UNO’s College of Education Adopts New Name to Match Growth in Programs, Research

The College of Education (COE) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is changing its name to the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) to better represent the college’s academic degree programs and advancements in research. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the change on Friday, June 26, and the college will move forward to officially assume the new name.

Due to decades of innovation, CEHHS is regarded as a leader in the fields of Biomechanics, Kinesiology, and STEM education, and the new name reflects the growth of innovative degree programs and groundbreaking research in addition to well-established degree programs in teacher education, early childhood education, speech-language pathology and more. The new name also highlights the impressive growth of external funding, more than $23M over the past six years, which includes two of the three largest research grants in the health sciences area in UNO’s history.

Dean Nancy Edick said the new name speaks to the college’s interdisciplinary, research-engaged approach to education.

“The growth and diversification of the programs offered within the college over the last decade represent outstanding faculty who are leaders in world-class research, responding to the dynamic needs of students and our community. “We’re excited about the new name, which is inclusive of the opportunities provided within our college."

UNO Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., congratulated the college on its new name.

“The College of Education’s name change to the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences encapsulates so well what we as an institution strive to foster: a learning and research environment that adds richness and depth to the human experience. I am particularly grateful to Dean Edick for all of the planning and to President Carter and the Board of Regents for embracing this vision of future growth. We are thrilled to see what the college achieves and the impact it has under this new banner.”

The college has a more than 110-year history at UNO, beginning in 1908 with a teacher training program. By 1950, the then-Omaha University Regents had approved the official formation of the College of Education. A move from Kayser Hall to newly-renovated Roskens Hall in 2011 created state-of-the-art learning spaces and expansion of Community Counseling and Speech-Language Clinics, and the addition of a Play Lab in 2017.

Some notable recent highlights include the creation of the Department of Biomechanics in 2016, and last year’s completion of a privately-funded $11.6 million expansion to the Biomechanics Research Building. In 2017, the School of Health and Kinesiology underwent a name change to reflect the dynamic programs in Kinesiology; Athletic Training; Public Health & Health Behavior; Physical Education Teaching; and Physical Activity & Health Promotion.

Today, CEHHS offers ten undergraduate degrees and 13 master’s and doctoral programs throughout six academic units and three buildings. More than 2,300 students are welcomed each semester, taught by faculty experts who join the college from around the nation and the world. CEHHS looks forward to future growth and partnerships while continuing to offer innovative curriculum, research, and degree programs in the following academic units:

• Biomechanics
• Counseling
• Educational Leadership
• Health & Kinesiology
• Teacher Education
• Special Education and Communication Disorders