University of Nebraska Board of Regents to meet Dec. 6
Nov. 27, 2024
Contact: Cara Pesek
(402) 570-1585 (cell)
carapesek(a)nebraska.edu
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will meet at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, in Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege St. in Lincoln. The meeting is open to the public and will also be live-streamed at www.nebraska.edu<https://nebraska.edu/>.
A detailed agenda for the Board meeting is available here.<https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/board-of-regents/agendas-an…>
During the meeting, University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold., M.D., will provide an update on the university’s Odyssey to Extraordinary, including an overview of the ongoing collaborative strategic planning process across the university system.
“After meeting with hundreds of Nebraskans during my first five months in this role, we know what Nebraskans want from their university,” said Dr. Gold. “They want an extraordinary University of Nebraska. They want an accessible and affordable education for their children and grandchildren. They want a robust and effective statewide extension platform. They want a prepared workforce in critical areas including tech, ag and rural healthcare. In the coming months, we will complete a roadmap to get us to from the excellent institution we are today, to one that is truly extraordinary.”
Paul Umbach, of the consulting firm Tripp Umbach, will share an updated overview of the university’s economic impact on the state of Nebraska. A final report will be released early next year.
The Board will also hear reports on the fall semester enrollment and retention, as well as on the summer term. In addition, it will recognize five Kudos Award winners from all four University of Nebraska campuses, as well as from the President’s Office. Kudos Awards recognize outstanding staff from across the University of Nebraska.
Other items for the Board’s consideration include:
* Approve establishment of a Master of Science (MS) degree in Healthcare Logistics and Supply Chain Management (HLSCM) administered by the College of Business Administration’s Department of Management at the University of Nebraska at Omaha;
* Approve and authorize a HuskerVision agreement to replace outdated production equipment as part of their relocation within the Stadium.
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About the University of Nebraska
The University of Nebraska is the state’s only public university system, made up of four campuses – UNL, UNO, UNK and UNMC – each with a distinct role and mission. Together the campuses enroll nearly 50,000 students and employ 16,000 faculty and staff who serve the state, nation and world through education, research and outreach. For the latest "People, Programs and Points of Excellence" from across the NU System, visit the university's website here<https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/president/p3e/NU%20P3E%20Re…>.
Google makes $250,000 gift to NU Foundation for advancement of AI
Nov. 25, 2024
Contact: Cara Pesek
402-570-1585 (mobile)
carapesek(a)nebraska.edu<mailto:carapesek@nebraska.edu>
Lincoln, Neb. – The University of Nebraska Foundation will receive a $250,000 gift from Google to advance artificial intelligence research and education across the university system. Google made the announcement during an event on Monday on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Innovation Campus.
The gift, one of several announced during the event to support Nebraska educational entities, will empower faculty and students to engage with cutting-edge AI technologies, positioning the university as a hub for innovation in this transformative field. During the event, Google also announced $930 million in infrastructure investments in Nebraska that will support the growth of its data center campuses in Lincoln, Papillion and Omaha, helping meet growing demand for Google Cloud, AI innovations and other digital products and services.
“The University of Nebraska is proud to celebrate with Google as they make a transformative investment in our state and in our future,” said University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “Their generous gift to the university underscores our shared commitment to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to ensure we remain at the forefront of research, teaching, and public engagement.”
The gift comes at a time when NU is doubling down on harnessing the power of AI. Earlier this year, the university announced a new undergraduate degree program in generative AI. The program is a collaboration between the UNL and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In addition, all four NU campuses are actively building AI-related programs and are using the new technology to drive teaching and innovation. A pan-university AI task force comprised of faculty and staff across a wide array of disciplines — including information technology, medicine, agriculture, engineering, library sciences and more — is working to understand opportunities for collaboration across campuses and to identify areas of shared strength.
“The University of Nebraska’s work in AI, including the work that will be possible because of this investment, is critical to our vision for the future,” said Gold. “As we strive to be an exceptional university system, we must also strive to be a trailblazer in understanding, using and advancing new technologies including AI.”
