UConn Officials Outline "Devastating" Cuts in New State Budget

STORRS, CT — University of Connecticut officials on Tuesday released more details on what the institutional budgets might look like of the state budget passed over the weekend stands.

President Susan Herbst on Saturday called the budget "appalling" and called on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to stay with a predicted veto.

The debate and voting over a $40.7 billion two-year state budget began Friday night and spilled into Saturday morning.

UConn officials said the fiscal year 2018 budget has a bottom line of $388,561,273 for the university, but the new state budget trims $75,895,775 off that, or 20 percent. UConn Health would lose $48,743,108, or 21 percent with the new budget.

With the same bottom lines the following year, the reductions would be 28 and 32 percent, respectively, UConn officials said.

In all, the state budget slashes $308,827,301 from UConn over two years, school officials said.

"That level of cut is unprecedented and would be devastating for UConn, higher education in Connecticut, and the state as a whole," UConn President Susan Herbst said. "This would simply decimate the university."

Herbst included a "partial list" of what the budget approved by legislators would mean for UConn:

• The closure of regional campuses and multiple academic departments and potentially even schools and colleges
• The closure of UConn Health, or "large parts of it"
• Elimination of "scores of majors and graduate programs"
• "Dramatically larger" classes and waiting lists "that will make it challenging for many students to graduate in four years"
• Major reductions to need- and merit-based financial aid for students across the board;
• "Devastating cuts" to scientific and medical research programs
• Reduction of UConn police and fire services as well as the elimination of most student health and mental health services, and other student support programs
• Elimination of many Division I Athletics programs
• Elimination of international programs
• "Dramatic reductions" to fundraising efforts and philanthropic giving

"It is difficult to describe how destructive the approved budget would be to UConn and higher education in Connecticut," she said. "We thank the governor for his promised veto of this measure, and we thank all of those who believe in higher education for Connecticut and its residents. Going forward, we are hopeful that the legislature and governor can agree on a far-sighted budget that protects investments in UConn, our students, and the state’s future."

Photo Credit: UConn