{"id":1117,"date":"2026-01-21T11:42:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/?page_id=1117"},"modified":"2026-03-18T11:09:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:09:44","slug":"s26budget","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/s26budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring 2026 Budget Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1117\" class=\"elementor elementor-1117\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3529f5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c3529f5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0de18f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"0de18f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f36f807 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f36f807\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c805cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1c805cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wcsu-wrap\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- Header -->\r\n  <div style=\"padding:6px 0 18px 0\">\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-eyebrow\">Updated: <strong>March 12, 2026<\/strong><\/div>\r\n    <h1 class=\"wcsu-h1\">Mid-Year FY26 Budget Update<\/h1>\r\n    <p class=\"wcsu-sub\">\r\n        \r\n        This update provides a transparent mid-year FY26 budget outlook and connects it to our broader <strong> Western Rising \u2013 Commitment 1: Strengthening Foundations <\/strong>work.\r\nWe are addressing both immediate FY26 pressures and a multi-year structural gap through a disciplined plan to reduce the deficit by FY30 and rebuild reserves to sustainable levels \r\nThis report remains intentionally conservative and pre-mitigation. It reflects where we land without additional corrective actions beyond those already underway.\r\n    <\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- TOC -->\r\n  <div class=\"jump-nav-wrapper\">\r\n  <div class=\"jump-nav\">\r\n    <h3>Jump to a Section<\/h3>\r\n    <div class=\"jump-nav-grid\">\r\n      <a href=\"#overview\">Overview<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#bigpicture\">The Big Picture<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#fy25\">What FY25 Tells Us<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#fy26plan\">FY26 Approved Plan<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#midyear\">What We\u2019re Seeing at Mid-Year<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#driving-change\">What\u2019s Driving the Change<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#meaning\">What This Means (and Doesn\u2019t)<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#closing-gap\">How We Are Closing the Gap<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#actions\">Immediate Actions<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#reserves-health\">Reserves and Financial Health<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#workbook\">Workbook Review<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#additional-resources\">Additional Resources<\/a>\r\n      <a href=\"#faq\">FAQs<\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- Overview -->\r\n  <div id=\"overview\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">Overview<\/h2>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0\">\r\n      President Bernal is sharing this update to provide a transparent view of where WestConn stands at mid-year and how the university is responding.\r\n      This mid-year report is intentionally <strong>conservative<\/strong> and <strong>pre-mitigation<\/strong>\u2014meaning it reflects where we land\r\n      <em>if<\/em> we do not add further corrective actions beyond what is already approved.\r\n    <\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-callout\">\r\n      <div>\r\n        <strong>Key message:<\/strong> This is <strong>not an alarm<\/strong>. It\u2019s an early heads-up so we can stay proactive, disciplined, and aligned.\r\n        The primary drivers are within our control\u2014<strong>hiring<\/strong>, <strong>overtime<\/strong>, <strong>discretionary spending<\/strong>, and\r\n        <strong>aid strategy<\/strong>. Acting early reduces reliance on reserves and helps us avoid surprises later.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-callout\">\r\n      <div>\r\n        <strong>What's new since January:<\/strong> \r\n        \r\n        <ul style=\"margin: 0;padding-left: 20px;color: #1f2937;line-height: 1.6\">\r\n  <li><strong>Clear FY30 deficit-reduction pathway<\/strong> under Commitment 1<\/li>\r\n  <li><strong>Quantified cost controls<\/strong> already underway (~$3.9M)<\/li>\r\n  <li><strong>Expanded focus<\/strong> on enrollment mix and net tuition strategy<\/li>\r\n  <li><strong>Formation<\/strong> of a Presidential Budget Advisory Group<\/li>\r\n  <li><strong>Integration<\/strong> of reserve rebuild targets into the plan<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n        \r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-details\">\r\n      <summary>Budget Advisory Group (Western Rising \u2013 Commitment 1)<\/summary>\r\n      <div style=\"margin-top:10px\">\r\n        <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0\">\r\n          The President, Provost Hegedus, and Interim CFO Ron Thomas are forming a <strong>Budget Advisory Group<\/strong> within\r\n          Western Rising \u2013 Commitment 1: Strengthening Foundations. The group will provide regular review and advice on budget decisions and will include\r\n          <strong>shared governance and union participation<\/strong>.