N.C. State facing $36M in budget cuts

"There will be pain for all of us," Oblinger said in his annual "State of the University" address. "In good years, the university and education has done well. In the downturn, we have to step up and do our part to help."

N.C. State's history is one of listening to the needs of North Carolina and responding with real-world solutions, he said, adding that the No. 1 need now is getting North Carolina out of an economic recession.

Economists at the university don't expect an economic recovery for at least a year, he said.

"We've engaged a wide range of people and groups across campus to help us prepare our approach to the budget shortfalls," he said. "We are planning our budget reductions strategically, with a goal of giving ourselves the best chance of a quick recovery."

Despite spending cuts, Oblinger said, N.C. State will do its best to move forward with research and economic development-related projects. He cited textile research that brought Spirit Aerosystems and 1,000 jobs to Kinston.

University administrators will have a better understanding of where they will need to cut once the state's budget is presented, but "difficult decisions" are ahead, Oblinger said.