The Academic Planning Committee has scheduled a series of public hearings to gather feedback on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s $22.56 million in proposed Phase 2 budget reductions.
The budget reduction plan was announced by Chancellor Ronnie Green on Sept. 3. It is part of a larger plan to address a $38.2 million shortfall through 2023.
All hearings are at 3 p.m. and, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held virtually via Zoom video conferencing. Meeting details, including links to attend, will be announced in Nebraska Today and the budget reduction website. All hearings are open to students, faculty, staff and the public.
Hearing dates, proposed reductions to be discussed and the registration deadlines are:
Oct. 7
Topic: Elimination of the undergraduate dance program in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts’ Glenn Korff School of Music
Registration deadline: Noon, Oct. 5
Oct. 14
Topic: Elimination of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design in the College of Education and Human Sciences
Registration deadline: Noon, Oct. 12
Oct. 21
Topic: General hearing on any proposed Phase 2 budget reduction, including elimination of the Masters in Athletics Administration in the College of Business, and the duplicative hospitality, restaurant and tourism management program in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources — the broader hospitality , restaurant and tourism management program in the College of Education and Human Sciences is not included in this proposed reduction.
Registration deadline: Noon, Oct. 19
Testimony in response to the proposed reductions can be filed live during a hearing or in writing.
To provide testimony during a hearing, individuals must register an intent to appear. The notice is non-binding and any individual or unit that expresses an intent to appear may decline. Individuals will be given five minutes to speak.
Details on how to register an intent to appear are available here.
Written responses to proposed budget reductions, which are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 2, are also welcomed by the Academic Planning Committee.
All written responses should include:
The item that is being addressed;
Name, email and phone number of the individual(s), department or unit head submitting the response; and
Be limited to a maximum of two pages.
Written responses should be directed to the Academic Planning Committee, c/o Karen Griffin, coordinator of faculty governance, at apc@unl.edu. They can also be mailed to Griffin at 135 Alexander Building, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0471.
Guidance on how to testify that a reduction, elimination or reorganization is inadvisable is available in Section V, Criteria of the Procedures to be Invoked for Significant Budget Reallocations and Reductions.The guidance is useful for testimony provided live during a hearing or via written response.
