2025/26 Proposed Budget Process

Chancellor's letter to campus on December 9, 2025

Colleagues,

Each day I am inspired by the dedication and achievements of UNK’s faculty, staff and students. Together, we thrive as a connected community committed to strengthening Nebraska and beyond. At the same time, we are confronting a difficult challenge: addressing a $4.5 million structural deficit across the current biennium.

I know the weight of these changes is felt differently across our community, and I appreciate the care and resilience you continue to show. I am deeply grateful to all who contributed time, ideas and expertise throughout this process. Your involvement has helped us forge a collaborative path forward.

Our shared governance process is essential to making thoughtful decisions in this challenging time. From initial concepts to my attached recommendations, dialogue has been ongoing with administration, deans, department chairs, unit leaders, faculty, staff and students. The Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) and Business Advisory Committee (BAC) engaged similarly – examining data and seeking feedback on the potential impact of proposed reductions.

As promised, today I share my draft recommendations by email and during a campus forum at 3 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room of the Nebraskan Student Union. In addition, I have attached the final reports of the FAC and BAC, which played a central role in shaping these recommendations.

Moving forward, your feedback truly matters as we finalize recommendations.

You may provide in-person feedback to me, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Julie Shaffer, Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Scott Benson from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, in the Antelope Room of the Nebraskan Student Union.

Thank you and warm regards,

Dr. Neal H. Schnoor
Chancellor