About the University of Nebraska System
The University of Nebraska is the state’s only public university system, made up of four campuses – UNL, UNO, UNK and UNMC – each with a distinct role and mission. Together the campuses enroll nearly 50,000 students and employ 16,000 faculty and staff who serve the state, nation and world through education, research and outreach. For more information and news from the University of Nebraska, visit www.nebraska.edu/news<http://nebraska.edu/news>.
Nebraskans can register for second cycle of Google Career Certificate program
Nov. 22, 2024
Contact: Cara Pesek
402-570-1585 (mobile)
carapesek(a)nebraska.edu
Registration is now open for Nebraskans to earn educational credentials and advance their careers through the second cycle of the Google Career Certificates program.
The program, which offers training in fields including cybersecurity, IT, data analytics and business intelligence, – is open to NU students, alumni of any University of Nebraska campus, and Nebraska residents for $20 per enrollment.
Pre-registration for the Google programs is open now<https://nebraska.edu/google-career-certificates>. The programs, developed and taught by Google experts and vetted by leading employers, will begin in December, with 2,500 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. A previous session launched in August, with 700 students from across the state earning certifications. A third session will be held beginning in April.
“The University of Nebraska is proud to partner with Google to bring these transformative learning opportunities to our students, alumni, and communities across Nebraska,” said University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “This program reflects our commitment to empowering learners at every stage of life, as well as to supporting the workforce needs of Nebraska industries across our state.”
Under the partnership, students and Nebraskans can enroll in the following Google Career Certificates. The programs prepare learners for entry-level roles, with no experience required, in three to six months of part-time study:
* Cybersecurity
* IT Support
* Data Analytics
* Digital Marketing and E-Commerce
* Project Management
* User Experience (UX) Design
The following advanced certificates are also available, designed for learners with several years of experience or who have completed foundational Google Career Certificates in a related field:
* IT Automation with Python
* Advanced Data Analytics
* Business Intelligence
For current university students, pairing a microcredential such as a Google Career Certificate with their bachelor’s degree program can enhance their skillset and make them more competitive in the job market. A 2023 report<https://www.aacu.org/research/the-career-ready-graduate-what-employers-say-…> from the American Association of Colleges and Universities found strong support among employers for microcredentials, with two-thirds saying they would prefer to hire college graduates with microcredentials for entry-level positions.
Google Career Certificates can benefit alumni and Nebraskans as well by allowing them to swiftly upskill in today’s rapidly evolving workforce. More than 250,000 people in the United States have earned a Google certificate and 75% report a positive career impact, such as a new job, higher pay or promotion, within six months of completion, according to Google research.
The Google partnership is part of a broad strategy at the University to expand access to microcredentials and professional development opportunities to more Nebraskans and support workforce growth in the state. The Google Career Certificates will be offered through NU Advance<https://advance.nebraska.edu/>, the university’s existing platform for online non-credit and professional development courses. Taken together, the growing catalog of learning opportunities available through NU Advance provide significant opportunities for Nebraskans to enhance their competitiveness and mobility in the job market at an affordable cost.
In partnering with Google to offer career certificates, the University of Nebraska joins a list of leading institutions including the University of Texas System, Rutgers and UCLA. More information on the Nebraska Google Career Certificates program is available at nebraska.edu/google-career-certificates<https://nebraska.edu/google-career-certificates>.
About the University of Nebraska
The University of Nebraska is the state’s only public university system, made up of four campuses – UNL, UNO, UNK and UNMC – each with a distinct role and mission. Together the campuses enroll nearly 50,000 students and employ 16,000 faculty and staff who serve the state, nation and world through education, research and outreach. For more information and news from the University of Nebraska, visit www.nebraska.edu/news<http://nebraska.edu/news>.
Listening sessions planned to gather feedback on UNK chancellor search
Nov. 11, 2024
Contact: Cara Pesek
402-472-4398
402-570-1585 (mobile)
The University of Nebraska will host a series of listening sessions in mid-November to seek input on the search for the next chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The listening sessions, which will all take place at the UNK Regional Engagement Center Nov. 18-19, will offer students, faculty, staff and community members opportunities to share qualities and attributes they believe are important for the role. They will also be able to ask questions, share their hopes and ideas for the direction of the UNK campus, and provide feedback on the process thus far.
