Spring Break
Hogan discusses state of the university
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: News
President Michael Hogan acknowledged the concerns surrounding the current budget crisis in his State of the University address, "Daybreak at UConn" at the Student Union Theater 4 p.m. on Monday.
"I wish I could say, 'We're done'. I know the disappointment, the pain, that hard times can inflict on others who do this great work," Hogan said. "But I'm sure we're not done, given the economic climate we're in and the ambition of our vision."
Although the university experienced a 3 percent rescission of state funds from its budget last fall and a 2 percent rescission earlier this year, Hogan remained hopeful about the future of the university and urges faculty, students and staff not to let the financial crisis overshadow the accomplishments the university has made.
"Look at our cognitive science program, or the Global Fuel Cell Center." Hogan said. "In just our first application for an NIH Clinical & Translational Science Award, we received excellent assessments, suggesting that we have the potential to become one of the nation's leaders in health science and treatment. We might come together in crisis, but we shouldn't forget our accomplishments."
Hogan acknowledged that it is difficult to deal with the financial issues on top of everything else, but said that the problems can't be pushed aside.
"It's become somewhat of a three-ring circus," Hogan said.
Hogan referred to the various measures the staff and faculty at UConn have taken in response to the budget crisis, including merging academic units, eliminating "low-demand" programs and reducing hours at the Benton, Homer Babbidge Library and Connecticut Museum of Natural History. He also mentioned Cost Operations and Resource Efficiencies (CORE), a task force at UConn created by Hogan that examines the financial situation and makes recommendations for ways to reduce costs, enhance revenues and become more efficient.
"They are making excellent recommendations," Hogan said.
"I wish I could say, 'We're done'. I know the disappointment, the pain, that hard times can inflict on others who do this great work," Hogan said. "But I'm sure we're not done, given the economic climate we're in and the ambition of our vision."
Although the university experienced a 3 percent rescission of state funds from its budget last fall and a 2 percent rescission earlier this year, Hogan remained hopeful about the future of the university and urges faculty, students and staff not to let the financial crisis overshadow the accomplishments the university has made.
"Look at our cognitive science program, or the Global Fuel Cell Center." Hogan said. "In just our first application for an NIH Clinical & Translational Science Award, we received excellent assessments, suggesting that we have the potential to become one of the nation's leaders in health science and treatment. We might come together in crisis, but we shouldn't forget our accomplishments."
Hogan acknowledged that it is difficult to deal with the financial issues on top of everything else, but said that the problems can't be pushed aside.
"It's become somewhat of a three-ring circus," Hogan said.
Hogan referred to the various measures the staff and faculty at UConn have taken in response to the budget crisis, including merging academic units, eliminating "low-demand" programs and reducing hours at the Benton, Homer Babbidge Library and Connecticut Museum of Natural History. He also mentioned Cost Operations and Resource Efficiencies (CORE), a task force at UConn created by Hogan that examines the financial situation and makes recommendations for ways to reduce costs, enhance revenues and become more efficient.
"They are making excellent recommendations," Hogan said.
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