UConn will provide an early look next week at its progress toward a new budgeting process, seeking community input and further advancing its work toward more transparent, intuitive allocation of resources.
The University announced its initiative in 2025 to create a new budget model, which is now called BLUE (Budget Linked to University Excellence). It is driven by a commitment to supporting student success by informed decision-making on resources and ensuring equity across UConn’s academic and administrative units.
The new budgeting process guides the allocation of current funding; it does not increase or reduce overall university funding, tuition rates, or fee rates.
It does not replace or eliminate UConn’s financial sustainability plan, which remains in place to contain costs amid limited resources. It is closely aligned with the goals outlined in the UConn Strategic Plan and its operational priorities.
Specifically, the new model will align UConn’s budget allocations more directly to specific instructional and research-based metrics, ensure that centrally managed costs are fairly distributed, and incentivize units to allocate resources in alignment with institutional priorities.
As part of the new phase of the initiative, UConn faculty and staff are encouraged to attend upcoming town halls on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Konover Auditorium at UConn Storrs for a live discussion and first look at the BLUE budget model.
The sessions take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., with questions taken from in-person attendees. Both sessions will also be livestreamed, and those who plan to watch virtually can submit questions in advance.
Since its launch, UConn has engaged academic and administrative units across the University over the past year through listening sessions, working groups, and one-on-one discussions. School and college fiscal leaders have been continuously involved, bringing insight from their roles closest to unit-level financial activity.
This initiative is not related to organizational assessments currently occurring in the University.
The BLUE budget transformation initiative is now in its “shadow year,” in which the new model is running alongside the current process. The dual-track approach will enable side-by-side comparisons between the existing and proposed models, allowing for refinement and necessary adjustments before full implementation in FY28.
The budget transformation initiative honors shared governance and is built on the feedback received from all corners of UConn’s operations. Once established, the model will continue to evolve, with continual updates to adapt to changing circumstances.
For more information about the Budget Transformation Initiative and BLUE budget model, and to view a recording of Town Halls and Listening Sessions, please visit the Office of Budget & Planning webpage.
