Dear AU Community,

Last week’s community forums featured constructive conversations about the university budget and ongoing HR updates that support our workforce. With the fall enrollment census now complete, we are beginning efforts to revise the FY26 budget based on updated revenue and expense levels. Today, we want to recap the key information shared in the forums and outline upcoming steps in our continuing journey to improve how AU works.

FY26 Budget

With fall undergraduate and graduate enrollment levels below our budget targets, we will be required to carefully manage university expenses and find savings. Everyone at AU can play a role in this shared, critical pursuit.

To help manage costs, we will follow a hiring freeze for the remainder of FY26, limiting new hires to essential functions including safety, compliance, enrollment, revenue generating roles, grant-funded positions, and other select areas. There will also be targeted hires to support the strategic plan, which will be funded through dedicated investments outside the operating budget. Importantly, as was stated in the forum, there are no immediate plans for staff layoffs. If future hiring or employment changes are necessary, we will engage the community in further discussion.

We will reduce some spending for travel, food and beverage, and supplies. There will be exemptions for certain revenue-generating areas and operational requirements for functions such as Advancement, Enrollment, Sponsored Research, Athletics, WAMU, and university-wide events such as commencement. Guidance will be provided to individual units on exact budget levels.

Human Resources Initiatives  

Recently, we completed the market review of our health and insurance benefits. After a thorough and competitive process led by a working group from our cross-functional benefits advisory project team, we will continue offering health plans from CareFirst and Kaiser and dental benefits through Delta Dental. We will offer a new provider (the Hartford) for life and disability insurance. Making these selections allows us to limit disruption in the service delivery of these important benefits and helps manage costs for both employees and the university in the increasingly expensive health insurance market. Open enrollment begins on November 3, and Human Resources will be sharing additional information in the coming weeks.

We will launch our annual staff survey on October 14. Please watch for emails and share your perspectives. The more responses and data we receive, the better we can address key topics.

As a reminder, the strategic plan working sessions are continuing. In addition to the working sessions, you can review the current proposals and provide feedback on the strategic plan website.

Finally, the ongoing federal government shutdown creates uncertainty in multiple ways. Many in our community have friends and family who work in federal government agencies. Student internships may be on hold. Some federal research grants are paused during a shutdown. While much of our daily life at AU continues uninterrupted during shutdowns, we are always thinking of those across the community who may be dealing with its consequences. Campus support services are available for anyone needing assistance, including the Center for Well-Being and Psychological Services and the AU ProtoCall 24-hour support line (202-885-7979) for students. Faculty and staff and their families can contact BHS services through the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP).

Thank you for your continued engagement on our critical budget and HR work and for supporting our community.

Sincerely, 

Vicky Wilkins
Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Bronté Burleigh-Jones
CFO, Vice President, and Treasurer