RENO — A slideshow of accomplishments by University of Nevada, Reno students and faculty did not stop the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents from giving final approval for massive cuts on Thursday.

The slideshow couldn’t muffle the outpouring of emotion from students, faculty and administrators who pled with the regents to preserve several programs under consideration for cuts, nor the fact that regents still felt compelled to take action for the long-term health of UNR and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

For UNR, facing more severe budget cuts for following fiscal years, the regents voted 11-2 to approve the final $11 million in budget cut recommendations presented by President Milt Glick, including the elimination of several programs and reorganize the College of Education.

“I think it’s remarkable the processes that these two universities have gone through,” Chancellor Dan Klaich said. “Shared governance is not about deciding the menu for the picnic this weekend. We can all do that. What these two universities have been through has been as difficult and gut wrenching and problematic as any university can face.”

Specific cuts pertaining to UNR included reducing the College of Agriculture, one of the most contentious proposals university administrators and regents have dealt.

Also up for discussion at the meeting were keeping faculty employed and retaining a certain level of ethnic diversity and women on staff, Glick said. The plan included the possible layoffs of 26 faculty members, which would mean 18 men and eight women would be let go.

“These are terrible numbers, but these are people behind these numbers,” Glick said. “I don’t want to minimize the terrible impacts (of these cuts).”

Glick said no one signed up to do the job of slicing the budget an additional $11 million plus the $33 million previously eliminated in three rounds of cuts. Those early reductions did not greatly harm the academic integrity of the institution, Glick said, but it soon became clear that further decreases to the budget would have adverse effects.

“You cannot lose $44 million and offer all the same things you did before,” he said.

Regents Cedric Crear and Mark Alden from Las Vegas voted against the reduction plan.

Members of the public spoke on behalf of UNR programs.

Maureen Kilkenny, a tenured professor of economics, said she disagreed with the process of eliminating her department, calling it collateral damage as a “target of elimination.”

“It’s not the right way to go,” she said. “The UNR faculty realizes the money has to be saved and have stepped up in favor of reduction to retain the whole. … This was uncivilized.”

Charlie Jose, president of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, refuted concerns that student input wasn’t sought in the curricular review process when proposals were being sought for reductions.

“We do not endorse the elimination of programs … but in regards to the curricular review process, the faculty, staff and students came together and it’s something that gives me great pride attending the University of Neavda,” Jose said.