NU Board of Regents set to meet amid change in leadership, budget shortfall

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is meeting Friday morning in the midst of a change in leadership and a major budget shortfall. 

The board will consider Chris Kabourek to be the interim president on Jan. 1.

Current NU president Ted Carter is set to leave at the end of the year to become the president at Ohio State University. 

Kabourek is a 26-year veteran within NU and is currently serving as senior vice president and chief financial officer. He would keep those roles on top of interim duties if he’s approved by the board of regents. 

This comes as the University of Nebraska systems is facing a $58 million budget shortfall and all four of it’s universities are trying to make cuts right now. 

Staff and faculty at the University of Nebraska-Kearney are pushing back on a recent proposal to slash several majors, including it’s theatre program.

Meanwhile, University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor Rodney Bennett recently proposed $12 million in cuts at UNL, including slashing the budget of the school’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Friday’s board of regents agenda doesn’t include anything about the budget, but there will be a public comment period.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at Varner Hall on UNL’s campus.