posted 12.23.2011

The Sponsored Programs and Research (SPR) Report details the results of UNO's work to obtain external funding in support of its teaching, research, service and outreach efforts. The report is designed to keep the university community informed as to externally funded projects on campus and bring recognition to those faculty and staff who have worked to generate these resources.

• November 2011 Report [.pdf]

posted 11.29.2011

Rajib Sanyal, dean of the Miller College of Business at Ball State University, will visit UNO and be interviewed for the position of senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs starting this Thursday, Dec. 1. Dr. Sanyal is one of four finalists.

Students are encouraged to attend a forum with Dr. Sanyal that will take place in the Milo Bail Student Center's Aksarben Room on Dec. 1. The event runs from 2:30 until 3:30 p.m.

Later that same day, all faculty, staff, students and members of the public can attend Dr. Sanyal's campus community forum. It starts at 3:30 p.m. and will take place in the Milo Bail Student Center's Dodge Room. A reception will follow.

In addition to the forums, Dr. Sanyal will meet with a wide range of campus constituents, including faculty, staff and students. His official campus visit concludes Friday, Dec. 2.

The three other senior vice chancellor candidates and their official UNO campus visit dates are being finalized, but will take place before the end of December. The other candidates are:

• Dr. Angela Laird Brenton, Dean, College of Professional Studies, University of Arkansas at Little Rock


• Dr. B.J. Reed, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, University of Nebraska Omaha


• Dr. Gregory M. Sadlek, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Cleveland State University

Dr. Sanyal came to Ball State University in 2009 to be the dean of the Miller College of Business. Prior to that, he had been at Northern Michigan University from 2005 through 2009 where he had served dean for that institution's College of Business. He earned his doctorate in Business Administration from Georgia State University in 1988.

For more information on all of the candidates, visit the Web at http://www.unomaha.edu/svcsearch/ .

posted 10.19.2011

The Sponsored Programs and Research (SPR) Report details the results of UNO's work to obtain external funding in support of its teaching, research, service and outreach efforts. The report is designed to keep the university community informed as to externally funded projects on campus and bring recognition to those faculty and staff who have worked to generate these resources.

• September 2011 Report [.pdf]

posted 10.11.2011

The Sponsored Programs and Research (SPR) Report details the results of UNO's work to obtain external funding in support of its teaching, research, service and outreach efforts. The report is designed to keep the university community informed as to externally funded projects on campus and bring recognition to those faculty and staff who have worked to generate these resources.

• August 2011 Report [.pdf]

posted 08.29.2011

Dr. George Haddix of Omaha has made a $1 million gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to assist the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in addressing an important issue in American education — STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and preparing the educators who teach in these disciplines.

The gift establishes the Dr. George Haddix Community Chair in Mathematics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in the College of Arts and Sciences. It is Haddix's second gift focusing on STEM education.

Haddix also made a $1 million gift last fall to establish the Dr. George and Sally Haddix Community Chair in STEM Education in the UNO College of Education.

A growing concern in the United States today is that the country does not have enough STEM educated professionals to meet the needs of an increasingly sophisticated and technological society, especially compared to other countries.

In 2010 the World Economic Forum ranked the U.S. 48th in the overall quality of mathematics and science education. It reported that 93 percent of American public school middle school students are taught the physical sciences by a teacher without a degree in those areas.

Today American students rank 21st in the world in science education and 25th in math.

Strengthening K-12 education in math, science, engineering and technology is critical, and UNO leads in addressing the issues thanks to Dr. Haddix's vision and support, said John Christensen, chancellor, UNO.

"Dr. Haddix understands the importance of effectively teaching students in these critical disciplines," Christensen said. "With this recent gift Dr. Haddix ensures that future generations of math teachers are fully prepared to not only teach math but to effectively engage their students as well," Christensen said.

Haddix is a 1962 graduate of Omaha University (now UNO).

Faculty support is one priority area of the University of Nebraska Foundation's Campaign for Nebraska and for UNO.

