University provides update on budget planning next steps

JUNE 19, 2020 — Editor’s note: The following message was sent via email today from President Taylor Eighmy, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs Veronica Salazar Mendez to all faculty and staff:

On Wednesday afternoon, all vice presidents, deans and vice provosts presented their FY 2021 budget plans to the University Leadership Council. The plans will now go to the Resource Management Team, then be forwarded for presidential final approval. These next steps in our process bring us closer to finalizing our budget for this coming academic year.

The plans—which encompass 9% or 10% expense reductions as previously announced—reflect a spirit of creativity, innovation and collaboration. Incorporating broad involvement and opportunities for input were integral to their development, and we encourage you to read more about the participatory process used by each college and division.

Our leaders also took to heart our budget planning principles in developing their plans by prioritizing our core academic mission and advancing our commitment to student success and research excellence. Moreover, the plans clearly reflect concerted efforts by all to retain as many positions as possible.

UTSA has a workforce of 6,900 faculty, staff and student employees. During our normal course of operations each year, we create and end hundreds of positions to meet our dynamic workforce needs. This year, however, we will see some additional jobs changing because of our budget reduction process. The final outcome of this effort will involve some reductions to our workforce, both in terms of eliminating positions and personnel layoffs.

The magnitude of anticipated impact to our revenue make these very difficult personnel decisions necessary. We will continue to approach this process with compassion and to provide those affected with significant support services. Our Office of Human Resources continues to work closely with deans and vice presidents to develop these transition plans. We expect to update you all on impacts to positions and appointments on July 1.

While our current circumstances make for a challenging budgeting process this year, we are heartened by the thoughtfulness and compassionate decision-making used by every college and unit in developing their plans. Thanks to all of you, we are confident in UTSA’s path going forward and our continued upward trajectory as a model for the future of public higher education.