After six months of significant fiscal efforts, how is the University doing now?

Going into the second half of the 2025-26 fiscal year (FY), the University of Louisiana at Lafayette continues to tackle a $50 million structural deficit, an ongoing challenge since the Fall 2025 semester. With a series of efforts, the University has been progressing toward achieving a fiscal balance by the end of the FY.

Discussing the University’s fiscal efforts and his role as chief financial officer for the past six months, Dr. Edwin Litolff shared that at the initial stage of assuming the role, he focused on rolling out measures that would have an immediate impact on spending reductions. 

Going into this semester, the focus is on fiscal efforts that would positively impact the University’s finances in the long run. “We’re into the second semester, there’s more detailed analyses on what are the areas that, long term, we need to look at,” Litolff said.

A leading cause of the budget deficit, Litolff shared, is that previously, the University lacked proper budget allocation. This allowed departments and organizations to spend more than the generated revenue. In tackling that, the University will be better able to achieve a balanced budget for the 2026-27 FY.

Litolff said, “Our challenge is going to be to continue to minimize the spend so that our cash flow will be able to be positive to the end of the fiscal year.”

He went on to explain that if spending is consistently reduced across campus, along with stable enrollment and state funding, the University will be able to reach a balanced budget for the 2026-27 FY. Once a balance is achieved, they will enforce set budgets for all departments to operate within at the beginning of the Fall 2026 semester.

Treading with prudency for the Spring 2026 semester will be crucial in ensuring cost-efficiency so that a fiscal balance may be achieved by June 30, when the 2025-26 FY comes to an end. 

It must be acknowledged that there were significant impacts from the fiscal measures that took place in the fall on members of the campus community. However, change was imminent.

Moving forward, amidst the current search for a new University president, the University’s fiscal position continues to hang in the air, though progress has been made. Litolff shared that with the achievement of fiscal balance, along with the new president, the future of UL Lafayette would then be able to move toward growth and a new vision.

Timeline of events in the fall:

July 31: Dr. Joseph Savoie steps down as president after 17 years.

Aug. 1: Dr. Jaimie Hebert, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, steps into the role as interim president.

Aug. 11: Dr. Edwin Litolff joins UL Lafayette as the vice president of administration and finance and chief financial officer.

Aug. 20: State of the University Address 2025 takes place, where Hebert announced a 5% cut on auxiliary and operational spending. 

Sept. 25: Hebert presents at Town Hall that among a $25 million structural deficit, the University has identified $15 million in reductions. Every division committed to reducing operational spending by 10%, with the exception of Academic Affairs, which identified 5% in reductions.

Sept. 30: Closing of the Office of Sustainability and Community Engagement and restructuring of the Office of Communications and Marketing, as well as the Office of Auxiliary Services, eliminating six staff positions in total.

Oct. 1: Hebert announces at Town Hall a series of cost-cutting measures. Commencement was restructured into a one-day event, saving the University about $65,000. Arrangement with local hotel Wingate by Wyndham, for satellite student housing, was cancelled, saving about $900,000. Building temperatures were adjusted, saving about $200,000. Campus shuttle operations were readjusted, saving about $109,000.

Oct. 23: The University identifies $20.5 million in reductions, and as part of the effort, 70 employees were affected.

Oct. 24: Out of the 70 affected positions, 51 positions were eliminated. This included 28 unclassified employees and 23 classified employees governed by Civil Service rules. The remaining reflect retirements, resignations and reassignments. This was not including the six staff positions eliminated on Sept. 30.

Nov. 4: The University launches louisiana.edu/forward, a website created to share information about ongoing fiscal efforts. 

Nov. 13: Hebert returns to the position of provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, vice president of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, was appointed interim president. 

Dec. 5: As part of organizational restructuring, the University eliminates three vice president positions. Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management, retires. Ms. Patricia Cottonham, vice president for Student Affairs, moves into the role as dean of students. Mr. John Blohm, vice president for University Advancement, focuses solely on the role as CEO of the UL Lafayette Foundation.