Nebraska’s Board of Regents approved a myriad of new proposals at their Thursday meeting, including the 2023-24 operating budget.
The budget was the primary focus of the meeting, with President Ted Carter and Chris Kabourek, vice president for business and finance, providing an opportunity for the university to not only close a $58 million budget shortfall, but reshape the college and have UNL rejoin the Association of American Universities. The flagship was removed from the organization in 2011.
One of the first items the NU system will put into place is a hiring freeze on non-faculty positions, and a “hard freeze” on new administrative hires. Any staff hires will now require chancellor approval.
Tuition at all NU institutions will also increase by 3.5% starting next year. In-state UNK students will see a $7 increase to their credit hour cost, which equates to about $210 more for a full course load. UNO students will pay $8 more per credit hour, and UNL students will pay $9 more per credit hour. UNMC students will also pay 3.5% more, but costs vary across academic programs.
Regents also approved hiring Rodney Bennett as the next chancellor of UNL. Bennett was previously president of the University of Southern Mississippi for the past decade. Bennett will be paid $720,000 in base salary, plus a deferred compensation package.
UNK’s College of Arts and Sciences will officially have a new leader with the appointment of Paul Twigg as Dean. Twigg has served as interim dean since September 2022, and was selected in May to lead the college. His appointment begins July 1.
President Ted Carter was also given expanded access to the oversight and planning for Husker Athletics. President Carter will now assume UNL’s seat on the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, which is the board that oversees the policies, budget, operations and commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.
The next Board of Regents meeting will be held on August 17 in Lincoln. You can view the video of the June meeting here.
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