The Division of Human Resources, in collaboration with the Faculty Contracts & Services Office and the Payroll Department, have developed guidelines and FAQs for the voluntary furlough program.Your employment office, Client Services or Faculty Contracts, will assist you with any questions you may have. In addition, you may submit your questions to hrpr@unm.edu
Do you have suggestions for addressing The University of New Mexico budget cuts? We are looking for BOTH cost savings and revenue generating suggestions. Students, faculty and staff are invited to share their creative suggestions and ask questions at budgetimpact@unm.edu.
Visit The Water Cooler and share your rumors with the rest of campus. We will address rumors as we hear them.
E-mail us with what you are hearing.
As the global economic crisis continues to affect New Mexico, President Schmidly has pledged to keep the UNM community informed about the impact on the University and its budget. This site offers the latest UNM budget updates and messages from the President, UNM community input and related communications from state government.
As we all know, we face a global economic crisis, one with consequences we will not be able to escape. I don’t think anyone knows how serious this is going to get, or how much it will impact us directly at the University of New Mexico. But one thing is certain: higher education will not be exempt from the effects of the economic conditions we are facing.
Many states, including this one, already have serious budget strains as state revenue from sales, corporate, and income taxes continue to nosedive in the struggling economy.
In New Mexico, the Governor recently confirmed that revenue for the ongoing 2009 budget year will be about $344 million lower than previous estimates, and $253 million less than FY 09 budgeted expenditures. State revenue has dropped primarily as a result of the drop in oil and gas prices. The Governor advised higher education institutions to develop a strategy for reducing next year’s budget.
Like other college presidents, I am deeply concerned about how all this will affect our students, our faculty members, our staff and alumni. Here at UNM, the economic crisis could affect our ability to raise funds, launch new initiatives, and maintain enrollment. Doubtless, we will be faced with declining revenues and increasing costs. Like most public universities, UNM relies to a considerable degree on tuition and fee revenues. Given the strains on family budgets, it may become more difficult for us to raise tuition and fees at rates sufficient to offset declines in state and federal funds. It is also possible that universities like ours with teaching hospitals could ultimately see a decline in Medicare and Medicaid revenues, regardless of how the election turns out.
My commitment is to move forward in a responsible and proactive manner. Most importantly, we will avoid haste, and instead, respond in a sound, reasoned and rational manner to what we have been asked to do by the Governor and the Legislature. UNM has demonstrated a proactive approach that represents a first step in that direction. Although our challenges are serious, we have come through the initial period of distress in good shape. Now we must move forward in a collaborative spirit to ensure our ability to weather the storm that may be headed our way.
David J. Schmidly,
President