Additionally, the memo calls for a reduction in spending on travel, membership dues, technology upgrades and equipment purchases. It asks agencies to prepare for reductions in appropriations over coming biennium. It also outlines several strategies for agencies to implement to realize savings, including setting rates and assessments that cover the costs of services. Also, please note that the University manages its own position control process and further instructions regarding hiring will be forthcoming.
I want to be clear: What the governor’s office is asking of us is significant. This new reduction in the current year’s budget represents more than $36 million across the NU System. This new requirement comes a little over two months since the legislature adjourned and just weeks after our Board of Regents approved the final 2026-27 state-aided budget, which already includes an $8 million annual reduction in spending. Over the past biennium—and many years before that—we have navigated budget reductions every year, and you—our faculty and staff—have responded with creativity, resilience and an unwavering commitment to our students, your professions and the communities we serve and that depend on us every day. I am deeply grateful for all you have done.
At the same time, I believe it is important to acknowledge that there are limits to what can be achieved through continued reductions. We cannot cut our way to extraordinary, nor can we fully realize our mission of exceptional teaching, research and statewide engagement if we are operating in a constant cycle of cuts and related restrictions, without the ability to predict even a single year of stability.
The University is currently working with the governor’s office regarding expectations for our institution in fulfilling these measures, while at the same time upholding our mission. We have engaged the budget and fiscal teams from the system and each of our campuses so they can begin to strategize about next steps to implement these changes. We will share more guidance as we gain clarity on the expectations for the university in meeting these goals.
I truly appreciate all that you do, and I am especially grateful for your patience as we work through this process together. As always, we will approach these decisions transparently and always do so with care, keeping our mission, our people and the communities we serve at the heart of every decision we make.
Sincerely,
