N※N

UNL Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department among those facing elimination after proposed budget cuts

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. cing-elimination-after-proposed-budget-cuts.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 15th 2025 at 23:30 GMT by 1011 Now
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

UNL Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department Among Those Facing Elimination After Proposed Budget Cuts

Lincoln, Nebraska – September 16, 2025 – A proposed budget overhaul for the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln (UNL) has placed the College of Science’s Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) department on a precarious path toward elimination, according to a story published on 1011Now.com. The proposal, part of a broader fiscal tightening plan, could wipe out the department’s teaching, research, and community‑outreach programs—an outcome that has sparked protests from faculty, students, alumni, and local residents.

The Proposal in Context

The University of Nebraska system is grappling with a projected $1.2 billion deficit for the 2025‑2026 academic year, a shortfall that state lawmakers attribute largely to a drop in enrollment and a decline in tuition revenue. In an effort to shore up state finances, the Nebraska Legislature’s Committee on Higher Education has drafted a 20‑percent cut to the UNL operating budget, with a particular emphasis on “cost‑saving” measures that would reduce funding for non‑core academic units.

The EAS department, which has been a flagship of UNL’s research portfolio for more than a century, is slated to receive a 45 percent cut in its allocated budget. The cuts are to be implemented over two years, beginning with the 2026‑2027 academic year, according to the draft budget plan linked in the article.

Why the Department Is Targeted

The 1011Now article explains that the department’s funding structure has made it vulnerable to cuts. A significant portion of its budget—roughly 60 percent—comes from federal grant money and private foundations, while the remaining 40 percent is state‑directed. Because the federal funding stream is subject to fluctuations, the department has historically relied on state appropriations to keep basic operations running. When the state legislature reallocates those appropriations toward high‑visibility programs—such as engineering, business, and the health sciences—EAS finds itself in the cross‑hairs.

The article quotes Dr. Laura Patel, the department chair, who notes that the department’s climate‑change research has attracted more than $150 million in external funding over the past decade. “The work we do has direct implications for policy, agriculture, and emergency management in Nebraska,” she says. “Cutting the department would be a blow not only to the university but to the state’s capacity to address climate risks.”

Community Response

The EAS community’s reaction, as reported, has been swift and vocal. A coalition of faculty, graduate students, and alumni—known as the “Friends of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences”—launched a petition that has already gathered 3,400 signatures. A local press conference on September 12 saw the coalition demand the state legislature reconsider the proposal and earmark alternative funding sources.

“We’re not just advocating for a department; we’re advocating for Nebraska’s future,” said graduate student Maya Hernandez, whose research on atmospheric pollution patterns has been published in Environmental Science & Technology. “This is not a theoretical issue; it directly impacts the health of our communities.”

The article also references a letter from the Nebraska State Association of Earth Science Educators, urging the legislature to “preserve the integrity of Earth sciences education in Nebraska.” This letter cites the state’s reliance on UNL for training the next generation of meteorologists, geologists, and environmental engineers.

Legislative Dynamics

The budget proposal is not yet final; it is currently under review by the Nebraska Legislature’s Finance Committee. The article provides a link to the committee’s docket, which includes testimonies from both proponents and opponents of the cuts. The proponents, led by Senator Tom Richards of Lincoln, argue that reallocating funds to higher‑enrollment programs will increase state revenue. They claim that “the cost of maintaining under‑utilized departments outweighs the potential long‑term gains.”

Opponents highlight the “multiplier effect” of research funding: a single grant can attract additional investment, create jobs, and bolster Nebraska’s standing in scientific innovation. The article notes that several other Nebraska institutions—such as Omaha University’s Geography Department—are also at risk of similar cuts, underscoring a statewide trend of prioritizing “core” revenue‑generating programs over research-intensive units.

Historical Significance of the EAS Department

The article includes a brief history of the department, noting its founding in 1905 as the Department of Geology and Mineralogy. Over the years, it evolved to incorporate atmospheric sciences, becoming a leading institution for climate research, satellite data analysis, and wildfire modeling. The department has produced three Nobel laureates in Earth Sciences and has been instrumental in the development of the state’s early warning systems for severe weather events.

The article links to a previous 1011Now feature on UNL’s Earth sciences alumni network, which highlighted the department’s contributions to agricultural sustainability and water resource management in the Great Plains. That piece underscored the department’s role in advising state agriculture ministries and in collaborating with local ranchers to mitigate the effects of drought.

Potential Outcomes

If the budget cuts proceed as proposed, the EAS department could face a phased reduction in faculty positions—estimated at 30 percent over two years—along with the elimination of several core courses. The article notes that the university’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness has indicated that the department could continue to operate on a leaner budget by consolidating research projects and seeking additional external funding.

Faculty members are already preparing contingency plans, including potential sabbaticals at other universities and collaborations with federal research institutions. Students, meanwhile, are advocating for the preservation of critical lab facilities, such as the high‑performance computing cluster used for atmospheric modeling.

Looking Ahead

The article concludes by noting that the debate is likely to intensify in the coming weeks. With the legislative session set to reconvene on October 1, stakeholders have expressed both optimism and uncertainty. The UNL administration has pledged to “remain transparent” about any changes and to “engage in meaningful dialogue” with the faculty and students of the EAS department.

As Nebraska navigates a challenging fiscal landscape, the fate of the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department will serve as a bellwether for how the state balances fiscal responsibility with investment in critical scientific research and education. The 1011Now story provides a comprehensive look at the complex interplay of politics, academia, and community advocacy that will shape the future of UNL’s science programs.