On October 6, university administrators held a town hall meeting to discuss the state’s expected deficit, the University’s finances, and the budgetary challenges UConn will likely face heading into the next fiscal year – FY 2012. The discussion was attended by about 100 faculty, staff, and students, and was led by Richard Gray, vice president and chief financial officer; Provost Peter Nicholls; and Barry Feldman, UConn’s vice president and chief operating officer.

The meeting was intended to give an early, overall summary of the financial condition of both the state and UConn, and to discuss what factors are considered when preparing UConn’s budget, including the state appropriation, tuition, fees, and self-generated revenue. Because the state budget will not be decided until next year, few specifics could be offered. However, the three stressed that the meeting was the first of what would likely be several as budget pictures become more clear.

They fielded questions that ranged from faculty and staff hiring to the outcome of different financial scenarios.

A second town hall meeting on the same subject has been scheduled for Oct. 27, also from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Konover Auditorium.