Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
University of Nebraska Omaha logo
Academic Affairs
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About Us Backback to Main menu
    • Meet our Team
    • Annual Report
    • Accreditation
    • Colleges
    • Centers and Institutes
    • Research and Creative Activity
    • Licensure
    • Communications
  • Curriculum & Programs Backback to Main menu
    • Course Development
    • Program and Unit Development
    • Course, Laboratory, Miscellaneous Fee Proposals
    • Education Policy Advisory Committee
    • General Education and Dual Enrollment
  • Assessment & Review Backback to Main menu
    • Student Learning Outcomes
    • Assessment Committee
    • Assessment Resources
    • Academic Program Review
    • Academic Planning Council
    • General Education Assessment
  • Faculty Life and Retention Backback to Main menu
    • Center for Faculty Excellence
    • Faculty Senate
    • Faculty Advisory Committee
    • Faculty Development Fellowships
    • Leadership Opportunities
    • Fulbright Program
    • Faculty Evaluation and Advancement
    • Faculty Credentials
    • Faculty Workload Policy
    • Faculty Searches and Recruitment
    • Collective Bargaining Agreement 2023-25
    • Documents and Resources
  • Honors & Awards Backback to Main menu
    • Honors & Awards
    • President's Excellence Awards
    • Chancellor's Awards
    • Campus-wide Faculty Awards
    • Staff Awards
    • Student Honors Convocation
    • UNO Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi
  • Engagement Backback to Main menu
    • Global Engagement
    • Community Engagement
    • Academic Communities
    • Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships
  • Initiatives
  • Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund Projects
  1. UNO
  2. Academic Affairs

The North Omaha Initiative

Expanding Availability of Higher Education

  • published: 2025/03/20
  • contact: Academic Affairs
  • email: academic.affairs@unomaha.edu
A bronze statue of three jazz musicians—one playing a trombone, another singing, and the third playing a saxophone—stands under lush green trees. The statue captures the energy of North Omaha’s rich jazz history, with warm sunlight filtering through the branches.

Photo courtesy of Visit Omaha

🎯 Project Focus: The North Omaha Initiative is a community-driven education program that brings UNO courses directly to North Omaha community spaces. By offering college courses at the Urban League of Nebraska and other local sites, this initiative aims to increase UNO enrollment by reducing barriers to higher education and strengthen ties between UNO and the North Omaha community​.


💡 Why It Matters

  • Financial and logistical barriers limit college access: By offering tuition assistance and on-site academic support, this initiative helps non-traditional and first-generation students enroll and persist.
  • Education drives economic and social mobility: Creating pathways for degree completion and career advancement supports long-term workforce and economic growth.

🚀 Key Initiatives

  • UNO Courses in North Omaha
    • Offers 12-15 credit hours per semester at the Urban League of Nebraska and potential future sites like the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation.
    • Courses in Black Studies, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, and Gerontology provide a broad range of options.
  • Student Support & Transition Services
    • Provides a dedicated Transition Specialist to help students with enrollment, advising, and financial aid navigation.
    • Includes tuition assistance and Open Educational Resources (OER) to reduce financial barriers.
  • Community Engagement & Expansion
    • Builds partnerships with local organizations, schools, and churches to increase awareness and enrollment.
    • Creates pathways for students to transition from community-based courses to UNO’s main campus.

📈 Impact Goals

  • Enroll 400-500 students over three years, with a goal of 85% or higher retention.
  • Improve academic performance and graduation rates for students from North Omaha.
  • Strengthen community partnerships, reinforcing UNO’s commitment to education and workforce development.
  • Create a model for community-based higher education, expanding access beyond UNO’s main campus.

News Sections

  • Academic Affairs News Center
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured

  • Mavericks Recognized at UNO's 2025 Student Honors Convocation
  • David Richards to Step Down as Dean of Criss Library
  • Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund: Second Round of Proposals Funded
  • 8 UNO Programs Listed Among Nation's Best in 2025 U.S. News Grad School Rankings

Academic Affairs

Contact Us
  • Academic Affairs
  • 202 Eppley Administration Building
  • 6001 Dodge Street
  • Omaha, NE 68182   map
  • 402.554.2262
  • academic.affairs@unomaha.edu
Social media
Resources
  • For Faculty and Staff
  • Center for Faculty Excellence
  • Service Learning Academy
  • Information Technology Services
  • Catalogs
  • Academic Calendar

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.