Dear University of Nebraska community,
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to share appreciation for all that you do for our university and the communities we serve. This year has been one of change and uncertainty, but through your hard work and dedication, we’ve continued to change lives, support communities and make a meaningful difference at home and far beyond. Thank you.
I’d also like to update you on a significant step recently taken for our university’s future. Last week, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents took a historic step and unanimously approved joint institutional accreditation for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This decision, affirmed by the Higher Learning Commission, strengthens our academic foundation, enhances opportunities for collaboration and helps us tell a more complete story about the impact of Nebraska’s flagship and medical campuses.
Joint accreditation aligns us more closely with our Big Ten and other R1 peers, allowing us to better reflect the breadth and depth of our teaching, research and engagement. It maintains the distinct missions and identities of UNL and UNMC, while opening new doors for partnership, innovation and student success. By working more closely together, we can continue to build on our shared strengths and serve Nebraska with even greater impact. A list of frequently asked questions and answers on the joint accreditation is available here.
I recognize that this good news comes at a time in which many members of our community are also feeling the impact of difficult budgetary decisions. Across our campuses, we are working hard to make forward-thinking and prudent fiscal decisions that will help us avoid situations like these in the future. While this time is difficult, it also presents an opportunity to think creatively about what a nimble, responsive land-grant university can look like now and in the years ahead. Our university must adapt to new realities and seek new opportunities, while staying true to its mission of teaching, research and service to the people of Nebraska.
This week especially, I am deeply grateful for the dedication, compassion and resilience you bring to your work every day. Thank you for your continued commitment to our students, to one another and to the future of this extraordinary university.
I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and restorative Thanksgiving.
With gratitude,
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
President, University of Nebraska System