UNL Faculty Group Opposes AAU Return Over Program Cuts

The American Association of University Professors is trying to stop the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from rejoining the prestigious Association of American Universities. The faculty group's opposition follows UNL's recent cuts to four academic departments and the layoffs of 58 faculty members.

In a letter sent Monday, AAUP President Todd Wolfson asked the AAU not to consider readmitting UNL until the university shows a clear commitment to restoring shared governance and protecting tenure. Wolfson argued the cuts risk long-term damage to research capacity and institutional reputation.

The Budget-Cutting Drive

UNL began major cost-cutting initiatives under former Chancellor Rodney Bennett. Last summer, Bennett blamed a multimillion-dollar budget gap on insufficient state funding, declining tuition revenue, and high inflation. "Despite our best efforts to live within our means, our revenue has not kept pace with expenses," he said at the time.

The university's governing board ultimately approved eliminating four departments despite prolonged faculty objections. The terminated departments are listed below.

As part of these cuts, the board approved terminating 58 faculty members, most of whom had tenure. Faculty had raised allegations of potential problems with the university's data used to identify where to make cuts.

Leadership Changes and Ongoing Plans

Chancellor Rodney Bennett abruptly resigned in January. His departure followed a historic no-confidence vote from the faculty senate and included a controversial $1.1 million severance payment. UNL's AAUP chapter called for the academic cuts to be reconsidered after Bennett left.

However, the university is still proceeding with the budget plan he set in motion. In a statement to Nebraska Public Media, UNL said the AAUP presented "a partial account of these complex circumstances." The university stated the decisions were made through established processes in response to enrollment, program demand, and financial sustainability.

The Push for AAU Readmission

Rejoining the Association of American Universities has been a public goal for UNL since 2023. Then-University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter made reobtaining AAU membership a top priority. UNL helped found the AAU in 1900 but was removed in 2011 for failing to meet the group's standards over a sustained period. A key issue was insufficient research funding.

Carter noted that AAU did not count research outcomes from the separate University of Nebraska Medical Center toward UNL's total. In November, the NU System's governing board approved a proposal for UNL and the medical center to seek joint accreditation, a move seen as part of the flagship's bid for readmittance.

Recent Program Eliminations

UNL has approved two more program eliminations since the initial round of cuts. The university is cutting bachelor's degrees in ethnic studies and insect science, citing low enrollment and graduate numbers that fell short of state requirements.

In his letter, Todd Wolfson contended that the process for making these decisions violated core principles of shared governance. While fiscal pressures driven by state disinvestment are real, UNL's response raises fundamental concerns, Wolfson wrote. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Higher Ed Dive on Tuesday.