University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen on Monday outlined proposed budget cuts that exceed $3.4 million and affect 38 positions across nearly every campus unit.
Men’s baseball, golf and tennis will be eliminated. Position eliminations comprise 16 faculty, 2.5 administrative, and 16.5 staff positions. Three affected staff positions will shift to the University of Nebraska system as part of the budget response team process.
“The magnitude of these cuts is unprecedented, considering they represent a nearly 5 percent reduction in UNK’s operating budget and employee workforce,” Kristensen said.
UNK’s budget gap of $3.4 million is the result of decreased state appropriations, declining credit hour production and scheduled salary and benefit increases.
“The fact that we developed these recommendations collaboratively across campus doesn’t lessen the negative impact on faculty, staff and students, and for Nebraskans,” Kristensen said. “We have tightened our belts for years, but the current situation has required a more strategic approach to protect academic quality and core campus functions and services.”
The budget reductions were presented to a forum of faculty, staff and students on campus Monday. The administration will now receive feedback from faculty and staff to formulate final budget reductions that will become effective July 1.