UNK staff and faculty are remaining cautiously optimistic as the University faces potential budget cuts at both the state and federal levels.
Charlie Bicak, interim chancellor at UNK, said he remembers a history of unpredictability surrounding education during his formative years.
“I’m not sure that the level of uncertainty is dramatically greater than it has been in past eras,” Bicak said. “Granted, there is a spotlight on higher education in a way, not just at UNK or in Nebraska, (but) around the nation, that we haven’t seen in a long time. But I think for me, for us on this campus, it’s focusing on those things we do best and identifying those things we could do better in service to students.”
In an email update sent on Feb. 26, Jeffrey Gold, president of the Nebraska University system, said he testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee to request a 3.5% increase in state funding, following the state’s proposed 2.07% budget cut.
“Every large University system across the country is dealing with the federal stuff, but for us to be dealing with the state stuff and the federal stuff simultaneously creates a double-edged sword so to speak,” Gold said.
On April 8, the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee finalized its budget recommendation, which included a recommended 1.25% increase in the NU system’s state funding for the next biennium (two-year period).
Funding changes were introduced as President Donald J. Trump entered his second term of presidency, with the Trump Administration immediately taking action toward ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in universities across the country.
On Feb. 14, the Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to universities around the U.S., including the NU system. In an initiative to end DEI efforts in schools, the letter threatened to reduce federal funding for schools that did not comply with the department’s DEI stance by Feb. 28.
“I would say that although we’re common in that we’re all campuses within the same system, the NU system, one of the guiding principles at UNK, has long been access and success for all students,” Bicak said. “So in that regard, I think we have made a concerted, intentional effort to treat all students well and to provide them fairness for all.”
In 2008, Nebraska became one of the nine states in the United States to ban affirmative action. Since then, the NU system has not had any affirmative action programs in place.
Gold said they have taken the letter very seriously and are looking at policies, bylaws and procedures relating to DEI.
“I understand just the fact that we’re willing to change the language in some of these documents is one of concern to people,” Gold said. “They think that we’re changing our philosophical approach to our core mission of providing educational opportunities and creating social mobility through education. But rest assured, that mission is core, and unchanged and unwavering.”
Compliance with the “Dear Colleague” letter is not the only federal funding at risk. The National Institutes of Health announced it would cap its rate of indirect costs to 15% for all NIH grants.
While UNK is not a level one research university like UNL, the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education classified UNK as a research college and university in March. Areas of research at UNK, specifically within the health sciences area, may lose funding.
Kim Carlson, assistant vice chancellor of Research and Creative Activity, said that while funding for her research within the university has not yet been affected, she has other sources of funding she can utilize if necessary.
“With funding, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” Carlson said.
Bicak said the budget cap could cost UNK $400,000, which will limit the amount of money available for laboratory maintenance and equipment.
“There will be an impact if the course continues as has been set to this point,” Bicak said. “I think that we have a very creative faculty, however, and for a long time we have done undergraduate research here with remarkably limited federal funding and been successful.”
With possible federal and state funding cuts looming over the University system, Bicak said enrollment is vital, and maintaining and increasing it is important.
Undergraduate enrollment at UNK decreased by 11 students for the fall 2024 semester, from 4,224 to 4,213 students.
Kelly Bartling, vice chancellor of enrollment management and marketing, said enrollment plays a huge role in the financial success of UNK.
“It’s a complicated financial picture, but at the core of driving our business operation is enrollment,” Bartling said.
With programs such as theatre and philosophy eliminated in 2024 due to budget cuts, the number of programs UNK is able to promote has decreased.
“The more budget difficulty we have, the greater that limits our ability to invest in marketing,” Bartling said.
However, Bartling also said their marketing will have more impact if fewer programs are promoted.
UNK has also expanded resources for its popular programs such as pre-health in an effort to boost enrollment.
In 2015, UNK opened the Health Science Education Complex, and in 2026, the Rural Health Education Building will open for students. Programs such as the Kearney Law Opportunities Program and the Kearney Health Opportunities Program were also created in an effort to draw in students intending to practice in rural areas after graduation.
“The idea is that to me, it’s important to select those areas, to grow those areas, but not forget that the core of the campus also includes areas that we need to maintain because it’s the identity and definition of the campus,” Bicak said. “Notably, arts and humanities.”
UNK is a smaller, student-focused university, which Bartling said increases its ability to react quickly to changes.
“I think UNK will be able to adapt, even in greater ability than some other institutions,” Bartling said. “But still, it’s not an easy environment to be in right now.”
Bicak, who has come and gone from UNK throughout his career, said it is a great place and has a lot going for it.
“Despite all the uncertainty, the consternation, the concern, the angst, which all of that’s genuine, maybe I’m the eternal optimist,” Bicak said. “I’m still high on UNK.”
