UNO’s Strategic Investment: Social Justice, Inequality, Race, and Class

The UNO Strategic Plan is informed by its Values, one of which is Inclusion: our commitment to “creating an environment that is welcoming, open, and diverse.”

As we observe current events and look towards the future, the University of Nebraska at Omaha must always be solidly committed to its mission as an anchor institution and a metropolitan university. In this instance, by further fostering inclusion on campus and our close relationship with the Omaha community.

As vividly demonstrated by the disparities in health outcomes during COVID-19 as well as recent local and national protests highlighting inequities across our nation, UNO has an important opportunity to speak and act loudly as a partner with our community in effecting positive change. Through community engagement, student support and translational research grounded in the principles of co-creation, respect, and mutual benefit, we are committed to action. More than being a campus that is always welcoming, ours must be a campus that is committed to continuous, sustainable, positive change.

It is timely, therefore, to consider the launch of a new commitment throughout our strategic plan – a new and intentional investment at the same scale as our six Big Ideas that is committed to the topics of inequality, social justice, race, and class in our society.

Through this process, we will expand existing opportunities and identify new scholarly partnerships with organizations throughout the metropolitan community and within the UNO and University of Nebraska Medical Center communities that can effect meaningful change in the lives of current and future students, as well as impacting those in the metropolitan area. Proposals may come from individual colleges or campus units or as collaborations across campuses, colleges and/or units.

Many meaningful projects, activities, and programs already exist within UNO that connect us to the Omaha community and indeed define the very strengths of UNO. Our intent is to build upon our current success, but also create and implement a vision that propels us to a level of excellence that defines our campus.

Oversight to achieve this vision will come from the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion (DEAI). The entire UNO campus community is invited to participate in this process. This initiative and investment will support multiple projects that appear ready to scale up to the next level and enhance our programmatic ties to the Omaha community.

Unlike the initial six Big Ideas, this initiative will not be a single project, but will instead be a collection of projects that focus on the better understanding and proactive progress in the themes of race, class, inequality and social justice. Like the Big Ideas, this initiative will enhance campus collaboration, coordination, outreach, and expansion of current efforts and provide opportunities, working alongside community partners, to develop new initiatives.

An outline of the proposed process is available at this link.

We look forward to working with you in the months ahead on this important opportunity which builds upon UNO’s strengths and will positively impact the campus, local, and national opportunities in this area.