This is the last of a series on the financial analysis of the NU System. Go to the previous post.
In our continuing analysis of the UNL budget, we’ll be looking at this document, the General Operations Budget for the University of Nebraska. As we learned from Bonnie Garrity, the University System is in fine financial shape and while there are lots of restricted funds, there is also plenty of unrestricted funding and a positive cash flow. Let’s dive right in.
On page 391, there is a line in the University of Nebraska General Operating Budget (minus ITS) for the Nebraska Research Initiative. Has anyone ever heard of it? It has a budget of $11.3 million. Does anyone conduct research at Varner Hall? Not that we know of. With a 0 FTE associated with this line, it isn’t going to salaries. Now that the “Grand Challenges” are dead, what is this money exactly, and where is it going?
On page 392 appears “Budget Response Team Savings” at $1.44 million with 0 FTE. On the same page, the Vice President of Business and Finance also has an FTE of 0 and a budget of $1.62 million. General Operations has 0 FTE listed and a $2 million dollar budget. What is this money and where is it going?
There are more curiosities: “President’s Initiatives,” $1.5 million, 0 FTE (p. 393); “Intercampus Development fund,” $1.97 million (p. 394). What are these initiatives and developments? If you know, please share it with us! What is “IT and Enterprise System Investment” (p. 394) doing with $5.1 million and 0 FTE? “Programs of Excellence?”That line has $3.13 million dollars and–you guessed it–0 FTE.
Those lines in the System budget total over $28 million. More than enough to cover the so-called $27.5 million dollar hole in the UNL budget. This looks much like a transfer of money from the flagship university, or as a billboard at the Waverly exit on I-80 is currently proclaiming, “YOUR BIG 10 UNIVERSITY,” to the central office for reasons unknown. Even if only some of this money is truly discretionary, surely it is enough not to cut academic programs with tenured faculty, plenty of students, and strong research productivity. Is President Gold is undermining the mission of UNL as the flagship, land grant, R1, Big 10 university? If so, to what ends?
Looking for a different post on the financial report?
- AAUP Financial Analysis Part 1: Introduction
- AAUP Financial Analysis Part 2: Overall Financial Strength of the University of Nebraska System
- AAUP Financial Analysis Part 3: What about UNL?
- AAUP Financial Analysis Part 4: Expenses
- AAUP Financial Analysis Part 5: Instructional Investment
- AAUP Financial Analysis Part 6: Where is the Money Going?
- AAUP Financial Analysis Part 7: NU Bond Rating
- Has Anyone Checked the Couch Cushions at Varner Hall?
