Top leaders at the University of Nebraska are typically eager to talk about the high points — increases in enrollment, graduation rates and research funding. Amid 40-year high inflation, gas prices rising above $5 per gallon on average across the country, and the Federal Reserve approving an interest rate hike June 15, NU is happy to highlight the lows. Next week, the NU Board of Regents will consider a general operating budget proposal reflecting 1.3% growth over the current fiscal year to top $1.03 billion. While the total budget is increasing by nearly $12.9 million, NU's year-over-year growth is less than half of the state's 2.8% average annual growth rate, and far below the current 8.6% inflation rate. And, at a time when tuition rates are continuing to increase at institutions across the country, NU will hold the line on its per credit hour costs for the second straight year, President Ted Carter said, part of what he characterized as a "modest" budget blueprint resulting fro...