Feb. 2026 Townhall Follow-up

Thank you to the faculty and staff who joined us in person or via livestream for the University Town Hall held on February 6. Your engagement and thoughtful attention to the conversation are deeply appreciated.

The meeting focused on enrollment and revenue performance for the current fiscal year, as well as planning for the year ahead. We highlighted several recent successes, including new federal grant funding of nearly $3M this fiscal year and improved student retention. We continue to face headwinds with the enrollment cliff, changing attitudes towards higher education, and changes coming out of the federal administration. The University is currently meeting our FY26 budget goals, while planning for further enrollment challenges and the continued goal of eliminating the deficit established in 2022. 

We also reviewed the FY27 budget development timeline, which remains on track. The University Budget Committee will continue its work through March, with departments and units developing budget plans through April. Final review and approval by the Board of Trustees is anticipated in May 2026.

The FY27 budget planning includes a continuation of reductions started in FY26 as part of the FY26-FY28 budget plan. The impacts of that planning have already begun and will continue through May. Conversations with impacted areas will occur first, then campus-wide communication will follow via a Town Hall in early April.

Faculty and staff with questions or who would like to discuss the information shared at the Town Hall are encouraged to connect with their Vice President. Continued dialogue and collaboration will be essential as we plan for the year ahead.

Sincerely,

SLT