“The University of Nebraska at Kearney is surrounded by an incredibly passionate and supportive community,” said NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “Capturing the insights and ideas of that community will be invaluable in the search committee’s quest to select the right chancellor for this important campus.”
Dates and times for sessions are:
* Nov. 18, 3 p.m.: listening session for faculty
* Nov. 18, 5 p.m.: listening session for students (food provided)
* Nov. 18, 7:15 p.m.: listening session for community members
* Nov. 19, 9 a.m.: listening session for faculty
* Nov. 19, 10:30 a.m.: listening session for deans and vice chancellors
* Nov. 19, noon: listening session for staff (lunch provided)
All sessions will be held in room 120.
The sessions will be facilitated by the UNK chancellor search committee<https://nebraska.edu/unk-chancellor-search/search-advisory-committee>, which is chaired by David Jackson, interim executive vice president and provost of the University of Nebraska System. Search firm CarterBaldwin is assisting with the search.
Following the listening sessions, the search firm and search committee will work together with the President’s Office to develop a job description and begin inviting nominations and applications.
More information is available on the search website at nebraska.edu/unk-chancellor-search<https://nebraska.edu/unk-chancellor-search>.
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Nov. 8, 2024
Contact: Cara Pesek
(402) 472-4389
(402) 570-1585 (mobile)
cpesek2(a)unl.edu<mailto:cpesek2@unl.edu>
The University of Nebraska’s Presidential Scholars program, which provides full-ride scholarship support to all Nebraska students who score a perfect 36 on the ACT, will be expanded to include more top Nebraska scholars for the coming academic year.
In the fall of 2024, the University of Nebraska welcomed 17 freshmen from across Nebraska to its campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney as part of the Presidential Scholars initial cohort. In the fall of 2025, the University will expand the program to up to 50 top Nebraska scholars, including both students with perfect ACT scores and other top scorers.
All Nebraska seniors who receive a perfect ACT score will automatically qualify for the program. The remaining spots will be awarded through a highly competitive application process open to Nebraska students who score 32-35 on the ACT or the SAT equivalent. For example, if 25 students with perfect ACT scores choose to attend the University for Nebraska for the 2025-26 academic year, then 25 spots would be available to students who score 32-35.
Each student accepted into the Presidential Scholars program will receive scholarship support covering the total cost of attendance. This includes tuition and fees, housing and food, and personal expenses at any NU undergraduate campus for up to four years of study. In addition, all Presidential Scholars will receive a $5,000 annual stipend. So far this year, 28 Nebraska high school seniors who received a perfect score of 36 on their ACT have applied and been admitted to a University of Nebraska campus.
“Our state’s future will be bright when our most driven and passionate young people attend college here in Nebraska,” said President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “This is an investment in our state that underscores two deeply ingrained Nebraska values: hard work and excellence at the highest level.”
NU announced this program with Gov. Jim Pillen in February. Although many seniors were already well into their college decision making progress, the new program attracted 17 students with perfect ACT scores this fall – nearly 60% of the total high school seniors in Nebraska who received a perfect score. The program has since been widely praised by agricultural, philanthropic, business and elected leaders who endorsed the vision to compete for Nebraska’s homegrown talent to meet the future needs of the state.
“It is essential we compete to keep our kids here. The Presidential Scholarship program provides that pathway,” said Gov. Pillen. “When our brightest make the commitment to attend an institution of higher learning in Nebraska, then it is more likely they will stay.”
The university is maintaining its prestigious Regents Scholarship, which covers full tuition costs for high academic performers, as well as its investment in need-based financial aid through the Nebraska Promise program, which provides free tuition for Nebraska students whose families earn $65,000 or less per year.
Students with ACT scores of 32-35 will be able to apply for the program beginning immediately. For more information about the program or to apply, visit nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars<https://nebraska.edu/presidential-scholars>.
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Cara Pesek
IANR Communications Director
Interim NU Chief Communication Officer
402-570-1585 (mobile)
carapesek(a)nebraska.edu