Dear Faculty and Staff,

Greetings! As we approach the end of the semester, I want to take a moment to reflect on the tremendous work happening across campus and share some important updates from Academic Affairs. Your dedication and collaboration continue to make UNO an incredible place to teach, learn, and grow.

Exciting Milestones in General Education Transformation
On November 13th, Faculty Senate passed a resolution approving the proposed general education curriculum. Thanks to the close collaboration and dedication of faculty and staff across campus, this transformative initiative continues to gain momentum, keeping UNO’s curriculum relevant, rigorous, and aligned with the needs of our students and the communities we serve. The new model reinforces fundamental skills, integrates knowledge across disciplines, supports individual and social responsibility, and centers gen-ed classes around transferable abilities such as critical thinking, integrated learning, and intercultural awareness — all while maintaining a strong, rigorous involvement with traditional academic disciplines.

Thanks to the generous support of the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund, plans are underway to provide support to faculty in designing and delivering impactful general education courses through a range of professional development opportunities, a professional learning community, and opportunities to pilot new and innovative ideas. Details about these initiatives will be shared in the coming weeks, but know that we are committed to providing the resources and opportunities you need to succeed in this important work.

Updates on Other Academic Affairs Initiatives
I am also pleased to share updates on other initiatives intended to advance the UNO Core and our metropolitan mission:

• In the first round of Weitz Innovation and Excellence funding, 14 proposals were funded totaling around $1.5 million. Applications for second-round funding are open through January 1, 2025.
• As Chief Adult Learning Strategist, Jaci Lindburg is leading efforts to draft a strategic plan focused on supporting and growing programming for adult learners.
• Partnerships and opportunities for expanded programming related to aviation and aerospace are being explored.
• The Academic Program Indicators dashboard has launched and use cases are now being developed to support data informed decision-making related to program evaluations, new program proposals, and personnel requests.
• A series of curricular innovations are underway for consideration in the colleges. A co-op learning working group is meeting to define, map, and outline potential resources needed to grow co-op learning on campus. 
• Faculty recruitment and retention initiatives are going strong with the TANDEM mentoring cohort initiative in its fourth year, interest in faculty wellness coaching continuing to climb, the recent launch of the Faculty Handbook, and the development of two faculty resources by CFE – Access to Excellence and Level Up (coming soon).
• International Programs continues efforts to expand global partnerships through initiatives such as the Young South Asian Leaders Initiative (YSALI), a $2.65M grant-funded effort, and new bilateral agreements with institutions such as the American University of Central Asia, UIC Barcelona, FPT University, and Karaganda Medical University. Additionally, International Programs hosted its partner StudyGroup for recruiting updates and strategy sessions with campus leaders.
• ORCA launched intensive cohorts for faculty developing National Institute of Health or National Science Foundation proposals. Individuals come out of the program with a grant application ready for submission. Also, a compliance readiness initiative is focusing on ensuring the university is prepared for upcoming compliance challenges.

Progress on these initiatives would not be possible without the engagement, expertise, and dedication of UNO’s talented faculty and staff. Special thanks are also extended to our academic leaders within the colleges and units. The collaborative spirit that defines UNO is evident in every step we’ve taken, and I am grateful for the countless ways you have – and continue to – contribute to this effort.

As we look to the future, I am inspired by the potential of this work to shape the academic experiences of our students and reaffirm UNO’s position as a leader in innovative and meaningful education. Thank you for making it all possible. Our initiatives are uniquely aligned not only with UNO’s Core, but also with President Gold’s Odyssey to Extraordinary framework, positioning us to lead in creating transformative opportunities for our students and our community. As we continue moving forward with our long-term academic initiatives, faculty and staff engagement will be vital in ensuring that our efforts align with these shared frameworks and values.

Wishing you a strong finish to the semester and a restful, well-deserved winter break!

With gratitude,

Phil He, Ph.D.

Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

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