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As we all are aware, the unanticipated impact from the recession affected everyone this year. It also took its toll on the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMCA) this year, including the Native American Center of Excellence (NACOE). The Dean of the medical school required an 8% budget reduction from every department within Academic Affairs. This had a substantial impact on our budget, and threatened all of our staff and programs. As a result, it was decided to not fund a full-time Director in order to sustain support for our programs and prevent us from losing staff. We were successful in preserving the position for a future date (2011) with the anticipation that the economy and the UW budget deficit will improve. The present budget cuts will remain in place for the next two years. We were successful in sustaining and preserving all of our programs and staff. In the last few months, strategic planning has been underway to restructure NACOE given this new challenge. Victoria Gardner, Ed.D., the present Director of the OMCA, will take the role as interim Director for NACOE. In addition, a new Advisory Board for NACOE will be formed whose members will have the responsibility for advising the NACOE staff on the Indian Health Pathway curriculum, the Medicine Wheel Society, and other NACOE activities. This will be the first time in its history that a Board will be established for NACOE. This will be one of the first items on Dr. Gardner's agenda to accomplish in the near future. There will be no other major changes anticipated for the NACOE, and the addition of an advisory Board will add to the strength of the Center. The Dean continues to support NACOE through the institutionalization of funding, and is committed to sustaining its success. Meanwhile, we are committed to continue our search for additional funding to bring NACOE back to where it was in its prior years. Please let me know if you have any questions, and do not hesitate to contact me.- David Acosta