Campus Budget
Chancellor's Introduction
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October 23, 2008
TO: UMass Amherst Faculty, Staff and Students
Over the last few weeks, there has been a great deal of focus on the global economic crisis, and the effect it will have on all of us personally, and on the university community as a whole. In times of crisis, there is much speculation and misinformation. There is no shortage of concern, or even pessimism, and there have been many viewpoints shared about how we as an institution will weather this storm.
The facts are clear: the state has reduced the UMass Amherst budget by more than $11 million this fiscal year, and future cuts are very possible. This year, we can take these reductions largely in one-time cuts. Next year, however, the budget reduction will require even more difficult choices. This is the reality, but it is not reason to forget who we are, and why that matters.
Today, I want to engage the entire campus community in developing plans to best deal with these trying circumstances while not losing focus on our goal of becoming one of our nation’s best public research universities. As a new chancellor, I am emboldened by our campus community and its spirit. I take great comfort in your loyalty and dedication to UMass Amherst. You have pledged to join in our efforts to build an even better university, and now, more than ever, we need your commitment.
Our university was established in 1863, and it will continue well beyond our time here. We have a great faculty that is the strength of our institution, the best students in our history and a chance, together, to be even better when the storm clouds eventually clear. We can, and we must, meet the challenges that face us and focus on our goal of leaving this fine institution better than it is today. We have the potential, and even the obligation, to aim higher.
To ensure that we deal with these challenges effectively, our administration will continue to work closely with the entire campus community to gain your support and trust for our efforts. I meet regularly with our student leadership, and will seek their participation in these important discussions. I also meet regularly with the Faculty Senate, and consider them a partner in this effort. Through the Faculty Senate, I want to engage our entire faculty in our planning. To that end, I've asked Professor Ernie May, Secretary of the Faculty Senate, to nominate eight to 10 faculty members to serve on a special Budget Planning Task Force with university administrators. This group, to be formed immediately, will serve as an advisory board to me, and will provide thoughts and input on how to weather our current storm and position ourselves going forward.
Beyond this, I believe it is critical to give a voice to all members of our university community. To ensure this opportunity, we have created this Web page. On the site, you will find a link to an e-mail at budgetcomments@chancellor.umass.edu, and I encourage you to use this to share your thoughts, issues and aspirations for our university.
Also on this website, you'll find messages from me, and from Provost Charlena Seymour outlining our response to date to the budget reductions. You also will find a document outlining my thoughts on our budget process and a description of the basic parameters for building a university budget. It is my hope that this information will add clarity and accuracy to our discussions, and remove some of the misconceptions.
I am committed to an open and transparent process to face the challenges ahead, and through regular communications, the website, e-mail communications and creation of this special task force, we will create many opportunities for all members of our community to contribute to this important discussion, even as they continue to focus on their learning and work at this great university.
These are, indeed, challenging times. But I do believe our community has the ability to emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. I ask you to join me in this worthy and noble endeavor.
Thank you,
Robert C. Holub
Chancellor
