The University of Minnesota-Crookston is set to implement up to $4.2 million in budget reductions for fiscal years 2028 and 2029, according to an announcement by the University of Minnesota System in October. Overall, the University of Minnesota system is making reductions of $230 million to $261 million for the new two-year budget cycle introduced by University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham.
UMC Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause told KROX that the budget reductions are part of a system-wide strategic planning process that includes identifying what is best for the university’s students and faculty. Other factors contributing to the reductions include the loss of around $1 billion in contracts and federal funds over the last 18 months, as well as rising costs due to inflation. “Starting about 18 months ago or so, a number of our grants and contracts were either rescinded or were allowed to finish the work they were doing, but were not reconstituted. They just basically went away, and so every research one university, which the University of Minnesota is, across the United States, has seen a significant reduction in the amount of money which is coming primarily from the federal government to help with important research areas. And then, as we all know, inflation is hitting us at home. It hits us in everything that we do, and the state of Minnesota is one of the highest-ranking states for providing support to higher education. It hasn’t kept up with the cost of inflation, and we recognize that our individuals who are here on our campus certainly deserve to have as much funding as we can provide to them in their salaries and their wages.”
The most significant factor for Holz-Clause, as the university looks into these budget reductions, is doing what is best for UMC students and identifying their needs as they focus on their education and on building careers after graduation. “The other aspect too, which is very important, is to always keep the student focused. And so while we are beginning our plans here on the Crookston campus, and my colleagues across the whole University of Minnesota are also doing their plan. We’re always having that guided by the principles of being student focused, of being as responsive as we can to ensure that we have a strong workforce here at the University of Minnesota, as well as what are we doing that’s relevant for the workforce in Greater Minnesota, in our region, in Northern Minnesota and North Dakota. How are we meeting the needs of our employers? Are we having those kinds of majors that are relevant that they’re asking for? And so we’re going through just a lot of beginning to refocus and ensure that everything that we’re doing is really fulfilling our land-grant mission.”
Holz-Clause is meeting with faculty members and department heads to develop a plan for the reductions over the next budget cycle and make the best decisions for the Crookston campus and its students. “We’re meeting with faculty and staff to get their input and ideas about how we can make this revision. We’re meeting, for instance, on Monday, we have our big advisory group coming in, providing us input. And so this is an iterative process. It’s not one that’s pre-prescribed that we know what we’re going to do. We’re actually trying to ensure that we’re always being relevant to our customers.”
