The University of Nebraska at Kearney is again coming to life with the arrival of our new and returning students. Their excitement is energizing and a reminder that they have chosen UNK, trusting in our promise of a transformative education, uncompromising academic excellence and a personalized environment where every student feels known, valued, connected and supported to succeed.
We also begin the semester in full awareness of rapid changes and funding challenges that are disrupting higher education across the nation.
We must increase collaboration, accelerate innovation and respond boldly. Recognizing we cannot be all things to all people, we will have to make difficult choices and take wise strategic risks.
Our mission and values provide clear priorities: to prepare lifelong learners through uncompromising academic excellence, meet education and workforce needs, strengthen communities and drive economic growth across Greater Nebraska, our state and region. Our students and communities are relying on us to deliver on these promises.
That work matters far beyond our campus. UNK’s success is closely connected to the success of Kearney and Greater Nebraska, and that is a story worth telling.
We begin from a position of strength, and the evidence is all around us.
The College of Business and Technology has earned both AACSB and ABET accreditation, launched the Grow the Good Life initiative to connect education and industry and strengthen career pathways, and created a unique aviation program. Enrollment is growing across the college, and nearly 100% of graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
The College of Arts & Sciences is now the foundation of our Carnegie-classified research enterprise. Health Science has grown enrollment 34% over the last five years to more than 1,000 students, and graduates have a remarkable 90% acceptance rate into professional schools and clinical programs. The program’s 20-hospital partner network now spans from Sidney to David City. Of UNK Health Science graduates who went on to graduate from UNMC in Kearney, 70% are now practicing in rural Nebraska. Math and Statistics earned UNK’s first university-wide award since 2014 for improving student success by removing barriers, streamlining course pathways and enhancing instructional support.
The College of Education continues to prepare a significant share of Nebraska’s educators, counselors, therapists and administrators, even as critical shortages increase across Greater Nebraska. Meeting that demand, including the need for secondary educators, must remain a priority.
While eliminating a vice chancellor position, we have modernized enrollment management, marketing and communications. We will continue to refine how we use financial aid and increase funded scholarships, recognizing that we deliver transformative education at a value few universities can match.
This progress must now accelerate. We must ensure our academic programs align with current and future enrollment, develop new programs in areas of growing workforce demand and use our resources as efficiently as possible.
We must expand access for place-bound students of all ages through our expertise in online education, create more seamless pathways to degrees and ensure every UNK graduate develops the core skills employers expect and is prepared to serve and strengthen communities.
Responding to disruption will require unprecedented collaboration. Our faculty and staff are essential to improving student outcomes, responding to emerging disciplines and regional needs, strengthening university operations and delivering the teaching, support and experiences that lead to student success.
I have every confidence we will accelerate innovation to meet the needs of our students and communities and fulfill our essential role in Greater Nebraska, our state and region.
But UNK’s story is bigger than our campus and telling that story cannot be our responsibility alone.
When you talk about what’s happening in Kearney, lead with UNK. Talk about our students and graduates. Talk about how investing in them and our university helps retain talent and strengthen our workforce, communities and state for generations to come.
A strong UNK means a stronger future for Greater Nebraska, our state and region.
Chancellor Neal Schnoor
University of Nebraska at Kearney