Dear faculty and staff – As all of you are aware, all colleges are being asked to prepare for budget reductions of 4% in response to a projected shortfall in state appropriations and designated tuition for the FY26/27 biennium. This budget cut is considerable for our college and requires us to consider and weigh various options to reducing our expenditures. In planning and decisions moving forward, it will be important that all of you plan on participating in a process to help us think through strategies and solutions to contain our costs and maximize efficiencies wherever possible. The efficacy of the process will hinge largely on awareness to core principles relative to investing in our people, our commitments to students, advancing our research enterprise, and adapting to evolving conditions. It won’t be easy and will require creative solutions that potentially have impacts on operations across the college. President Eighmy outlined several areas for consideration including minimizing non-essential spending including travel and occasions and pausing hires or electing to not refill positions. Keep in mind the budget cuts apply only to specific funding sources (E&G) and not to grants (though F&A recovery will likely be impacted), gifts, and fee accounts. Later this month, Jeff and I will be holding collegewide working meetings to solicit input and ideas from you. We are eager for constructive dialogue that aims for gathering richer context and brainstorming solutions to meeting the 4% reduction. Your voice matters. We look forward to engaging with each of you soon. Tami will be sharing more information on these working meetings shortly. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. Best, Mario -- Mario Torres, Ph.D. Dean, College of Education and Human Development President's Distinguished Professorship The University of Texas at San Antonio One UTSA Circle, Main Building 3.304 San Antonio, TX 78249 Office: 210.458.5200 Fax: 210.458.4487 Mario.Torres2@utsa.edu<mailto:Mario.Torres2@utsa.edu>