July 24, 2025
Dear Faculty and Staff,
Each summer, I look forward to traveling the state of Nebraska, visiting many of our communities and meeting with local leaders, students, alumni and donors who care deeply about our state and about our university. On July 10, I had a wonderful visit in Norfolk, and this week, I'm on the road again—visiting communities from Peru to Scottsbluff.
These visits are important and inspiring, as each of our stakeholders has a distinct vision for the University of Nebraska’s future. Trips like these are opportunities for us to better understand what Nebraskans want and need from their land-grant university system — and how those needs continue to evolve. They also provide us a chance to share our vision and receive important feedback for the university and our state.
This year's tour comes as we work to address real challenges. Our state appropriation — which brings with it a modest .625% increase in funding — does not keep pace with rising costs. A proposed federal cap reducing payment by 70% on facilities and administration presents real challenges to maintaining our research facilities and the critical staff who keep them running. Unfunded tuition waivers mandated by the legislature have resulted in an additional $8 to $10 million in lost tuition support. And these are but a small fraction of the reduction to our annual federal competitive research awards.
All told, we will need to trim well over $20 million from our systemwide budget and reallocate even more to account for these and other known financial pressures. These reductions are in addition to the structural deficits at UNK, UNL and UNO that must still be addressed, in addition to a recent discontinuation in annual federal funding; including funding for programming that has been carried out by Nebraska Extension professionals across the state for decades. Just last week, UNMC announced a 4% across-the-board cut for its colleges, centers and institutes due to projected federal research funding reductions. Other campuses will share their approaches soon.
During my tours across the state, I’m continually asked by hardworking Nebraskans how they can help their university through these trying times. My challenge to them has been to share widely — and as many times as possible — how the university has enriched their lives. To explain how their college experience led to a fulfilling career. To explain how university healthcare professionals saved or dramatically improved the quality of life of a loved one. To explain how an Extension program made their farm safer and more successful for future generations of farmers and ranchers.
And I ask the same of you. What you do is so important, and I see it every day. Let's make sure others do, too.
Throughout these coming months, our strategic plan — with its five foundational pillars — will serve as our North Star. It will ensure our decisions align with our values and vision as Nebraska's public land-grant university system. I, along with our chancellors and vice presidents, will soon share details about how the University of Nebraska will address our financial pressures, lay the foundation for a balanced budget and invest in key strategic areas that serve our communities, state and country. We will continue to focus on growth, and at the same time, identify ways to maintain access, affordability and our high-quality academic programs.
What the University of Nebraska looks like will continue to evolve. But our commitment to serve the people of Nebraska with quality higher education, cutting-edge research and discovery and meaningful statewide engagement will not change.
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your university president.
Sincerely,