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n\r\n  <!-- Big Picture -->\r\n  <div id=\"bigpicture\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">The Big Picture<\/h2>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0\">\r\n      WestConn continues to face a <strong>structural gap<\/strong> between what we bring in each year and what it costs to operate\u2014driven primarily by\r\n      <strong>people<\/strong>, <strong>benefits<\/strong>, and <strong>fixed operating needs<\/strong>. Strengthening our foundations is how we build the institutional resilience to stay focused on our mission. <strong> We are now moving from understanding the structural gap to executing a multi-year plan to eliminate it and build long-term resilience. <\/strong>\r\n    <\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n\r\n  <!-- FY25 -->\r\n  <div id=\"fy25\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">What FY25 Tells Us<\/h2>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0\">\r\n      FY25 ended in a strong position\u2014largely because of <strong>one-time System Office support<\/strong>. That support prevented a much larger deficit and\r\n      gave us breathing room to do deeper, structural work with shared leadership and better controls. This one-time support created the runway to begin structural changes that are now underway through Commitment 1.\r\n    <\/p>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-cards\">\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>One-time support<\/strong>\r\n        <ul class=\"wcsu-bullets\">\r\n          <li><strong>$17.6M<\/strong> ARPA funding (one-time)<\/li>\r\n          <li><strong>$6.6M<\/strong> System Office bridge support (one-time)<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>FY25 outcome<\/strong>\r\n        <ul class=\"wcsu-bullets\">\r\n          <li>Planned for a <strong>$4.5M<\/strong> surplus<\/li>\r\n          <li>Ended with a <strong>$5.8M<\/strong> surplus, mostly due to reduced spending in OE (operating expenses)<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n\r\n  <!-- FY26 Plan -->\r\n  <div id=\"fy26plan\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">What We Planned for in FY26 (Approved Plan)<\/h2>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0\">Our FY26 spending plan assumed:<\/p>\r\n    <ul class=\"wcsu-bullets\" style=\"margin-top:0\">\r\n      <li>Approximately <strong>$11.9M<\/strong> in System Office bridge support<\/li>\r\n      <li><strong>$1.5M<\/strong> in planned reserve use<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:10px 0 0 0\">\r\n      With those items included, FY26 looked essentially balanced (~<strong>+$400K<\/strong>). Without them, the underlying structural gap would have been\r\n      significant. FY26 was designed as a bridge year\u2014using one-time support to stabilize operations while structural solutions are implemented.\r\n    <\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n\r\n  <!-- Mid-Year -->\r\n  <div id=\"midyear\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">What We\u2019re Seeing at Mid-Year (Key Changes)<\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0\">\r\n      Even with some positive signs (enrollment performing around what was expected; auxiliaries balancing out), the outlook is tighter than the original plan.\r\n      Key drivers include:\r\n    <\/p>\r\n\r\n    <ul class=\"wcsu-bullets\" style=\"margin-top:0\">\r\n      <li><strong>Revenue<\/strong> approximately <strong>$0.9M below plan<\/strong><\/li>\r\n      <li>More full-time employees than budgeted: <strong>492 actual<\/strong> vs. <strong>481 planned<\/strong> (11 over plan)<\/li>\r\n      <li><strong>Salary expense<\/strong> approximately <strong>$2.6M above plan<\/strong><\/li>\r\n      <li><strong>Fringe\/benefits<\/strong> approximately <strong>$0.9M above plan<\/strong><\/li>\r\n      <li><strong>Institutional financial aid<\/strong> approximately <strong>$1.4M above plan<\/strong>, reducing net tuition<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-callout\" style=\"margin-top:16px\">\r\n      <strong>Bottom line:<\/strong> Without one-time funding and use of reserve, we would end with an estimated <strong>$18.2M deficit<\/strong>.\r\n      Net effect: projected reserve use increases from <strong>$1.5M planned<\/strong> to approximately <strong>$4.4M or more<\/strong>.\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <h3 class=\"wcsu-h3\">Mid-Year Snapshot (in dollars)<\/h3>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-tablewrap\">\r\n      <table class=\"wcsu-table\" aria-label=\"Mid-year FY26 budget changes table\">\r\n        <thead>\r\n          <tr>\r\n            <th>Category<\/th>\r\n            <th class=\"wcsu-right\">Spending Plan<\/th>\r\n            <th class=\"wcsu-right\">Mid-Year<\/th>\r\n            <th class=\"wcsu-right\">Difference<\/th>\r\n          <\/tr>\r\n        <\/thead>\r\n        <tbody>\r\n          <tr>\r\n            <td>Revenue<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">112,732,636<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">111,819,918<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right wcsu-neg\">(912,718)<\/td>\r\n          <\/tr>\r\n          <tr>\r\n            <td>FT Employee Expense<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">(49,218,231)<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">(51,801,459)<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right