Budget update from Chancellor Watson
Dear Campus Colleagues,
Last week during the Chancellor’s Chat, it was shared that we have covered our budget shortfalls for Fiscal Year 2020-21 and for Fiscal Year 2021-22. There will likely be additional reductions necessary for Fiscal Year 2022-23 and Fiscal Year 2023-24, however for the time being we have achieved our goal through much hard work and sacrifice by all of you.
I know that many of you have been worried about the potential for layoffs and non-renewals. I am pleased to say that because of a limited number of non-renewals, keeping positions vacant and the number of people who took part in the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program, we have met our current budget goals. I know this matter has weighed heavily upon many of you, and for that I am sorry. I am pleased to say that at this time, we do not believe it is necessary to use any further non-renewals to balance the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget beyond employees already informed. I hope this news relieves some of your stress and anxiety about the future.
At noon on Tuesday, March 2, Interim Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs Taryn Carothers will lead a budget town hall to discuss in more depth the budget numbers shared during the Chancellor Chat on Feb. 11. Webex details will be forthcoming.
As I said during the chat, this process has been challenging and at times very difficult. It created additional stress in an already stressful time in our lives. Yet, you all did what was necessary to help us create the necessary savings to right our financial situation.
Details of the budget and a breakdown of the salary savings are available on the budget website and I encourage you to look at the information provided there for more details.
Again, I thank you for all of your hard work over the past year. We have faced mighty challenges and we have come through them together by working in unison for the betterment of UW-Whitewater. You all are doing amazing work for our students and our university.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Chancellor