University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken today released details of the 2009-10 operating budget that will be presented to the Board of Regents for approval on June 12. Milliken expressed his optimism for the university despite current economic conditions.

University of Nebraska students who find themselves in unexpected financial distress during the school year will have an additional source of assistance, thanks to a new $1.2 million fund announced today by NU President James B. Milliken. The Student Assistance Fund will help students whose circumstances change after regular financial aid awards have been made.

University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken has named Dr. Michael L. McGinnis as executive director of the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science, Technology and Engineering.

The Board of Regents will meet on Friday, April 24, 2009, at Varner Hall. Committee meetings will be held in the Board Room all morning, and the formal Board meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.

The School of Communication at the University of Nebraska at Omaha will receive the University-wide Departmental Teaching Award from the University of Nebraska, University President
James B. Milliken announced today.

University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken will visit high schools in Schuyler and Fremont on Monday, March 23, followed by a luncheon with community and business leaders. He will also tour the Fremont campus of Metro Community College.

The University of Nebraska announced today that it will appeal salary increases and a new insurance benefit awarded to faculty members at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who are represented by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).

The Board of Regents will meet on Friday, March 6, 2009, at Varner Hall. Committee meetings begin at 8:00 a.m. and the Board meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.

Educators, business leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs and small business owners from across the state will gather at The Cornhusker Marriott in Lincoln for the third annual Nebraska Summit on Entrepreneurship this Friday, February 27. The conference runs from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., and more than 400 have registered. The event is co-sponsored by the University of Nebraska, the Gallup Organization and the Nebraska Business-Higher Education Forum.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents today elected Kent Schroeder as chairperson for 2009. Schroeder, from Kearney, represents District 6 and has served on the Board of Regents since 1998. He was re-elected in 2004, and previously served as chair in 2002 and as vice chair in 2008 and 2001.

The University of Nebraska has named a new associate vice president to lead university-wide efforts to substantially increase the University's global engagement. Thomas A. Farrell, deputy assistant secretary for academic programs in the U.S. Department of State, will lead planning, development and implementation of the University of Nebraska's international agenda.

The Board of Regents will meet on Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, at Varner Hall. Committee meetings begin at 8:00 a.m. and the Board meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.

We recognize the uncertainty of the current economic situation, and appreciate the challenge faced by the Governor and Legislature. We agree with the Governor that education, including the University of Nebraska, is among the state's most important priorities, even in a difficult economy.

The University of Nebraska Foundation's board of directors awarded $1.14 million to the University of Nebraska through its annual grants program to support projects and initiatives on all four campuses for 2008-2009.