Update to Freeze Memo (Dated: June 7, 2022)

June 7, 2022

TO: UH Officers
FROM: David Lassner, President
SUBJECT: Update to Freeze – Effective Immediately

Mahalo for all you and your teams have done to contain spending during the last two years of extreme uncertainty. We have maintained our core services, supported continuing student success, advanced a number of key priorities, and ensured a solid financial position across the institution.

With that as context, we are now reducing the “freeze” that has been in place and adjusted several times since the beginning of the pandemic, with the most recent adjustment made as of November 1, 2021. This does not mean the pandemic is over; as you know, we continue to experience extremely high rates of COVID-19 across the state. Nor does it mean that our finances are no longer a concern; rather that the worst-case financial scenarios we prepared for have not come to pass.

Effective immediately, the only element of the previous “freezes” remaining in place is a freeze on all new UH hires into regular (permanent or temporary) positions using UH General Funds (GF), Tuition and Fee Special Funds (TFSF) and/or Research and Training Revolving Funds (RTRF). Only the UH President can approve exceptions to this freeze upon recommendation from an Officer.

One note relating to the pandemic and travel: we have already experienced several situations in which UH employees on travel have tested positive for COVID-19 and been required to change airline reservations and extend hotel stays. When approving workrelated travel, supervisors and fiscal administrators must be aware that they are also accepting financial responsibility for the unknown costs of any unexpected changes in travel plans that may be necessitated by a COVID-19 diagnosis. Similarly, any traveler who is approved to mix personal travel with business travel must be aware that they may also be accepting financial responsibility for the unknown costs of any unexpected changes in travel plans. A more detailed guide for these situations will be forthcoming from the Financial Management Office.

Please share this update within your organizations.

c:
Board of Regents Chair Randy Moore
The Honorable Governor David Ige
UH Controller Amy Kunz

Link to PDF Version of Memo