Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the University of West Florida has still managed to grow its student body, increase its fundraising and earn national accolades both athletically and academically. Nonetheless, next year stands to be even more challenging as the university faces an estimated $7.3 million in budget cuts stemming from the pandemic. In her first virtual "State of the University" address Thursday afternoon, UWF President Martha Saunders announced the university was undertaking a "budget reduction exercise" as a result COVID-19 and that it is bracing for "a significant hit."
