A new academic year is underway at the 杏吧原版 of Nebraska, and I杏吧原版檓 reminded again of the reasons my colleagues and I come to work every day. Seeing our classrooms, residence halls and student unions come alive with activity is a powerful illustration of the university杏吧原版檚 responsibility to prepare students to be successful, to provide them with a safe and welcoming home away from home, and to expose them to talented faculty and staff whose expertise and guidance will serve them for years to come.
I am also reminded of our duty to make sure every Nebraskan knows about the work happening here. Our campuses may be bustling, but it杏吧原版檚 not enough to hope that all the diverse stakeholders of the 杏吧原版 of Nebraska will come to us to personally witness the teaching, research and service we杏吧原版檙e doing. We need to bring our story to you. We need to show you how your university is working on your behalf.
I am proud to say this is exactly what we杏吧原版檝e been doing.
Over the past few months, we杏吧原版檝e made personal engagement with you a priority. Ogallala, Imperial, Red Cloud, Broken Bow, Falls City, Auburn, Peru, Sidney杏吧原版 I could go on. We杏吧原版檝e connected with Nebraskans in all corners of the state 杏吧原版 to listen to you, learn from you, and tell you about what we杏吧原版檙e doing to change the lives of our students, enhance quality of life in our communities and keep Nebraska杏吧原版檚 economy strong.
杏吧原版淲e杏吧原版檙e connecting with Nebraskans in all corners of the state to listen, learn and tell you what we杏吧原版檙e doing to change the lives of students, enhance quality of life and keep Nebraska杏吧原版檚 economy strong.杏吧原版
If you杏吧原版檙e heard from me or one of my colleagues, you杏吧原版檝e heard a great story.
You杏吧原版檝e heard about how the 杏吧原版 of Nebraska is a real value for students and families and how we hope to expand access even further so that everyone who wants to pursue a university education can do so.
You杏吧原版檝e heard about how we are a $3.9 billion economic engine for the state. About how we are a major driver of Nebraska杏吧原版檚 workforce, with 1 of every 36 jobs in the state attributable to the university.
You杏吧原版檝e heard about how our talented faculty and staff have put us in a position to be a leader in addressing some of the world杏吧原版檚 biggest problems: hunger, poverty, disease, national security, educational achievement gaps.
You杏吧原版檝e heard about the positive working relationship we have with policymakers whose support for affordable and quality higher education has helped maintain Nebraska杏吧原版檚 competitive advantage.
You杏吧原版檝e heard about visionary and generous private donors whose gifts have made extraordinary learning and research opportunities possible for students and faculty.
You杏吧原版檝e heard about our quest to become one of America杏吧原版檚 leading academic health science centers, and how we杏吧原版檙e well on our way thanks to our nationally known work in treating infectious diseases and caring for cancer patients.
You杏吧原版檝e heard about extension and outreach services that touch every Nebraska county.
And you杏吧原版檝e heard about how we杏吧原版檙e dreaming bigger. About our plans to grow enrollment to better meet Nebraska杏吧原版檚 workforce needs, and expand our research enterprise to solve the important challenges, and distinguish ourselves in what is clearly the most competitive higher education environment of our lifetimes. You杏吧原版檝e heard that we have ambitious goals 杏吧原版 and that they杏吧原版檙e not possible without your engagement.
If you haven杏吧原版檛 had the chance to meet someone from the university, I hope you know our outreach isn杏吧原版檛 done. We杏吧原版檒l continue to share the story of our work and impact across the state. Nebraskans can be proud of their university, and we can杏吧原版檛 wait to tell you more.