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Public commenters urge regents to clarify property deals and protect students after program cuts
Summary
Speakers including Clarkson College leaders and UNL faculty raised questions during public comment about the board’s authorization of property transactions affecting Clarkson College, the announced acquisition of CRS assets, and recent academic program reorganizations that leave students uncertain about degree pathways.
During the public comment portion of the April 24 meeting, institutional leaders and faculty asked the Board of Regents for greater clarity about property transactions and program decisions that they said could affect students and community workforce pipelines.
Jessica Neman, director of the physical therapist assistant program at Clarkson College, told regents Clarkson’s campus addresses were listed in a resolution approving the acquisition of CRS assets and that the institution and its PTA program face uncertainty about how land and buildings would be used following the transaction. "I am here today to share with you that our institution is one of the addresses listed in the resolution approving the acquisition ... which leaves many questions remaining as to how a purchase of land and buildings will affect the teaching and clinical experiences for Clarkson College students and faculty," Neman said. She emphasized Clarkson’s role educating students across 73 of Nebraska's 94 counties and asked the board to consider potential impacts on clinical placements and program accreditation requirements.
Nate Wigan, Clarkson College vice president and CFO, reiterated the institution’s concerns about which properties would be operated by the board and which would be operated by Nebraska Medicine after closing, noting the college’s statewide instructional footprint and the risk that property changes could disrupt access for working and nontraditional students.
Several public commenters also addressed academic program changes at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. A faculty speaker raised concerns about the decision to phase out the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and the apparent lack of a concrete plan for rehoming minors and ensuring program completion for current students. He warned that closing the department could jeopardize students’ ability to meet strict credentialing requirements for career placement in meteorology and geology.
Regents and administrators responded to those concerns during the academic agenda, noting that program discontinuations had undergone review and that the university is committed to providing degree-completion pathways and advisement. In committee remarks, campus leadership and provost-level officials reiterated the board and administration’s obligation under accreditation to ensure enrolled students can complete their degrees and said pathways will be provided, though some public commenters said the timeline and specifics remain unclear.
The board did not take immediate action on the property questions during the public comment period; several related agenda items (property acquisitions, program eliminations, and campus reconfigurations) appeared later on the administrative agenda and were discussed and voted on during the meeting.
Next steps: Regents asked campus leaders to provide details on student advisement and transition plans for discontinued programs and for administration to clarify property-transaction roles and any campus impacts tied to resolutions the board considers.
