IESS Announces Multi-Year Strategic Enrollment Plan

Jason Browning, Ph.D., MBA, vice chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success (IESS), has announced the implementation of a new multi-year Strategic Enrollment Plan designed to enhance the student experience for current Mavericks and strengthen how the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) recruits and retains students in an evolving higher education landscape.

View The Plan

➡️ What’s new: Led by IESS and developed in partnership with Academic Affairs and campus partners, the plan is driven by four strategic focus areas:

• Student-Centered Service and Experience: UNO will deliver a seamless and supportive student journey from initial inquiry through graduation. A cornerstone initiative is the development of the Mav One Stop, a centralized hub integrating admissions, advising, financial aid, registration, orientation, and career services to improve access, communication, and operational efficiency.
• Undergraduate Recruitment and Market Responsiveness: Recruitment strategies will be sharpened through targeted, regionally aligned outreach designed to expand and diversify the undergraduate population while focusing resources where UNO can have the greatest impact.
• Market Expansion and Innovation (Graduate and Global): UNO will advance its reach and reputation by growing graduate, professional, and international enrollment through strategic program alignment and market-driven opportunities.
• Student Retention, Success, and Achievement: The plan emphasizes sustained investment in current students to improve persistence, graduation outcomes, and career readiness through coordinated support structures and data-informed interventions.

💡 Why it matters: Higher education is facing rapid change driven by shifting demographics, evolving technology, and new policy changes. This plan ensures UNO remains proactive, strengthening student success, stabilizing enrollment, and aligning academic programs with workforce needs to advance the university's mission.

🎤 What they’re saying:

• Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA: “As Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, we must think strategically about how we support both our current and future Mavericks. This plan reflects our commitment to student success, workforce development, and community impact not just today, but for the years to come. It will take the entire UNO community of faculty, staff, administrators, and partners working together to ensure we continue transforming lives.”
• Jason Browning, Ph.D., MBA, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success: “This plan represents the collective effort of an incredibly dedicated IESS team and partners across the university who invested significant time, data analysis, and thoughtful collaboration into its development. I am deeply grateful for their commitment and expertise. As higher education continues to evolve with advances in technology, demographic shifts, and changing policy environments, this roadmap positions UNO to adapt, innovate, and thrive while upholding our commitment to the lifelong success of our students.”
• Phil He, Ph.D., Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs: “I want to thank Dr. Browning and the IESS team for their leadership, as well as our colleagues in Academic Affairs who contributed their insight and expertise throughout this process. This plan is essential to advancing UNO’s academic mission, ensuring our programs remain relevant, responsive to workforce needs, and centered on student achievement. By aligning recruitment, retention, and academic excellence, we strengthen our ability to educate, discover, and serve our community at the highest level.”

🔎 Zoom in: In addition to the Mav One Stop, the plan outlines several initiatives, including:

• Early Alert and Retention Systems: Expanded early alert tools and predictive analytics will proactively identify and support students to improve persistence and graduation rates.
• College-Embedded Recruiters: Recruiters physically located within each college will strengthen program visibility, coordination, and alignment with enrollment strategy.
• Transfer & Dual Enrollment Expansion: Enhanced transfer partnerships and dual enrollment pathways will create clearer, more accessible routes to a UNO degree.
• Flexible Program Modalities: Expanded 8-week courses, “3+2” and “4+1” pathways, and strategic online offerings will provide students with more adaptable and career-aligned academic options.
• Career & Workforce Alignment: Stronger employer partnerships and experiential learning opportunities will better connect academic programs to workforce demand and career outcomes.

⚡️ What’s next: Implementation will be led by IESS in close collaboration with Academic Affairs and university partners.