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from the issue of April 20, 2006
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Chancellor outlines Unicameral session in universitywide e-mail
This campuswide e-mail was issued by Chancellor Harvey Perlman on April 12.
Dear Colleagues;
As this year's legislative session draws to a close, I thought I should report directly on how we fared. In my view, the university did very well.
I believe the governor and the Legislature understand the important role your work plays in securing Nebraska's future. We really had three financial issues before the Legislature.
The mainline budget bill was passed last year and covered two years of the biennium, so the salary increases and operating dollars were not in play.
During this session, we did request a deficit appropriation for utilities in both the current fiscal year (FY06) and the one that begins July 1, 2006 (FY 07). The Legislature funded both, but the governor vetoed the funds allocated for next year (FY07). Thus, most of our utility deficit for this current year is funded. For the coming year, we have the opportunity to continue our conservation efforts, or if not sufficient, to request a deficit appropriation when the Legislature meets again in January.
Another request for deficit funding to cover our costs in remediating the environmental issues at Mead was funded.
What all this means is that we have a stable financial base for this year.
LB 605 was the university's top priority. The Legislature passed LB 605 with an overwhelming vote and the governor signed the bill yesterday. It will provide funds over the next several years to address physical facilities in several areas.
Physics, now located in Behlen, Brace, and Ferguson, is seriously restrained in attempting to do 21st century science in 20th century buildings.
I expect that, given the state of these three buildings, it may be cheaper and better to build a new physics building. If we do so it would be at the corner of 16th and "W" streets facilitating collaboration between Physics and Engineering.
The travertine marble shell of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery is in a sorry state of repair and LB 605 assured that funds will be available to protect that unique state and university asset.
Two buildings on East Campus, Animal Science and Keim Hall will undergo badly needed repairs, including upgrades to their heating and ventilation systems. This advances our commitment to units important to our agricultural and life science research efforts.
We really do owe a debt of gratitude to President Milliken and his staff who have forged very productive relationships with the governor and the Legislature. Success doesn't just happen; it takes hard work, and they have worked hard on our behalf.
We also should be grateful to the governor and members of the Legislature who strongly supported the university. We also had friends and alumni across the state who helped us make our case for these resources.
Finally, thanks to each of you. I believe good things happen to people who do good work. The fact that you have worked hard to enhance the quality of our undergraduate educational program and have increased our competitive research success has not gone unnoticed.
You are proving to Nebraskans the real potential of their university, and I believe they have responded positively to your efforts.
Harvey Perlman, Chancellor
GO TO: ISSUE OF APRIL 20
NEWS HEADLINES FOR APRIL 20
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Chancellor outlines Unicameral session in universitywide e-mail
Military and Naval Science name change honors Pershing
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