facilities, and PR/Communications.
How will UNO work to ensure that faculty, staff, and students are all included in the budget-related inquiry and decision-making processes?
UNO is committed to a transparent process that is inclusive of faculty, staff, and students. UNO recently announced this framework, which clusters twenty-three budget-related tasks into three overarching themes: academic vitality led by SVC Dr. Phil He, institution-wide budget analysis led by VC Carol Kirchner, and communication/planning led by Interim Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Victoria Kohout.
There will be ongoing communication through in-person and digital channels as more information becomes available and to solicit input. If you have questions, contact your immediate supervisor as well as your constituency group representatives. In addition, please continue to check the Strategic Budget Response website for updated FAQ’s and new information. Additional questions may be sent to budget-challenges@unomaha.edu.
President Carter is leaving after December. How does this impact this process?
The $58 million deficit is a reality regardless of President Carter’s departure from the University. The university is committed to a process that is not dependent on an individual.