Dear colleagues,
A few weeks ago, I shared difficult news regarding the university’s response to the State of Nebraska's reduction in funding for the current fiscal year. As noted, our highest priority remains supporting the people and programs that advance our land-grant mission of teaching, research, extension and service. Achieving that goal requires us to continue making thoughtful, disciplined decisions about how we invest our resources, including our hiring decisions.
To support that effort, the university will continue its rigorous hiring approval process for FY2026-27. This process remains largely consistent with the framework established over the past several years.
Our hiring approval process continues to reflect several guiding principles:
- Ensuring new and replacement positions align with the university’s strategic priorities and operational needs;
- Exercising responsible stewardship of our financial resources;
- Preserving our ability to recruit and retain the talented employees who make our mission possible; and
- Streamlining approvals where doing so supports essential campus operations.
For FY2026-27, two changes are noteworthy:
Faculty positions
All regular faculty positions — both new and replacement — will require chancellor approval before recruitment begins, effective today. This review provides an additional opportunity to ensure faculty hiring plans remain aligned with the university’s academic priorities, long-term strategic objectives, and available resources.
Frontline service employees
To better support daily campus operations, designated frontline service positions will no longer require my approval. Instead, approval by the cognizant vice chancellor will serve as the final approval step. This change removes an administrative layer for positions that are critical to maintaining university operations while preserving appropriate leadership oversight. A list of eligible frontline service positions is available on the Human Resources website.
Other aspects of the hiring approval process remain substantially unchanged, including the review of managerial/professional, administrative, and office/service positions, salary actions requiring executive review and the existing approval processes for temporary appointments and student employment.
Additional details regarding approval requirements by position type are provided at the FY2026-27 Campus Hiring Approval Process site, which summarizes the required approval pathway for faculty, managerial/professional and office/service positions, frontline service employees, temporary appointments, student employment, salary actions and other personnel transactions. Employees and hiring managers are encouraged to consult the matrix when planning recruitment activities.
These refinements build upon the thoughtful stewardship the university has consistently exercised in recent years. They are intended to balance two equally important responsibilities: carefully managing our resources while ensuring we can continue to recruit the talented faculty and staff needed to advance our teaching, research, extension and service missions.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Katherine S. Ankerson
Interim Chancellor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln