Is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) prioritizing administrators over educators? A recent study suggests a concerning trend: potential teaching job cuts coinciding with a substantial surge in non-teaching salaries. This has sparked outrage among faculty and ignited a debate over the university's true priorities, just as the University of Nebraska Board of Regents prepares for its crucial December meeting.
At the heart of the controversy is Chancellor Rodney Bennett's proposed budget reduction of $27.5 million. While budget cuts are never easy, the way these cuts are being implemented is raising serious questions. UNL faculty, armed with a detailed, 50-page analysis conducted in collaboration with an independent financial analyst from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), are demanding greater transparency and a re-evaluation of the proposed changes. This analysis paints a picture that many find surprising: UNL is actually in a strong financial position, ranking within the top 8% of higher education institutions nationwide for financial health. Furthermore, state budget appropriations to the university have increased in recent years. So, where is the money going, and why the need for such drastic cuts to instruction?
But here's where it gets controversial... The study reveals a stark imbalance: the instructional budget, which directly impacts students and teaching staff, accounts for only about 20% of the university's total budget. Yet, it's slated to absorb nearly 70% of the proposed budget cuts. Dr. Bonnie Fox Garrity, AAUP financial analyst and a Business professor at D’Youville University, minced no words: "It appears that the administration is doubling-down on the recent history of deprioritizing instruction and the students at the institution. And it is time to defend that instruction and resist cuts that would undermine the educational mission.”
And this is the part most people miss... The analysis goes on to highlight other unsettling shifts within the university's financial structure. The number of full-time instructional employees has decreased by almost 8%, while the number of non-instructional staff has grown by nearly the same percentage. Even more striking, instructional salaries have increased by only 4.5%, while non-teaching staff salaries have skyrocketed by almost 32%! Imagine the impact on morale when professors, dedicated to shaping young minds, see their colleagues in administrative roles receiving significantly larger pay increases during a time of budget cuts.
Professors at UNL are understandably concerned, viewing this as a clear indicator of the university's shifting priorities. The uncertainty surrounding future budget decisions is also creating a climate of unease, even among faculty and departments not currently targeted for cuts. Kelsy Burke, a professor in the Sociology Department, voiced a common concern: "Because the metrics are unclear to us, we don’t know to what extent our programs might be targeted in the future. And that unstable ground for the future of the university is one that I think is really harmful.” This lack of transparency breeds anxiety and makes long-term planning incredibly difficult.
This situation at UNL raises some fundamental questions about the direction of higher education. Is the focus shifting away from teaching and research towards administrative bloat? Are universities becoming more like corporations, prioritizing efficiency and cost-cutting over the quality of education? Some may argue that these administrative roles are vital for the efficient functioning of the university and that increased salaries are necessary to attract and retain top talent. Others will undoubtedly contend that the core mission of a university is to provide high-quality education and that any budget decisions should prioritize the needs of students and faculty. What do you think? Should universities prioritize instruction even if it means limiting administrative growth? Is a balance possible, or are these competing interests inherently at odds? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
