Board of Regents approves academic program changes, $500 million financing authorizations and Project Health application; president’s performance pay approved

The Board of Regents met Aug. 14 and approved a slate of academic program changes, financing authorizations and administrative items affecting the University of Nebraska system.

Key votes at the meeting included board approval to: authorize the University of Nebraska Facilities Corporation to issue facilities bonds up to $500,000,000 to finance capital projects (board resolution; maximum maturity authorized up to 40 years, though actual maturities expected at 30 years or less); establish a commercial paper notes program authorizing up to $500,000,000 of notes outstanding at any one time to provide short-term financing flexibility; and finalize the application to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to request state grant funds for the Project Health proposal under Nebraska’s Transformational Project Act. The board also approved revisions to chapters 4–6 of the Board of Regents bylaws that had been published and reviewed at prior meetings.

On academic matters the board approved multiple items across campuses, including establishment of a field endorsement in science (grades 7–12) for the Bachelor of Science in Education at University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK); a master of arts in education with a health-education track at UNK; elimination of a standalone Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics at University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) with the curriculum to be folded into a specialization in agricultural economics; elimination of a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and renaming of UNL civil-engineering degrees to Civil and Environmental Engineering; establishment of a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering at UNL; and a dual-track Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence jointly administered by the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and UNL (on-campus track at UNO and an online non-thesis modular track at UNL). Other program changes approved included eliminations, new certificates and a new bachelor’s option in studio art and art history at UNO.

The board approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting, which bundled routine approvals, and then took the administrative agenda votes described above. Most academic items were approved on voice or roll-call votes without extended debate.

A contested vote at the meeting concerned the contractually defined performance-based component of President Jeff Gold’s fiscal 2024–25 compensation. Under the president’s employment contract, up to 15% of base salary is payable based on quantified performance metrics. The board approved payment of the performance-based component after discussion. The roll-call on the final motion recorded two “no” votes (Regent Wilmot and Regent Shear); other members supported the motion.

The board also moved into a closed session during the meeting under Nebraska law to discuss personnel matters and a litigation update, and later returned to open session to conclude business. Meeting materials and full recorded roll calls for each item are part of the official board record.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Consent agenda (routine approvals): approved (roll call). - 11a1 — Establish science 7–12 teaching endorsement (UNK): approved (roll call). - 11a2 — Establish M.A. in education, health education track (UNK): approved (roll call). - 11a3 — Eliminate B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics (UNL): approved (roll call); program curriculum to be integrated as a specialization in the B.S. in Agricultural Economics. - 11a4 — Eliminate M.S. in Environmental Engineering and rename civil engineering degrees (UNL): approved (roll call). - 11a5 — Establish Ph.D. in Computer Engineering (UNL): approved (roll call). - 11a6 — Establish dual-track Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (UNO / UNL): approved (roll call); program offers an on-campus UNO track and an online, non-thesis UNL track with eight-week modules. - 11a7 — Eliminate certificate in Perioperative Nursing Administration (UNMC): approved (roll call). - 11a8–11a10 — UNO program actions including a BA in Studio Art and Art History, elimination of M.A. in Economics, and establishment of a Center for Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development: approved (roll call). - 11b1 — Authorize up to $500,000,000 in University of Nebraska facilities bonds: approved (roll call). - 11b2 — Authorize commercial paper notes program up to $500,000,000: approved (roll call). - 11c1 — Finalize revisions to Board of Regents bylaws (chapters 4–6): approved (roll call). - 11c2 — Approve submission of application materials to Nebraska Department of Economic Development for Project Health under the Nebraska Transformational Project Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-12182 as cited in meeting): approved (roll call). - Motion to enter closed session under Neb. Rev. Stat. §84-1410 to discuss personnel and litigation: approved (roll call). - 11c3 — Approve president’s performance-based pay (fiscal 2024–25): approved (roll call); dissent recorded from at least two regents (Regent Wilmot and Regent Shear).

What passed unanimously and what drew questions Most academic program changes and the financing authorizations passed with broad support on roll calls recorded in the meeting. The president’s performance-based compensation produced the most recorded dissent; several regents voiced concern about using system funds while the university implements budget reductions and suggested exploring alternative funding sources, but others argued the payment is a contractual obligation tied to documented performance metrics.

Next steps and context - Any individual capital project to be financed under the bond or commercial paper authorizations must still be brought to the board for separate approval and will be considered alongside updates to the capital stack and funding sources. - The Project Health application to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development is an application step to seek already‑appropriated state grant funds under the Transformational Project Act; final grant award and project-specific terms remain subject to DED review and approval. - Revisions to the bylaws were presented as the result of a multi-committee review and had been published for member review prior to the meeting.

The board adjourned after accepting a set of routine reports.