LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Nebraska–Lincoln will reduce its budget by approximately $27.5 million by the end of the year to address a structural deficit and expected new funding cuts, Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett announced Monday.
Bennett said the move is part of a plan to streamline operations while maintaining UNL’s status as a comprehensive, Big Ten, land-grant research institution. He said the goal is to improve efficiency without compromising the university’s impact or future aspirations, including a potential return to the Association of American Universities.
“Our goal is for UNL to emerge from this process a more streamlined, efficient university,” Bennett said, “and continue its significant return of investment for the state of Nebraska and its taxpayers.”
The university has begun its formal budget reduction process, which involves consultation with the Academic Planning Committee. The committee is scheduled to meet this week to begin outlining the framework for cuts.
Bennett acknowledged the broad impact of the reductions, noting, “Many areas of the campus community will be impacted by this work, including the Office of the Chancellor.”