<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Dear colleagues,</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Ramin's question comes at a good time. After attending the budget meeting while overseas, I returned to prepare a provisional plan for our School that would address a proposed 3% cut to all units in the Division while ensuring that my key principle remains
steadfast, as highlighted in our faculty meetings throughout the past year: </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; line-height: 120%; margin-top: 4pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<i>We aim to protect jobs, to cover our needs,</i></div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; line-height: 120%; margin-top: 4pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<b><i>and </i></b><i>to look ahead.</i></div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
In approaching this challenge, I've reflected on the following essential points: (1) We already are extremely lean in our operations spending. (2) We have a number of additional expenses this year that must be covered relative to last year. (3) We have a vastly
better sense of our financial situation as a unit than we did at the start of CY24 or before, and we have weathered expenditure authority responsibly and to a dime — but we still are learning about unit needs. (4) We don't have a central budget model, and
this remains confusing and unsettling to all of us. (5) Our people and our mission delivery are our most important investments. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Together, these matters mandate a careful plan. After working on this since my return, I'm increasingly confident we can handle this without any drastic action or loss of current function or support for our key mission areas. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
To round out the planning process, I'm ready to ask for a faculty discussion, which also will represent our postponed faculty discussion(s) from May/April as we awaited budget news. This invitation comes with necessary caveats: (1) it's summer, so participation
is going to be limited; that is both understandable and understood. (2) I won't have answers to all questions, but I'll do my best. (3) If there were cause for immediate concern, this would be shared directly.</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
To clarify the ask, I am tasked with proposing a plan on June 20 that will be a prelude to the more important component: a discussion with our Executive Council on June 23. Any proposed plan must be vetted and approved, and will not be enacted immediately.
Thus, the task to accomplish is an informed proposal and discussion with Division leadership. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Ramin, thanks for bringing the question to our listserv 45 minutes or so before I was ready to reach out. The other points you raise are important and will be addressed at a later date; they are next on the priority list, and of course will be shared more broadly
with our faculty.</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
To all, you're always welcome to contact me with questions directly: 520.396.0854, arnold@ag.arizona.edu, and Calendly to set a meeting. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Please see my next note for an invitation to our faculty discussion.</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Warm regards,</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Betsy</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div id="Signature">
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<table id="table_0" style="text-align: left; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(64, 54, 53); box-sizing: border-box; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="left" style="vertical-align: top; width: 120px; height: 174.391px; box-sizing: border-box;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(64, 54, 53);"><img alt="The University of Arizona block 'A' logo." title="The University of Arizona" width="90" style="width: 90px; box-sizing: border-box;" src="https://marcom.arizona.edu/modules/custom/brand_generator/img/ua-sig-logo.png"></span></td>
<td align="left" style="line-height: 1.2; vertical-align: top; color: rgb(73, 80, 87); width: 500px; height: 174.391px; box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="line-height: 1.2; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);">
<span style="line-height: 1.2; font-weight: 700;">A. Elizabeth Arnold, </span><span style="line-height: 1.2;">PhD</span></div>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);">Interim Director and Professor, School of Plant Sciences</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);">Curator, Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);">Chair and Director of Graduate Studies,</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);">Ecosystem Genomics GIDP</span></p>
<div style="line-height: 1.2; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(73, 80, 87);">
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA</div>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);">fungi@arizona.edu</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);"><a href="http://www.arnoldlab.net" id="OWA9ef65dca-5701-110b-0c04-c45d24ec9d5f" class="OWAAutoLink" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">www.arnoldlab.net</a> |
<a href="http://www.gilbertsonherbarium.net" id="OWAafde34f2-e68c-72e2-009a-b6bc237b37f3" class="OWAAutoLink" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">
www.gilbertsonherbarium.net</a> </span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(12, 35, 75);"><br>
</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; display: block;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(237, 92, 87);"><b><i>To schedule a meeting, please use
</i></b><a href="https://calendly.com/fungi-arizona" id="OWA26bdcdaf-e4db-ba49-904e-78164176ff0e" class="OWAAutoLink" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">https://calendly.com/fungi-arizona</a></span></p>
<div style="margin-top: 10px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left; width: 120px; height: 23.6953px; box-sizing: border-box;">
</td>
<td style="text-align: left; width: 500px; height: 23.6953px; box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="text-align: left; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(139, 0, 21);">
<span style="line-height: 1.2;"><br>
</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></div>
</div>
</body>
</html>