wcsu-neg\">(2,583,228)<\/td>\r\n          <\/tr>\r\n          <tr>\r\n            <td>Fringe<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">(15,414,640)<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">(16,339,837)<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right wcsu-neg\">(925,197)<\/td>\r\n          <\/tr>\r\n          <tr>\r\n            <td>Institutional Financial Aid<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">(7,536,887)<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\">(8,924,314)<\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right wcsu-neg\">(1,387,427)<\/td>\r\n          <\/tr>\r\n          <tr>\r\n            <td><strong>Use of Reserves<\/strong><\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\"><strong>(1,500,000)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right\"><strong>(4,407,091)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"wcsu-right wcsu-neg\"><strong>(2,907,091)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n          <\/tr>\r\n        <\/tbody>\r\n      <\/table>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <section aria-labelledby=\"driving-change\" style=\"margin-top: 2rem;padding: 1.5rem;background: #f7f9fc;border-left: 4px solid #f26f21;border-radius: 6px\">\r\n  <h2 id=\"driving-change\" style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1rem;color: #003865\">What\u2019s Driving the Change<\/h2>\r\n  <ul style=\"margin: 0;padding-left: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.75rem\">\r\n      <strong>Enrollment mix:<\/strong> Part-time enrollment below projections is the primary driver of the revenue shortfall.\r\n    <\/li>\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.75rem\">\r\n      <strong>Financial aid strategy:<\/strong> Increased merit investment improved competitiveness but requires tighter modeling to protect net tuition.\r\n    <\/li>\r\n    <li>\r\n      <strong>Personnel costs:<\/strong> Higher-than-planned staffing levels (492 vs. 481) due to planning assumptions around attrition and critical roles.\r\n    <\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n    \r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-details\" style=\"margin-top:14px\">\r\n      <summary>Why \u201cStrengthening Foundations\u201d matters here<\/summary>\r\n      <div style=\"margin-top:10px\">\r\n        <p style=\"margin:0\">\r\n          Strengthening foundations is the unglamorous work\u2014systems, controls, staffing discipline, and smart planning\u2014that protects our ability to deliver for students.\r\n          Stability is \u201cwe can stand.\u201d Resilience is \u201cwe can absorb pressure, adapt, and keep moving forward without losing who we are.\u201d This update is part of that move\r\n          from stability to resilience.\r\n        <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n\r\n  <!-- What it means -->\r\n  <div id=\"meaning\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">What This Means (and What It Does Not Mean)<\/h2>\r\n    <ul class=\"wcsu-bullets\" style=\"margin-top:0\">\r\n      <li><strong>This is not an alarm.<\/strong> It\u2019s an early heads-up so we can stay proactive, disciplined, and aligned.<\/li>\r\n      <li><strong>The main drivers are within our control:<\/strong> hiring, overtime, discretionary spending, and aid strategy.<\/li>\r\n      <li><strong>Acting early reduces reliance on reserves<\/strong> and helps us avoid surprises later.<\/li>\r\n    <\/ul>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <section aria-labelledby=\"closing-gap\" style=\"margin-top: 2rem;padding: 1.75rem;background: #f7f9fc;border-left: 5px solid #003865;border-radius: 6px\">\r\n  <h2 id=\"closing-gap\" style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1rem;color: #003865\">\r\n    How We Are Closing the Gap (FY26\u2013FY30)\r\n  <\/h2>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"margin-bottom: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\r\n    WCSU is implementing a multi-year plan to eliminate the structural deficit and restore financial sustainability by FY30.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n\r\n  <h3 style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem;color: #003865\">Mitigation already underway (~$3.9M):<\/h3>\r\n  <ul style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1.25rem;padding-left: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7\">\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Administrative reorganization (~$1.7M)<\/li>\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Overtime strategy (~$750K)<\/li>\r\n    <li>Operating expense reductions (~$1.5M)<\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n\r\n  <h3 style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem;color: #003865\">Additional focus areas:<\/h3>\r\n  <ul style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1.25rem;padding-left: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7\">\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Net tuition improvement (enrollment mix, retention, pricing strategy)<\/li>\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">New revenue (non-credit, partnerships, facilities use)<\/li>\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Workforce redesign and shared services<\/li>\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Academic portfolio alignment<\/li>\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Procurement, energy, and operational efficiencies<\/li>\r\n    <li>State\/system advocacy and policy alignment<\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"margin: 0;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\r\n    This work is coordinated through Western Rising \u2013 Commitment 1 and supported by monthly monitoring and shared governance engagement.