UNM Budget Summit Concludes

UNM administrators, students, faculty and staff met today in the UNM Student Union Building, Ballroom C to discuss the university budget. The budget, which goes into effect on July 1, 2008, has been partially formed by the result of the 2008 legislative session. That session sets parameters for future student tuition increases, and for faculty and staff salary increases.

This year lawmakers approved a budget, which takes credit for a 2 percent tuition increase. That means the university’s appropriation was passed with the assumption that student tuition would go up at least 2 percent.

The legislative appropriation also assumes a 2 percent increase for faculty and staff salaries. Regents may give that increase or may give a higher increase. But higher increases would have to come from a larger tuition increase. That is the dilemma UNM administrators will discuss on Feb. 29. Anyone who cannot attend the summit can listen to it via a live web cast. The link to the web cast will be available at UNM Budget Summit.

There will also be an opportunity for student, staff and faculty groups to address the administration and regents. The actual vote on the university budget is scheduled for the regular meeting of the Board of Regents on March 12.

Media Contact: Susan McKinsey, (505) 277-1889; e-mail: mckinsey@unm.edu