UNH President Mark Huddleston has identified, in a letter released today to UNH faculty and staff, steps to address the University’s serious financial challenges projected for FY09's budget and beyond. These actions include a hiring freeze for all non-grant funded, benefits-eligible faculty and staff positions, including county-based positions. This freeze began as of last Thursday, May 8, 2008. You can review the criteria in the freeze announcement.

While the hiring freeze and other possible steps the University will take to address the financial challenges will have some impact on UNH Cooperative Extension, I want to let you know we remain committed to minimizing the programmatic impact of any cost reductions.

Please take a moment to review President Huddleston's letter. You may also want to review the April 24, 2008, letter from Dick Cannon, Vice President for Finance & Administration, and David Proulx, Assistant Vice President for Financial Planning and Budgeting, outlining UNH's financial status.

I will keep you apprised of our situation in the coming months. Please contact me or your Program Leader if you have further questions.