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n  \r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n\r\n  <!-- Actions -->\r\n  <div id=\"actions\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">Immediate Actions Underway<\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-cards\">\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Administrative reorganization<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        To realize better synergies and reduce overhead. Delivering structural savings and reducing duplication (~$1.7M).\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Additional hiring reviews<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        Reviewing most new hires with a focus on mission-critical needs and a full cost picture. Cancelled\/paused searches and strengthened approval process tied to full cost analysis.\r\n\r\nReduced discretionary spending\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Reduced discretionary \/ OE spending<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        Targeting deferrable, non-essential, low-ROI spending with the goal of spending less than last year. Targeting permanent reductions (~$1.5M).\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Overtime controls (Facilities \/ Public Safety)<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        Keeping overtime at last year\u2019s levels through schedule adjustments and coverage strategies. New strategy to align with prior-year levels (~$750K impact).\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Financial aid review<\/strong><br \/>\r\n         Institutional financial aid is above plan (~$1.4M), reflecting a deliberate increase in merit-based awards to improve competitiveness and student profile.\r\n\r\nThe next phase is refining our model\u2014strengthening discount-rate guardrails and aligning aid strategy with long-term net tuition sustainability.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Monthly monitoring<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        Regular check-ins to make timely decisions and lock in progress.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Budget Advisory Group<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        Creation of a Presidential Budget Advisory Group within Western Rising \u2013 Commitment 1, including shared governance representation.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Continued system and state advocacy<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        Ongoing engagement to advance sustainable solutions.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n  \r\n  <section aria-labelledby=\"reserves-health\" style=\"margin-top: 2rem;padding: 1.75rem;background: #f7f9fc;border-left: 5px solid #f26f21;border-radius: 6px\">\r\n  <h2 id=\"reserves-health\" style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1rem;color: #003865\">\r\n    Reserves and Financial Health\r\n  <\/h2>\r\n\r\n  <h3 style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem;color: #003865\">Where we are:<\/h3>\r\n  <p style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\r\n    Current unrestricted funds are projected to decline to approximately <strong>$7.3M (~19 days of coverage)<\/strong> without additional mitigation.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n\r\n  <h3 style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem;color: #003865\">Why this matters:<\/h3>\r\n  <p style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\r\n    This is below the 30-day benchmark and reinforces the need for disciplined action. Below, under Additional Resources, is the plan approved by the Board of Regents in March 2026.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n\r\n  <h3 style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem;color: #003865\">Our plan:<\/h3>\r\n  <ul style=\"margin-top: 0;margin-bottom: 1.25rem;padding-left: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7\">\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Reduce reliance on reserves in FY26\u2013FY27<\/li>\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">Execute the multi-year deficit reduction plan<\/li>\r\n    <li>Establish clear reserve rebuild targets with Board visibility<\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n\r\n  <p style=\"margin: 0;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\r\n    <strong>Reserves are not a strategy.<\/strong> They are the buffer that protects students and operations while we implement structural solutions.\r\n  <\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n  \r\n\r\n  <!-- Workbook -->\r\n  <div id=\"workbook\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">Workbook Review: Where to Start<\/h2>\r\n    <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0\">\r\n      You do not need to read every tab to understand the story. If you look at just these two, you\u2019ll see the full arc:\r\n    <\/p>\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-cards\">\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Wk #7A FY25 Actual<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        Last year\u2019s outcome and the impact of one-time support.