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UMKC responds to reports of $20 million conservatory project funding loss

Posted at 3:35 PM, Jan 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-26 16:35:40-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UMKC has responded to reports that $20 million in funding has been pulled from their downtown conservatory project.

The money was reportedly from the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation.

In a letter sent to students, UMKC said “reports of the death of our UMKC Conservatory project are greatly exaggerated.”

The university acknowledged the fact that the project had faced some difficulties, but said it recognized the project’s importance both to the school and to the Kansas City arts community.

Citing higher education budget cuts that came after years of flat appropriations that did not account for inflation or enrollment growth, the letter said UMKC and the UM System are reviewing the campus’ academic portfolio to make sure the university is able to provide quality programs at the lowest cost possible.

Read the full letter below.