A Message from University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter

To the Students, Faculty, and Staff of the University of Nebraska System:

We begin every new academic year with optimism about the opportunities ahead. This year in particular, I am humbled to be part of a University community that is so deeply committed to our mission.

Indeed, as I have come to appreciate since becoming a new Nebraskan, the same qualities that set us apart from other places — our work ethic, resilience, our common sense and care for others — position us for a great future.

Over the past seven months, guided by a 28-member team of faculty, staff and students along with the chancellors and others, we have thought carefully about the best opportunities for continued growth and success across the University of Nebraska system. I am excited to share with you the results of our work.

Our plan charts an ambitious path forward for our University, one that will require decisive action to reaffirm the value and impact of higher education at a time of rapid change for our industry. It calls us to an even higher level of inclusiveness and excellence. And it aims to provide predictability and positive outcomes for Nebraskans — our most important partners.

The complete document is available here. Our broad objectives include:

• The University of Nebraska will be the best place in the country to be a student. The affordability, accessibility and quality of a University education will be our North Star. We will mitigate costs with innovative tuition strategies, like a move to “block tuition” to incentivize students to take full course loads and scholarships for nonresidents to grow Nebraska’s population and workforce.
We will prioritize students’ “whole person” education, including their mental and physical health. And we will strengthen pathways to college and the workforce, with greater emphasis on internships and jobs here in Nebraska.

• We will invest in our people, our greatest asset. For too long we have acknowledged that faculty salaries at UNL and UNMC lag their peers, without taking concrete steps to close the gap. The University of Nebraska is home to some of the world’s most talented faculty — leaders in priority areas of rural community vitality, early childhood education, water and agriculture, infectious disease, national security and others, who are excellent teachers and scholars. They should be compensated competitively. We will commit to no net growth in state-aided non-faculty FTEs at UNL, UNMC and Central Administration until faculty salaries reach their peer averages.

Furthermore, we’ll improve our campus culture — using climate surveys to assess ourselves and build policies and practices to become a more diverse, inclusive, welcoming University. We will be successful, after all, only when all voices are heard.

• We will be the best possible stewards of the resources entrusted to us. We are launching a long-term facilities plan to care for our buildings so our faculty, staff and students can teach, work and learn in world-class facilities. We will identify opportunities to become more efficient and effective in our operations. And we will pursue a University-wide sustainability plan to reduce costs and our environmental footprint.

This is not an exhaustive list. And we should consider our plan a living document: If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we must be flexible.

But I am convinced that when we are the very best in these key areas, the University of Nebraska will lead the way in defining the future of American higher education.

In a time of opportunity and challenge, I truly believe there is no better place to be than Nebraska. Our state is primed and ready for growth. The University of Nebraska can help make that happen. Thank you for welcoming me to this great state and University, and I look forward to creating our future together.

Ted Carter

President, University of Nebraska

https://nebraska.edu/president

@UofNE_President