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"wcsu-card\">\r\n        <strong>Wk #7B FY26 Projection<\/strong><br \/>\r\n        The current mid-year forecast (conservative, pre-mitigation). Key lines: Revenue, Full-time salary, Fringe, Institutional aid, Use of reserves.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"margin: 12px 0\">\r\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/connectwcsu-my.sharepoint.com\/:x:\/g\/personal\/bernalj_wcsu_edu\/IQDcLJUqnSQnSq1EU3u3lfUVAWZnHzuD-3xgBrTwfeKwz4k?e=L3p4Yt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#002856;color:#ffffff;padding:12px 16px;border-radius:12px;font-weight:800;text-decoration:none\">\r\n    View Budget Workbook (WCSU login required)\r\n  <\/a>\r\n  <div style=\"margin-top:6px;color:#666;font-size:13px\">\r\n    Access is limited to users with WCSU credentials (view-only).\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n  <hr class=\"wcsu-hr\" \/>\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  <section aria-labelledby=\"additional-resources\" style=\"margin-top: 2rem\">\r\n  <h2 id=\"additional-resources\" style=\"color: #003865;margin-bottom: 1rem\">\r\n    Additional Resources\r\n  <\/h2>\r\n\r\n  <ul style=\"margin: 0;padding-left: 1.25rem;line-height: 1.7\">\r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2026\/03\/WestConn-Fiscal-Resilience-Blueprint-gap-closingupdated-3-10-2026.docx\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n        Fiscal Resilience Blueprint (FY30 deficit reduction plan)\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li>\r\n    \r\n       <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2026\/03\/WCSU_reserve_compliance_plan-3-5-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n        BOR Required Fund Balance Action Plan\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li>\r\n    \r\n    <li style=\"margin-bottom: 0.5rem\">\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2026\/03\/WR-Commitment-1-Strengthening-Foundations.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n        Commitment 1: Strengthening Foundations overview\r\n    \r\n    <li>\r\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/91\/2026\/03\/WCSU-5-Year-Capital-Plan-Background-Summary-including-enrollment-report.docx\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n        Five-year capital plan summary\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li>\r\n  <\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n\r\n  <!-- FAQ -->\r\n  <div id=\"faq\">\r\n    <h2 class=\"wcsu-h2\">FAQs<\/h2>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-details\">\r\n      <summary>What does \u201cpre-mitigation\u201d mean?<\/summary>\r\n      <div style=\"margin-top:10px\">\r\n        It means the projection reflects where we land <em>without<\/em> adding additional corrective actions beyond what is already approved.\r\n        We use a conservative view so we can act early and reduce risk.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-details\">\r\n      <summary>Why is reserve use increasing?<\/summary>\r\n      <div style=\"margin-top:10px\">\r\n        Because the mid-year outlook is tighter than the original plan due to a combination of lower revenue than planned and higher than planned\r\n        spending in full-time salary\/benefits and institutional aid. Acting early helps limit the reliance on reserves.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-details\">\r\n      <summary>What does \u201cbridge year\u201d mean?<\/summary>\r\n      <div style=\"margin-top:10px\">\r\n     FY26 relies on one-time support while structural fixes are implemented.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n  \r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-details\">\r\n      <summary>Why invest in innovation during a deficit?<\/summary>\r\n      <div style=\"margin-top:10px\">\r\n     Tie to pilot \u2192 prove \u2192 institutionalize model.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"wcsu-details\">\r\n      <summary>What can employees do to help?<\/summary>\r\n      <div style=\"margin-top:10px\">\r\n        Stay aligned on spending discipline; follow overtime and hiring guidance; bring forward ideas that protect student experience while improving\r\n        efficiency; and engage in shared leadership conversations that help us make strong \u201cWolves First\u201d decisions.\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- Footer \/ Contact -->\r\n  <div class=\"wcsu-foot\">\r\n    <div><strong>Questions?<\/strong> Email: <a href=\"mailto:president@wcsu.edu\" style=\"color:#FF4D00;text-decoration:none;font-weight:800\">president@wcsu.edu<\/a><\/div>\r\n    <div style=\"margin-top:6px\">\r\n      Note: Figures shown reflect a conservative mid-year projection and may change as corrective actions and monitoring continue.\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated: March 12, 2026 Mid-Year FY26 Budget Update This update provides a transparent mid-year FY26 budget outlook and connects it to our broader Western Rising \u2013 Commitment 1: Strengthening Foundations work. We are addressing both immediate FY26 pressures and a &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":429,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"university-homepage.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1117","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/429"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/western-rising\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}