University of Vermont seeks 3% base increase, $1 million cancer initiative and $1 million GaN tech hub from state

The University of Vermont asked the state Appropriations Committee on April 1 to approve a 3% increase to its core state appropriation for fiscal 2026 and to fund two one-time initiatives: a Vermont Cancer Initiative and a gallium nitride (GaN) technology hub.

Richard Kate, vice president for finance and administration at the University of Vermont, told the committee the 3% increase is included in the budget recommendation that reached the legislature and would fund items listed in the university’s budget narrative, including the Larner College of Medicine, extension and tuition support. “We are very appreciative of that, and we’re hopeful that you can approve of that,” Kate said.

Kate said the university faces rising costs for employee health insurance and uncertainty from possible federal changes to cost recovery on grants. “We are being impacted by a lot of the things that are going on at the federal level right now,” he said. Kate said UVM had anticipated some cost increases and put mitigation plans in place, but said further federal changes could force difficult funding decisions…