LINCOLN- On Thursday, UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett announced that the university had finalized a slew of budget cuts equating to $12 million to help close the $23 million structural deficit created by dwindling enrollment and increased costs. The university had previously enacted nearly $11 million in budget cuts in June.

The newly-authorized budget cuts trim areas related to instruction and operations, and also reduces the budget of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. "This is an essential step to remain good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by the people of Nebraska," Bennett said in an email to UNL faculty and staff.

However, the Academic Planning Committee, which reviews budget-related proposals put forward by UNL officials, argued against two of the recommended cuts. Firstly, the APC advised against cutting nearly $800,000 from the university's budget for diversity and inclusion programs, citing comments received from nearly 100 people. The APC also took issue with a proposal that would have cut $2 million from programs relating to instructional efficiency, which help graduate teaching assistants.

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