The FY22 budget and new gen ed program are on the ABOR agenda this week
The University of Arizona will submit its budget for fiscal year 2022 to the Arizona Board of Regents during its meeting in Flagstaff this week.
The board, which has been meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is shifting to a hybrid meeting format, where board members, staff members from the board and universities, and individuals involved with presentations can attend the meeting in person. The meeting will be livestreamed for members of the public.
The University of Arizona's FY 2022 budget is driven by the five pillars of the strategic plan and was developed with input from student leaders, shared governance representatives and University administration. It reflects the University's investments in key strategic areas – including financial aid, strategic planning initiatives and support for students in the College of Medicine – Tucson, the College of Medicine – Phoenix and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
"The University Arizona continually works to implement efficiencies and identify savings opportunities" and is committed to providing "the most efficient and effective services as possible" to students, parents, employees and the state, according to materials submitted to the board.
In other business, the board will review the "Fiscal Year 2020 Research and Technology Transfer Activity Report," which highlights research and technology transfer outcomes at each university.
Highlights from the University of Arizona include:
- Research activity – as measured by research expenditures – totaled $750.1 million, surpassing FY 2019 expenditures by $15.8 million, or 2.2%, and exceeding the University's goal by $96.4 million.
- Annual research expenditures increased by $163.5 million, or 27.9%, over the past decade.
- Total research expenditure ranking rose from 38th in 2016 to 34th in 2019 among all U.S. universities, and from 23rd in 2016 to 19th in 2019 among U.S. public universities. The University is ranked sixth in research funded by NASA, 26th in research funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 28th in research funded by the National Science Foundation.
- The University entered into 95 license and option agreements, which was below its target for the year.
- Licensing and options income increased from $5.9 million to $7.3 million.
- A total of 87 U.S. patents were issued for University inventions – an increase of 31 – and 19 startups were formed.
In other items on the agenda, the University will ask the board to approve: the second amended contract for women's basketball head coach Adia Barnes and the contract of new men's basketball head coach Tommy Lloyd; revisions to the University's FY 2022 Capital Development Plan; and the University's proposed rolling three-year targets for metrics and forecast measures set by the board.
The University also will seek approval of:
- Two new programs: a Master of Arts in program design and evaluation and a Master of Science in data science.
- A new general education program to become effective the 2022 spring semester for newly admitted students.
- A new School of Mining and Mineral Resources, a partnership between the College of Science and the College of Engineering.