The Future Starts Here

As seen in Fortune, Forbes, and Entrepreneur

At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, empowering learners starts with increasing social mobility for students, families, and the community.

“We’re making 2023 the year of social mobility for students, their families, and the entire Omaha community,” says Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, chancellor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). “Our goal is to ensure every Maverick has greater opportunities and is gainfully employed because of their time at UNO.”

That’s why UNO is committed to providing students with the knowledge, expertise, and resources to find meaningful careers and make a difference in their communities.

The only four-year public research university in Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city, UNO is one of four institutions within the University of Nebraska system and home to more than 15,000 attendees, many of whom are first-generation college students.

“The demographics of higher education are shifting, with nearly 74% of American students identifying as nontraditional,” Li says. “This is the student body we serve. Over 40% of our incoming class are first-generation students, and many come from economically challenged households. As an urban university, our most important task is advancing social mobility by exploring ways to help all students succeed.”

A first-generation graduate herself, Li joined UNO in 2021 after serving as dean of the Florida International University College of Business. She says UNO’s metropolitan mission and commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable is what drew her to the campus.

“No barriers should separate students from opportunities. By moving students up even just one or two tiers in their personal and professional lives, we lift our entire community and state,” she says.

Making Education Accessible

To deliver on that goal, the school provides scholarships, mentorships, and experiential learning opportunities funded through the University of Nebraska Foundation’s Only in Nebraska campaign. Additionally, UNO’s Omaha Urban Rate (OUR) Tuition initiative significantly reduces tuition rates for students from 11 regional states.

“We’re fully committed to supporting learners of all ages and backgrounds, including those at different stages of their career,” Li adds. From micro-credentials to fullscale internship and co-op programs, UNO provides a range of competitive workforce development programs that help Nebraskans expand their potential.

“Education happens in the classroom and in the field through experiential learning opportunities,” she continues. “Paid internships help students grow practical skills and training, but these are typically part-time experiences. At UNO, we’re building a co-op model to transition students into paid yearlong, full-time employment opportunities.”

That approach provides two substantial advantages: It places students in the job market before completing their studies and keeps talented young Nebraskans in Omaha and in the state by helping them find meaningful work.

Academically, the university is enhancing student performance by optimizing educational resources and requirements. “We’ve strategically redesigned our curriculum to meet the employment market’s evolving demands and help our students reach the finish line,” says Li.

Expanded competency-based education and experiential learning programs offer new opportunities at UNO, which hosts one of the country’s leading biomechanics departments and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE).

“As an urban university, we’re changing the conversation and making higher education accessible to everyone,” says Li. “We’re Mavericks. We’re not bound by tradition. We create trends.”