Season of changes

Shifting economic environment affects universities

While summer at UConn marks a time for some reflection on the past year and planning for the next, there is plenty of activity going on. Summer courses are underway, research continues in our laboratories and the University is moving forward to meet new challenges that continue to arise.

Photo by Paul Horton

Previously, I shared with you some of the initiatives we were working on at mid-year, primarily administrative reorganization at the UConn Health Center and in our University-wide research structure.

I’m happy to report that these initiatives are moving forward. You’ll read in this issue of UCONN Magazine about our new academic leadership in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and in the School of Social Work.

I want to thank our colleagues who are stepping down: Ross MacKinnon, dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences for 12 years; Peter Deckers, dean of Medicine for 13 years; Kirklyn Kerr, dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources for 16 years; and Kay Davidson, dean of Social Work for 10 years.

We appreciate their legacy of dedication and leadership which has brought many changes and improvements to the University.

Our changing economy is affecting much of what we do. The national economy has shifted, and in six months the state went from projections of reasonably stable revenues to the reality of steep declines.

The mortgage-lending crisis has affected all aspects of the financial markets, including the student-loan industry, with parents and students facing tightened credit and uncertain availability of loans. Record oil prices are raising the costs of an array of the goods we purchase and the services we provide.

Public universities across the nation are feeling these economic pressures. Fortunately, UConn is in better shape than most to meet these challenges.

Our undergraduate enrollment — strong in numbers, in diversity and in our incoming students’ talents and aspirations — will continue to provide the foundation for our academic good health and progress.

Reduced revenues and increased expenditures to provide basic necessities — food, heating and cooling, and certain manufactured products — will require that we look carefully at how we expend the University’s resources to advance our many objectives.

It will be an opportunity to direct our available dollars to efforts that will continue to improve the quality of our academic programs while maintaining UConn’s financial health. Some choices will be obvious, others difficult; but they will make UConn a better University.

I’m looking forward to frank and open discussions with the University community, with our partners at the statehouse and in private industry as we meet these new challenges. And I’m confident that we can meet them.

UConn has a solid foundation, is growing stronger, and our UConn family recognizes the value of a strong public research university in Connecticut. Our alumni, faculty, students, staff, parents and friends continue to be proud of the accomplishments and traditions we are building every semester, every year.

Michael J. Hogan
President