Content
Members Present: Bradshaw, Button, Clarke, Combs, Cressler, Davis, Eklund, Gay, Hanrahan, Heng-Moss, Jemkur, Mueller, Nelson, Sharif, Thomas, Tschetter, Van Den Wymelenberg, Wilkins, Brophy, Harner
Note: These are not verbatim minutes. This is a summary of the discussions at the Academic Planning Committee meeting as corrected by those participating.
1.0 Call
Cressler called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m.
2.0 Approval of August 6, 2025 Minutes
Cressler asked if there were any revisions to the minutes. Van Den Wymelenberg asked for clarification on the $6.2 million that was being added to our structural deficit. Davis stated that it is a combination of the estimation of our portion of the system structural deficit and a loss of tuition revenue. The APC approved the minutes after this revision was made.
3.0 Election of Vice Chair
Cressler asked if any of the faculty members were willing to serve as Vice Chair this year, noting that the person would become chair the following year. Since no one volunteered, the agenda item was tabled until the next meeting.
4.0 Committee Members Needed
- Long-Range Planning Committee – the vice chair will serve on the committee. Davis, Van Den Wymelenberg, Gay, Wilkins, Bradshaw, Heng-Moss
- Project Initiation Request Committee – Davis, McLean, Sharif
- University-Wide Aesthetics Review Committee – Gay
- University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee - Thomas
5.0 Budget Reduction Process
5.1 Budget Framework
The APC focused on the university's strategic vision, structural deficit, and budget reduction plan. UNL emphasized the university's commitment to being unparalleled in access, opportunity, and innovation, aligning with the NU system's goals. They discussed the structural deficit, highlighting revenue and expense challenges, and presented metrics for assessing academic programs' performance. The analysis included instructional and research metrics, with programs in the lower tier receiving additional scrutiny. UNL explained the justifications for proposed budget reductions, eliminations, realignments, and reorganizations, emphasizing alignment with APC criteria and strategic priorities. The conversation ended with a brief overview of the proposed department budget reductions based on performance metrics.
Davis noted that the APC would need to provide its feedback on the proposed budget reductions to the Chancellor by September 5. He stated that the budget reduction website would be available tomorrow and an article in Nebraska Today will direct people to that website. He stated that the budget reduction plan would be made public sometime during the week of September 8. Button stressed the need for strict confidentiality until the budget reduction plan is made public.
The APC then focused on budget cuts and academic program reductions at the university. Button and Davis discussed the challenges of breaking the cycle of budget cuts, acknowledging that while current actions may reduce the structural deficit, there are many unknowns such as enrollment growth and research funding. They emphasized the need to diversify revenue streams and work with state leaders to address unfunded state remissions. The group also discussed the VSIP program. Questions were raised about the difference between program and department eliminations, with Button explaining that while the terms are largely synonymous in the context of budget reviews; some areas identified for elimination may have opportunities for faculty to transfer to other areas of the university.
The meeting adjourned at 4:52 p.m. The next meeting of the APC will be on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. The minutes are respectfully submitted by Karen Griffin, Coordinator.