Dear Colleagues:

As you may have heard, the Governor has released his budget recommendations for next fiscal year (which begins on July 1, 2018).  Among the recommendations was a devastating 17.73% decrease in the core appropriation for public higher education institutions as compared to this year’s appropriation after the withholding, with the potential to reduce the 17.73% cut to 7.73% through meeting the standards of the six new performance funding measures.  Based upon our preliminary calculations, Truman should meet the standards for all six of the performance funding measures.

While this recommendation is very distressing, please keep in mind that the Governor’s recommendation is the first step in the state’s budget process and legislative consideration of the recommendation will now begin.  We will be actively engaged during the legislative session.

Over the past few years, we have been laying the foundation to address this significant challenge and we must now take control of our destiny with increased intensity, focus, and purpose.  I will be discussing the budget situation and how we can control our own destiny at the All University Address on Tuesday, February 13, at 3 p.m. in the SUB Georgian Rooms.  I hope you can join me.

Honor. Celebrate. Pursue.  These are the three words on our sesquicentennial logo.  If we are to truly honor our past, celebrate our present and pursue our future, we must face our budget challenges head on and exhibit the same grit, resilience and purposeful approach of those who have come before us.  I have every confidence we will emerge from these challenges and become even stronger because WE are Truman!

Best regards,

Sue