To: RIO Staff
From: Cynthia Carnes, Vice President for Research and Innovation
Subject: University-Wide Commitment to Budget Transparency
Date: October 13, 2026
Dear RIO colleagues,
Since information regarding the University’s budget outlook and planned reductions was shared in September, all campuses, colleges, and administrative units have begun local planning in response to their budget targets. In the Research and Innovation Office (RIO), we have taken a thoughtful, proactive approach to this work—one that, as I shared in my earlier messages, will help safeguard our core research mission, protect foundational operations like SPA, RDO, and Compliance, and position RIO to emerge even stronger.
The University is committed to transparency, as am I. Last week, central leadership launched a Budget Planning website to help answer questions and provide context about the multi-year planning process. Later today, that website will be updated to show the full range of expected reduction targets across the entire institution. In advance of that update, I want to share directly how RIO is approaching this work and what these numbers mean for our units.
Our Context and Local Approach
- Target and Scenarios: RIO's expected budget reduction target is $6.98 to $8.11 million or 11% to 13% of our combined Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and tuition allocations. As we evaluate these targets, we are leveraging our shift toward an integrated budget model. Rather than asking individual academic and support units to cut in isolation, we are assessing RIO as a unified whole to strategically deploy resources where they have the greatest impact, value, and long-term resilience to ensure we are able to fully support the system-wide research enterprise.
- Timeline and Planning Process: As a reminder, operational budgets for the current fiscal year (FY27) remain set and secure. Unit leaders and finance teams are currently finalizing balance reviews and evaluating budget scenarios for FY28 (taking effect July 1, 2027) before submitting refined proposals through the central budget compact process in the coming weeks.
- Leadership Coordination: RIO unit leadership will continue working through these planning phases in close alignment with my office and central guidance.
I recognize that navigating these institutional budget reductions can bring real concern and uncertainty about the future. Please know that I understand the weight of this broader transition. While navigating these financial realities will require hard choices, we are making each decision thoughtfully and with a clear focus on sustaining our core research enterprise.
Because this multi-phase process will unfold over the coming months, we will not have answers to every question immediately. I remain fully committed to keeping you updated as central guidance develops and new details emerge.
For additional institutional context and answers to common questions, I encourage you to visit the University’s Budget Planning website, which features regularly updated FAQs.
In the midst of these challenging circumstances, please know how much I value your daily contributions—whether you are directly supporting researchers, managing compliance, or directing center/institute research. Your work is the vital foundation of our research enterprise, and I am grateful for your dedication as we work through this transition together as one RIO team to build a stable, resilient, and vibrant future.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Carnes, PharmD, PhD
Vice President for Research and Innovation