Dear UB Community,
As you have read and heard, the budgetary news from Albany is bleaker than expected. Last week, the Governor’s office announced an additional 7 percent reduction beyond previous cuts enacted this spring. With serious concern, we expect UB’s state funding will be reduced as a result of this, although we do not, as yet, know the precise amount of this reduction. SUNY System Administration is working with the NYS Department of Budget to determine campus specific impact. As an immediate action, we must take the necessary steps to prepare for another budgetary reduction.
In response to these latest budgetary developments, I am forming a University-Wide Strategic Financial Management Advisory Group to offer perspectives from multiple points of view about this situation and its impact on UB. This group will give me and President Simpson, and all of our university’s senior leadership, thoughtful and strategic counsel regarding the best ways in which UB can deal with this distressing fiscal environment so that we, as a university, can emerge stronger. This committee will be comprised of faculty, professional staff, classified staff, and students. The outcome of their deliberations will be used to inform senior leadership’s thinking about how we can best manage and navigate through this difficult period.
As an immediate response to this budgetary situation, I have asked the deans and vice presidents to implement today a 45-day hiring and major purchasing moratorium (any expenditure exceeding $5,000). The hiring and purchasing “time-out” will preserve current degrees of financial freedom while we learn more about the specific actions called for by the Governor and SUNY and determine the campus approach we should take in response to this financial context. As soon as we have a fuller and more coherent picture of our budgetary situation, I will communicate that information to our university community.
Earlier this spring, when budgetary forecasts were projected as unfavorable, I wrote to our university community that as a result of our UB2020 transformation initiatives and the prudent and strategic use of our university resources, we are in a favorable position to respond to this situation. And, I still believe this. We have realized significant progress over the past years, and through continued mission-focused decision making we will move forward even in this fiscally challenging environment.
I want to thank you for your steadfastness especially during these uncertain times. I know you share our commitment to achieving our university’s vision of enduring academic excellence.
Sincerely,
Satish K. Tripathi
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Last Modified: Tuesday November 03 2009