Dear colleagues,
Earlier this year, I shared that the University may need to prepare for budget reductions due to reduced funding from the federal government. While we are fortunate to have stable state funding and support, about 17% of our funding comes from the federal government—8.8% for student financial aid and 8.5% for grants and contracts. Federal policy also impacts some of our additional revenue streams.
UTA leaders and I are advocating and collaborating with federal elected officials on the University’s mission, alongside higher education leaders across the United States. While these efforts have led to some positive outcomes, we still face funding reductions. We are seeing a marked decline in research grants, a pause on visa interviews for international students, a travel ban on students from some countries, and federal budget proposals that could impact financial aid, student support services, and research and development. The timing and impact of funding reductions vary across our University, with some units already experiencing the effects.
These circumstances make it important that we plan for decreased resources while maintaining academic excellence and supporting student success. We must take thoughtful steps to reduce costs in order to help the University remain strong and resilient. All of our decisions were informed by discussions with a range of University stakeholder groups, including our Faculty Senate leadership, deans, and vice presidents.
To preserve funds to support our mission and enable us to be responsive to future changes, we are implementing the following actions:
A pause on hiring and salary adjustments
The most significant measure is a temporary pause on staff hiring and salary adjustments, effective July 3, 2025, that will remain in effect until further notice. The Office of Talent, Culture, and Engagement (TCE) will deactivate all impacted job postings on internal and external recruiting sites, as well as any current openings that do not yet have a hiring proposal. The University will honor any job offers that already have been accepted, even if the start date is after July 3.
The pause in hiring does
not impact faculty or student positions, nor positions funded externally through grants, contracts, or auxiliary services. We have asked deans to revise their hiring proposals for full-time faculty recruitment and submit them to the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for appropriate financial oversight. In exceptional circumstances, TCE may consider a position waiver to the hiring freeze.
During this pause, TCE will not process e-forms that change employee salaries, although all non-salary changes will be processed as normal.
For more information, I encourage you to review the FAQ website that TCE has prepared.
Software purchase restrictions
Effective immediately, all new software purchases will require review and approval by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) using this new form. Only technology that demonstrably reduces costs and improves and optimizes our operational effectiveness and efficiency will receive approval. As part of this technology consolidation, OIT is leading a thorough assessment of our existing tools to identify and eliminate inefficient systems.
Faculty needing specialized software for teaching and research will not require OIT approval. But OIT will still review all teaching- and research-related software purchases to identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities
Centralized oversight of computing devices
OIT is working in phases to centralize and streamline management of all UTA employee computing devices, including purchasing, device replacement, inventory tracking, security configuration, and surplus management under a four-year refresh cycle. Centralizing these operations should realize significant technology cost savings.
Unit budget reductions
Moderate budget reductions in administrative and academic unit budgets will be implemented for the upcoming fiscal year. These budget adjustments will be communicated to unit leaders in the coming weeks.
Merit increase
The university will explore whether a merit will be possible once the fall semester begins.
I understand the impact these changes will have on our community. Additional cost-cutting measures could be necessary as we continue to monitor federal funding and other key factors. I asked our UTA leaders to prepare financial strategies and to engage in cost-saving measures where possible. I have also asked that we identify additional opportunities for shared services, both within UTA and with outside partners in the UT System.
Please consider this an invitation for all of our team members to bring forth your best ideas for areas where we can save money and optimize our operations alongside our core mission of ensuring student success and advancing knowledge through scholarship and creative work. I encourage you to share your thoughts by emailing cfo@uta.edu to help us navigate a changing funding landscape.
I know these decisions impact many dedicated teams across our University, and I want to explain the reasoning with transparency and respect. Your work on behalf of our students and our community is deeply appreciated. I have confidence that, working together, we will address the challenges before us.
Thank you for your understanding and your continued service to the University.
