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By Claire Galvin, UConn School of Engineering Manager of Communications and Digital Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n The UConn School of Engineering is currently working to determine the full effects of the state\u2019s recently proposed budget. If approved, the budget would leave the university with a shortfall of $159.6 million next year and $197.1 million the following year, under the budget requests originally made by UConn and UConn Health.<\/p>\n Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont shared his proposed two-year state budget to the General Assembly on Feb. 8. The university relies on the state for approximately 25 percent of its operating funding annually.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, the appropriations proposed for UConn and UConn Health fall far short of what is necessary to adequately fund the university, carry out our critical public health mission most effectively, and fully cover the sizable costs the state seeks to pass along to us,\u201d UConn President Radenka Maric wrote to the university community earlier in February.<\/p>\n UConn School of Engineering Dean Kazem Kazerounian echoed the president\u2019s frustrations.<\/p>\n \u201cA budget cut of this magnitude would be devastating for our School and our state\u2019s economic future,\u201d Kazerounian said. \u201cWe provide 51 percent of the state\u2019s engineering graduates. Sixty-five percent of UConn Engineering graduates are employed in Connecticut.\u201d Kazerounian explained that the school is significantly contributing to the state and the country, like by topping $72 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cIf approved, this budget will bring our School\u2019s recent progress to an abrupt halt,\u201d Kazerounian said.<\/p>\n Kazerounian said within the School of Engineering, the budget cut equates to around an 8 percent decrease in operating expenditures for the 2023-24 fiscal year.<\/p>\n Maric explained that the governor\u2019s proposed budget does not cover the total amount of salary increases approved under the collective bargaining agreements between the state and the state employee unions. The proposal does cover more of what is known as historical unfunded \u201clegacy\u201d costs related to employee fringe benefits that the state assigns to UConn and UConn Health. However, it simultaneously reduces the university\u2019s block grant, cancelling out any fiscal benefit for the university.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are strongly aligned with and fully support the governor\u2019s focus on economic growth and inclusive opportunity over the next two years and beyond; investing in UConn and ensuring that our students have access to a world-class education is one of the best investments Connecticut can make to bolster that economic future and create those new opportunities,\u201d Maric wrote.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/news.engr.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/Budget-Cut-Before-and-After-1024x1024.png\")
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