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Regents approve new programs, design changes and construction actions across University of Nebraska campuses
Summary
At its April 11 meeting the Board of Regents approved a slate of academic programs, certificates, facility contracts and budgets — from a children's justice center to an emergency nurse practitioner certificate and campus construction change orders — mostly by roll call.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on April 11 approved multiple academic and capital items across system campuses, including new program proposals, program eliminations, collective‑bargaining amendments and several construction change orders and naming requests.
Academic approvals on the consent and academic agendas included: establishment of the Nebraska Children’s Justice and Legal Advocacy Center at UNL’s College of Law (private funds anticipated to support the initial merger of existing programs); an undergraduate certificate in irrigation and agricultural water management at UNL; and a graduate certificate in emergency nurse practitioner administered by the UNMC College of Nursing. The board also approved elimination of the Bachelor of Arts in Geology at UNL (retaining the Bachelor of Science option) and the UNO Biomechanics Research Building Phase 3 program statement and budget ($17.1 million, donor funded).
Business and finance actions included collective‑bargaining agreement amendments for UNK (salary distributions for the 2025–27 biennium) and UNO AAUP (salary distributions for the 2025–27 biennium); change orders and construction agreements for Husker Vision enabling work at Memorial Stadium; a change order for the outdoor track replacement at UNL; authorizing additional budget for UNL’s LB 384 Pershing Military and Naval Sciences Building renovation (budget increase of $685,300, noted in board materials as a 6% increase to previously approved budget funded from LB 384 allocation); change orders and ratifications for Westbrook Music Building; a core building mechanical/electrical upgrade at UNMC; and an electrical switch relocation budget increase at UNO (capital increase of $2,000,000 to address equipment cost escalation). The board also approved naming the Bob Devaney Sports Center’s arena as John Cook Arena; board packet notes the work and signage are donor funded with estimated donor cost $400,000.
Board members and presenters discussed workforce needs tied to program approvals — notably that the UNMC emergency nurse practitioner certificate is designed as a hybrid program to upskill family nurse practitioners already working in rural hospitals and clinics. UNMC leaders said much of the coursework will be online with local practicum supervision and pointed to historic retention patterns (for example, Kearney training retention) in support of the program’s rural impact.
Most items were approved after committee recommendation and roll‑call votes; several items passed unanimously and others passed after recorded roll calls. Board materials and committee chairs recommended the items; where budget increases were requested, the administration said funds were available within previously approved LB 384 allocations or contingency budgets so no additional state appropriation was being requested.
The board’s action package reflects a mix of academic workforce initiatives, deferred maintenance work, and donor‑funded campus expansions that the administration framed as targeted responses to workforce and infrastructure needs across Nebraska.
