UNO Budget Update

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, shared the following message with UNO faculty and staff:

When I accepted the role of chancellor four years ago, it was at the height of a global pandemic. In that uncertain and trying time I saw the strength of this university in you, our faculty, and staff. Since that day we've grown through every challenge because of you. And now, we face another defining moment together.

President Gold recently shared that the University of Nebraska System must make more than $20 million in budget reductions. Each campus, including UNO, will have to make decisions that address this.

Let me be clear: We are prepared for this challenge.

Our campus has spent the past year doing the hard work of aligning our budget with our university priorities and planning for financial sustainability amid an uncertain fiscal environment. Because of that work, our deficit is manageable.

We are positioned to once again to grow through this challenge because we are built differently than many of our peers:

We have unique academic programs that are magnets for students across the state and around the world. We retain our learners through meaningful, tailored support. Our research is practical, solves problems, attracts funding, and positively impacts our community. Our service learning and community engagement efforts have established deep roots in Omaha that proves our value, impacts lives, and creates advocates for our institution every day. Our Omaha Athletics teams inspire our competitive edge and unite the Omaha community around our university.

Remember as we move forward in this next phase of navigating this difficult budget environment that our students are our purpose. I am immensely proud that they are supported by faculty and staff who don’t flinch from challenging moments like this, but meet them with courage, clarity, and care.

I want to thank President Gold for his leadership and stewardship of the resources that sustain this university system. His commitment to students and Nebraska taxpayers reflects the responsibility we all share.

We will continue to make smart, strategic choices in a transparent manner that strengthens our university for the benefit of our community and will communicate with you throughout this process.

With gratitude for everything you do,

Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA

Chancellor