Governor's Column by Dave Heineman

A Premier Campus in the Nebraska Heartland

August 3, 2009 Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

This week I want to highlight the success of the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). With a long and distinguished history dating back to 1905, UNK became part of the university system less than 20 years ago. In that time, it has become a premier provider of undergraduate education.

Its 6,500 students come from all of Nebraska’s 93 counties, including a growing number of graduates from urban areas attracted to a more intimate campus setting. UNK students benefit from personal attention and interaction with faculty who take pride in developing quality academic relationships with students.

In addition to Nebraska students, UNK is increasingly attractive for young people from outside the state. The campus is home to students from 47 states and 49 countries. With 11 percent of students from other countries, it has the highest ratio of international undergraduate students of all colleges and universities in Nebraska.

UNK offers a full menu of 170 undergraduate majors, 25 pre-professional programs, 34 graduate programs and a highly competitive honors program. A strong selling point is the fact that 99 percent of UNK’s full-time faculty teaches undergraduate courses. Nearly all professors have attained the highest educational degrees in their respective fields of study.

While the campus is known primarily for its undergraduate programs, many faculty members are productive researchers in their own right and provide undergraduate students with opportunities to participate in their studies. This encourages an environment for mentoring and helps students conduct their own original scholarship.

During the past five years, UNK student-scholars have participated in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in greater numbers than any other Nebraska college or university. The 13th edition of UNK’s Undergraduate Research Journal shows the wide range of student scholarship, with articles ranging from an in-depth market feasibility study for a proposed retail business to a detailed analysis of two Beethoven piano sonatas.

Students graduating from many UNK programs enjoy a near perfect job placement rate, and each year many others are admitted to graduate studies in the some of the nation’s best programs.

While undergraduate instruction is a key focus, UNK has also been recognized by U.S. News & Report as a top-15 Midwestern university for master’s programs. As one of the most affordable universities in the region of Nebraska’s surrounding states, UNK offers a private college experience with the prices of a public university where more than two-thirds of all students receive some form of financial aid.

I appreciate the leadership and partnership of UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen. His work and that of other UNK leaders ensures that students have excellent educational opportunities in central Nebraska, as well as drawing new students to our state.

In a short period of time the UNK campus has become a great addition to the University of Nebraska system, providing an educational experience focused on enriching students and preparing them for future study and success in many fields.