UNK announces position eliminations in first budget reductions

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) -

The University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen announced today the elimination of 15 positions in an effort to meet a $2.8 million budget cut outlined and affirmed today by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

The positions in total represent $800,000 in state-funded salary and benefit savings, and not all are full-time or currently filled. The eliminations include five employees currently filling those positions who were notified this week of their termination in units across campus. In addition, 10 unfilled positions – or “open” lines – were eliminated.

The university will provide 90 days’ notice to the full-time employees. Under policy, they will have the opportunity to be placed in jobs that may open, for which they are qualified.

The budget reduction measures are part of a $43 million shortfall announced last week by NU President Ted Carter and are attributed to anticipated decreases in state aid and tuition revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-year budget, approved today, supports Carter’s programs on affordability and access for Nebraska students, limits spending growth to basic operations, and creates long-term opportunities to invest in campus and system-wide priorities like student success, faculty salaries, diversity and inclusion, and facility maintenance.