UConn Faces Growing Competition Amid Budget Cuts
STORRS — After years of steady improvement and a rising national reputation, state budget cuts are reshaping future expectations at the University of Connecticut.
UConn broke into the top 20 public research universities at No. 19, shortly after President Susan Herbst arrived in 2011, and kept that ranking except for a slip to 21 in 2012. Now, as the UConn copes with budget cuts that affect the university's ability to provide scholarships and hire faculty and staff, Herbst is bracing for a possible dip in the university's ranking by U.S. News & World Report early next month.
But a recent $40.6 million cut in its state appropriation is pushing Herbst and other UConn leaders to reconsider plans for the future.
"We just want to get everybody ready, to put it in context because these other [universities] they are coming up right behind us … We have these financial constraints that we are concerned about," Herbst said. "We hold our breath every year. A couple of places up and down doesn't matter that much. Everybody has that little bouncing, but we want to stay firmly in the top 25."
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