What lies ahead for UNI?

As I'm sure you've heard, the outlook for fiscal year 2012 is bleak. Based on budget targets established in the Iowa House of Representatives, and on previous appropriation trends, we expect UNI's proposed budget cut for fiscal 2012 to be $8.3 million.

If this comes to pass, there will be fewer full-time faculty with more classes taught by adjunct professors. Fewer courses will be offered, resulting in larger classes. Academic programs and courses will be eliminated. Time to graduation will be lengthened and student debt increased. Reductions in campus employment and internships, student services, access to state-of-the-art technology and library resources will negatively impact student learning.

What can we do? As President Allen said earlier this month, now more than ever, it's important for us to share the value this institution brings to the state -- to tell UNI's story.

I recently testified before the Joint Education Appropriations Subcommittee. That testimony can be found online at http://www.uni.edu/president/budget.

I encourage you to read it as it provides more background about the budget situation, and provides important information about UNI to share.

Also posted online is the latest Legislative Update from Joe Murphy, UNI's state relations officer. Joe's update provides additional information. See http://weblogs.uni.edu/govrel/.

I encourage you to read this information and share it widely. If you wish to contact your elected officials, please remember that state employees should not use state resources or work time to correspond with elected officials. See http://www.uni.edu/policies/1009.

I'll have more information as it becomes available.

Gloria Gibson
Interim President