UNO Recognized for Excellence in Online Teaching and Learning

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is once again being recognized in 2024 as a top institution in the country for earning a degree online.

In 2024, the UNO campus received the following rankings from U.S. News & World Report:

• #4 in Best Online Criminal Justice Program for Veterans
• #7 in Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Program
• #23 in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Program
• #35 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans
• #50 in overall rank for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs

“Our School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is one of the best in the nation. It provides a full range of offerings – bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral – with several concentrations. We make the degree available online for those already working in their profession. With a world-class faculty and successful alumni, we are a leader in criminal justice education” notes College of Public Affairs and Community Service Dean Dr. John Bartle.

“This ranking affirms what we Business Mavericks already know,” said Michelle W. Trawick, John Becker Dean of the College of Business Administration. “We are 100 percent committed to inclusive access and meeting our students where they are, in person and online. Our dedicated staff and award-winning faculty provide cutting-edge business education in collaboration with industry partners that help us ensure these learners, near and far, will advance their individual and community prosperity.”

According to the U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of online programs, UNO’s 2024 recognition is based on a variety of factors such as student engagement, faculty credentials, and services and technologies.

UNO has long been a state and national leader in online education, beginning this work over twenty-five years ago in order to increase access and much-needed flexibility for learners in Omaha and beyond. Significant innovation on the campus has continued, as UNO brought dozens of programs online the past two decades while also adopting best-in-class technology and launching plenty of support initiatives that assist students in their academic journeys.

One such program is Open Nebraska, a free and reduced-cost digital course materials program supported at UNO by Criss Library, the campus bookstore, and the Office of Digital Learning. This program – which helps faculty locate and employ high-quality digital course materials and embed them directly into the Canvas learning management system rather than adopting costly, traditional textbooks – has now saved UNO students nearly $7M. Students taking some or all of their courses online regularly have the opportunity to take advantage of this program. A broad goal of the campus when it comes to teaching and learning online is to create many opportunities for engagement and foster meaningful relationships through technology. Faculty teaching courses and programs online at UNO have considerable options for professional development and support. The UNO Digital Learning team maintains a regular schedule of workshops and trainings for faculty to gain skills and become more comfortable in using technology to connect with students. One such faculty development program called “Humanizing Online” has been completed by over 225 faculty since it was created and launched at UNO in early 2021.

According to Dr. Jaci Lindburg, Associate Vice Chancellor of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives, “It is simply incredible to see how much UNO faculty care about the success of their students, and I celebrate how much we have embraced teaching with technology as a campus. We have put considerable focus into ensuring that online learning is accessible, affordable, and equitable for learners, and to receive national recognition for these efforts is really outstanding.”

For more about online learning at UNO, visit online.unomaha.edu. For more about US News and World Report and its annual ranking of online programs, visit USNews.com.