Community chairs, like those established through Haddix's gifts, are the highest ranking chairs at UNO. They provide the university with a strong incentive when recruiting, retaining and rewarding distinguished faculty in academic and research areas.

With the second Haddix Chair UNO was able to conduct a national search and successfully attract a renowned educator in mathematics to campus — Angie Hodge.

"Thanks to Dr. Haddix we were in a position to recruit an outstanding scholar who also is passionate about encouraging college students to pursue careers in math education," said David Boocker, dean, UNO College of Arts and Sciences where the mathematics department is located.

Hodge, a native of Minnesota, was formerly a mathematics professor at North Dakota State. She practices "inquiry-based learning," focusing less on lecturing and more on engaging students in problem-solving activities.

She also is focused on finding students with math ability and a desire to teach but who have not put the two together.

"Teaching is my No. 1 passion," Hodge said. "And helping others to like teaching and to like math is something I like to do, too. It's a chance to actually make a difference — to recruit more high-quality math teachers and to also work with other people in the STEM disciplines."

The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that has connected the dreams and passions of donors to the mission of the university for the past 75 years. In 2010, donors designated more than $136 million in gifts to scholarships, academic programs, medical research and other priorities at the university. The foundation's current $1.2 billion fundraising initiative, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, concludes in 2014. For more information, visit nufoundation.org.

posted 08.22.2011

The Sponsored Programs and Research (SPR) Report details the results of UNO's work to obtain external funding in support of its teaching, research, service and outreach efforts. The report is designed to keep the university community informed as to externally funded projects on campus and bring recognition to those faculty and staff who have worked to generate these resources.

• July 2011 Report [.pdf]

posted 07.11.2011

UNO has been named as a finalist for the 2010 President's Honor Roll. The Honor Roll Presidential Award, given each year to only a handful of institutions, is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, community service, and civic engagement. UNO is one of 11 finalists among more than 600 colleges and universities recognized for their service in 2010. This is the first year UNO has reached the "finalist" level.

UNO was also listed in 2009 President's Honor Roll in recognition of our service learning activities.

For a complete list of current and past Honor Roll Members, please visit http://www.learnandserve.gov/about/programs/higher_ed_honorroll.asp

posted 06.13.2011

Carolyn Gascoigne, Neal Topp and Russ Smith

Three UNO faculty members have taken on new roles and responsibilities in Academic and Student Affairs while two OASA staff members are on leave, Senior Vice Chancellor Terry Hynes has announced.

Carolyn Gascoigne and Neal Topp will serve as OASA administrative fellows during 2011-2012 while Steve Bullock is on leave. Gascoigne will be responsible for campus program reviews and overall oversight for such areas as Project Achieve and Student Disability Services, among other things. Topp will assume responsibilities related to the university's regional accreditation and the related Academic Quality Improvement Process (AQIP).

Russ Smith is serving as acting director of Institutional Research while Linda Mannering is on leave.

"We are very fortunate that these outstanding faculty have stepped up to handle these roles during the year ahead," Hynes said. "Steve's and Linda's responsibilities are central to UNO's high quality and enhance our ability to serve students and be engaged with the community. With these faculty members in place and with the very able staff in the various areas that report to them, UNO will continue smoothly while Steve and Linda are away."

posted 04.21.2011

BJ Reed

UNO Chancellor John Christensen announced that B.J. Reed, dean of College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS), will serve as interim senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs starting in September, pending Board of Regents approval. Earlier this week, Senior Vice Chancellor Terry Hynes announced her retirement, effective Aug. 31.

"B.J. Reed has a long and successful history on campus and in the community. During this time of transition, his knowledge and understanding of both will be especially helpful," Christensen said. Reed, who came to UNO in 1982, will begin working immediately with the chancellor, the senior vice chancellor, the deans and the campus leadership team on transition planning and implementation.

Christensen also said he anticipates strong campus support for Reed's interim appointment as well as assistance from all campus constituency groups in facilitating an effective and efficient transition process.