A comprehensive April 7 campus tour offered the University of Nebraska Board of Regents a behind-the-scenes look at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s new facilities and ongoing, strategic projects.
The day marked the first NU Regents’ tour of any NU system institution since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
“We’re proud to host members of the Board of Regents for their first UNL campus tour since the pandemic," Chancellor Ronnie Green said. "It’s an opportunity to show how we’ve pushed forward and continued to grow. Projects like the new buildings for engineering and education, along with the Scarlet Hotel and the Combine at Nebraska Innovation Campus — with more coming soon — are proof points for how the University of Nebraska–Lincoln responds to the needs of Nebraskans.”
The tour included visits to multiple construction/renovation projects, including the College of Engineering’s ongoing updates, including the $115 million Kiewit Hall; a to-be-named, four-story teaching and office building for the College of Education and Human Sciences; the College of Journalism and Mass Communications’ recently completed Experience Lab; the soon-to-open Scarlet Hotel at Nebraska Innovation Campus; and the College of Law’s Schmid Clinic addition.
I'm incredibly proud of this team of faculty, staff and students who welcomed the @u_nebraska Board of Regents, @UofNE_President, @RonnieDGreen and @KAnkerson1 to the @Unl_CoJMC Experience Lab today. You are inspiring leaders, and I am honored to work beside you. pic.twitter.com/TokJwi6b7M
— Shari Veil (@SVeil) April 7, 2022
Entrepreneurship was another focus as the regents attended the New Venture Competition and toured the “Combine” start-up incubator on Nebraska Innovation Campus.
Organized by the College of Business, the two-day competition features multiple undergraduate and graduate student teams pitching start-up business ideas in a tournament format. Participants pitch business plans to judges as they vie for $25,000 grand prize.
Other key stops along the tour included:
• An overview of the university serving as a leader to advance cutting-edge work in subatomic physics at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest, most powerful particle accelerator, located near Geneva Switzerland. Ken Bloom, professor of physics and astronomy, recently earned a $51 million National Science Foundation award to support the work.
• The Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts with a presentation by Megan Elliott, director of the center.
• The College of Law with a discussion on the college’s priorities with Richard Moberly, dean of law.
• An overview of the Nebraska Gnotobiotic Mouse program and leading research through Nebraska Food for Health Center, both led by Amanda Ramer-Tait, Maxcy Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Was wonderful to host the @u_nebraska board of regents today at @UNLincoln to get some “snapshots” of the continued growth, momentum and stature of this phenomenal institution across all three of our Lincoln campuses. Wish we had many more days to capture it all! #GoBIG pic.twitter.com/QsN2Y078Xt
— Ronnie D. Green (@RonnieDGreen) April 7, 2022
"It continues to be eye-opening, even after many years as a regent, how many great things our faculty and staff are doing that benefit our students, our university, Nebraska and the world," Regent Tim Clare said.
The NU Regents will hold their next regular meeting on April 8. The agenda includes approval of the program statement and budget for updates to Architecture Hall; naming of the new Education and Human Sciences building; and three new degree programs.
More information, including a full agenda, is available here.
