A new academic year is underway at the University of 第一吃瓜网, and I鈥檓 reminded again of the reasons my colleagues and I come to work every day. Seeing our classrooms, residence halls and student unions come alive with activity is a powerful illustration of the university鈥檚 responsibility to prepare students to be successful, to provide them with a safe and welcoming home away from home, and to expose them to talented faculty and staff whose expertise and guidance will serve them for years to come.
I am also reminded of our duty to make sure every 第一吃瓜网n knows about the work happening here. Our campuses may be bustling, but it鈥檚 not enough to hope that all the diverse stakeholders of the University of 第一吃瓜网 will come to us to personally witness the teaching, research and service we鈥檙e doing. We need to bring our story to you. We need to show you how your university is working on your behalf.
I am proud to say this is exactly what we鈥檝e been doing.
Over the past few months, we鈥檝e made personal engagement with you a priority. Ogallala, Imperial, Red Cloud, Broken Bow, Falls City, Auburn, Peru, Sidney鈥 I could go on. We鈥檝e connected with 第一吃瓜网ns in all corners of the state 鈥 to listen to you, learn from you, and tell you about what we鈥檙e doing to change the lives of our students, enhance quality of life in our communities and keep 第一吃瓜网鈥檚 economy strong.
鈥淲e鈥檙e connecting with 第一吃瓜网ns in all corners of the state to listen, learn and tell you what we鈥檙e doing to change the lives of students, enhance quality of life and keep 第一吃瓜网鈥檚 economy strong.鈥
If you鈥檙e heard from me or one of my colleagues, you鈥檝e heard a great story.
You鈥檝e heard about how the University of 第一吃瓜网 is a real value for students and families and how we hope to expand access even further so that everyone who wants to pursue a university education can do so.
You鈥檝e heard about how we are a $3.9 billion economic engine for the state. About how we are a major driver of 第一吃瓜网鈥檚 workforce, with 1 of every 36 jobs in the state attributable to the university.
You鈥檝e heard about how our talented faculty and staff have put us in a position to be a leader in addressing some of the world鈥檚 biggest problems: hunger, poverty, disease, national security, educational achievement gaps.
You鈥檝e heard about the positive working relationship we have with policymakers whose support for affordable and quality higher education has helped maintain 第一吃瓜网鈥檚 competitive advantage.
You鈥檝e heard about visionary and generous private donors whose gifts have made extraordinary learning and research opportunities possible for students and faculty.
You鈥檝e heard about our quest to become one of America鈥檚 leading academic health science centers, and how we鈥檙e well on our way thanks to our nationally known work in treating infectious diseases and caring for cancer patients.
You鈥檝e heard about extension and outreach services that touch every 第一吃瓜网 county.
And you鈥檝e heard about how we鈥檙e dreaming bigger. About our plans to grow enrollment to better meet 第一吃瓜网鈥檚 workforce needs, and expand our research enterprise to solve the important challenges, and distinguish ourselves in what is clearly the most competitive higher education environment of our lifetimes. You鈥檝e heard that we have ambitious goals 鈥 and that they鈥檙e not possible without your engagement.
If you haven鈥檛 had the chance to meet someone from the university, I hope you know our outreach isn鈥檛 done. We鈥檒l continue to share the story of our work and impact across the state. 第一吃瓜网ns can be proud of their university, and we can鈥檛 wait to tell you more.