University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty publicly condemned Chancellor Rodney Bennett’s $1.1 million separation payment after he resigned amid controversial budget cuts and program eliminations. The AAUP and faculty senate had already voted no confidence in Bennett over proposals that trimmed programs and staff to close a purported deficit; an independent auditor and faculty critics questioned the fiscal necessity of the cuts. Faculty leaders say the severance undermines morale and undercuts ongoing savings measures, prompting calls to halt planned job and program eliminations and to revisit recent regent decisions. The episode highlights tensions between governing boards, senior leadership and faculty over fiscal transparency, shared governance, and the use of one-time payouts while campuses pursue structural savings.