A budget deficit on the state level is now causing a belt tightening at the University level.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln must cut $5.2 million from its budget by the Spring.

The cuts are just the beginning in a long line of changes set to close a $9.2 million gap in the next two years.

UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman says, "We try to find the things to reduce that will have the least damage to the University."

That begins with the elimination of the Communications and Information Technology Unit of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Eight employees would be terminated and another ten positions eliminated. University Communications would pick up the slack.

Perlman says, "At some point every institution has to sharpen its focus and do things that it's going to do well and not do things that we're doing just because we've always done them."

Those cuts would save $1.4 million.

Next on the chopping block would be $2 million dollars from the Office of Research.

The third cut eliminates all state funds allocated to the Lentz Center for Asian Culture.

Finally, UNL would eliminate one Associate Vice Chancellor position for a total of $3.558 million. Some students say UNL should take another look.

Aaron Smith, Junior Animal Science Major, says, "I think they probably should look harder maybe to find cuts elsewhere before coming here because education is very important to me."

Cody Lange, Junior Mechanized Systems Management Major, says, "I believe that that is going to take a definite toll on the already somewhat understaffed situation over here."

But Perlman believes these cuts will protect what's most important.

Perlman adds, "Tried to protect the core of the academic enterprise, we tried to protect the resources that are directly available to students."

And protect the reputation of a University rooted in academic excellence.

Some of the resources from the cuts would also be reallocated to help create curriculum focused on Agricultural Journalism.

Perlman says students would have access to a better understanding of Agriculture and, in turn, report more accurately on this very important sector.

Tuition could also see a rise, but that won't be known until a Regents meeting in June.