Ambrose discussed the future of the University of Central Missouri and the plan to move forward with budget cuts at the State of the University Address this afternoon in Utt Music Recital Hall on campus.
“What I appreciate the most is your (UCM faculty and staff) resolve for us to maintain our mission and our focus of the students and making college as accessible as we can,” Ambrose said.
Ambrose said the state budget is challenged significantly.
“The revenues are going up. There is some increase in productivity,” Ambrose said. “We as an institution don’t have resource challenges, we have budget challenges.”
Ambrose said the hiring freeze that occurred because of the budget cuts will continue into the 2018 fiscal year.
Todd Guanella, the corporate sales officer of KMOS said the address informed the UCM community of the positive things that are going on around campus. He said Ambrose expressed the contribution that UCM makes to the life of students as well as the faculty and staff.
“There’s a lot of positive things that are coming up in the next few years. It’s a great place, not only for students, but it’s a positive experience for the faculty and staff to help empower those students to achieve the things they want to,” Guanella said.
Luke Hawley, the president of the Student Government Association, said he thought the purpose was to help the university realize that the issues perceived aren’t as bad as they might seem.
“Like President Ambrose said, we are the type of university to be resilient and we can make the changes that need to be made. He takes those negative things and spins them positively,” Hawley said.
Ambrose said administration has a 3-year budget plan to ensure success at UCM.
“We are going to work aggressively to find solutions,” he said.
Ambrose also highlighted on UCM clubs and organizations that have been succeeding this fall including the marketing department’s success at the annual State Farm Marketing and Sales Competition and Jennie’s soccer victories.