In an effort to lay a solid foundation for the future and position our institution for growth, the ¿ì²¥µ¼º½ must align its expenses with its expected revenues for the upcoming fiscal year. Our financial goal is to protect our mission as a student-centered research university and to invest in areas aligned with the UNO 2030 plan, while reducing other activities.
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The ¿ì²¥µ¼º½â€™s approximately $100M operating budget needs to be reduced by 15% to about $85M by the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The ¿ì²¥µ¼º½ has been facing a growing budget deficit, driven by declining enrollment and rising operational costs. To address these challenges, we have already implemented measures such as a hiring and spending freeze, administrative restructuring, and cost-saving strategies. Despite these efforts, employee furloughs and anticipated layoffs are necessary to ensure UNO's long-term financial stability and its ability to continue providing high-quality education and research. These difficult decisions are essential to protect UNO's core academic mission and secure its future.
Over the past months, UNO leadership has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing the financial deficit:
• We implemented a hiring freeze and spending freeze.
• Eliminated a number of unfilled positions.
• Reduced the number of administrators and reduced the amount of administrative expenses.
• Shrunk the campus’ physical footprint to reduce utility and maintenance expenses.
• We actively sought new revenue sources, including state, federal and foundation grants and collaborations with local businesses and organizations.
The decision to implement furloughs and anticipated layoffs followed a thorough evaluation of the university’s financial position. We determined that these measures are the most effective way to secure the university’s future. The decisions were made with a focus on minimizing the impact on students while ensuring UNO's continued ability to fulfill its educational and research mission.
UNO is committed to securing long-term financial stability. Our key priorities include:
• Strengthening recruitment and retention strategies to grow enrollment and revenue.
• Streamlining operations and reallocating resources to high-priority academic programs.
• Actively pursuing new funding sources, including private sector partnerships, grants, and alumni engagement.
• Continuing to invest in academic programs that align with workforce needs and contribute to the region’s economic growth. These strategies, combined with ongoing financial monitoring, will help ensure UNO remains resilient and sustainable in the future.
We deeply understand the impact these decisions have on our faculty and staff. To support affected employees, UNO is providing:
• Job placement assistance to help with the transition to new opportunities.
• Access to counseling and mental health services to support emotional well-being.
• Guidance on unemployment benefits and other available assistance programs.
Our goal is to make this process as supportive as possible for those impacted.
Our primary focus remains on minimizing the impact on students. While these measures are necessary for the university’s financial health, we are committed to maintaining the high-quality education that UNO is known for. Academic programs, student services and support systems will continue without disruption, and we will ensure that students’ academic progress is not hindered. We are confident that these difficult decisions will allow UNO to continue offering excellent education while positioning the university for a more sustainable future.
UNO is committed to its role in the New Orleans community. Despite financial challenges, we continue to provide high-quality education, conduct groundbreaking research, and engage in community-driven initiatives that support the city’s economic and cultural vibrancy. Our efforts to foster workforce development, innovation, and regional prosperity remain a priority. We are working to expand partnerships with local businesses and organizations to meet the community’s needs and strengthen UNO’s connection to New Orleans.
