LINCOLN- In order to cut around $10.8 million from its budget before the next fiscal year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln plans to eliminate vacant positions, move employees to alternative funding sources, and reduce administrative salary costs. The changes being implemented were previously recommended by Chancellor Ronnie Green, who sought to fix the University's $23.2 million budget deficit that was caused by enrollment losses over the past two years. The changes were given to UNL's Academic Planning Committee last week for review.

"I know that any budget reductions are difficult and often stretch existing resources," Green said in an email to UNL faculty, students, and staff, "But we cannot simply cover budget shortfalls with cash reserves on a temporary basis." Some of the proposed budget cuts include $7.3 million from the Executive Vice Chancellor's budget, $2.9 million from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and $225,776 from the Office of the Chancellor, among others.

According to a memo sent to the Academic Planning Committee, a majority of the proposed cuts would simply eliminate unfilled jobs within UNL's various academic units, but also indicates that some current staff positions may not be renewed in the upcoming year. Some employees who are currently funded by UNL's state-aided budget, which is funded through state appropriations and tuition revenue, will be moved to alternative funding sources like private donations or grant dollars.

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