01/11/2007

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will meet on Friday, Jan. 19, at Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege St., Lincoln. Committee and task force meetings begin at 8 a.m. and the board meeting begins at 1 p.m.

Board members will discuss a proposed system-wide policy that prohibits possession of concealed weapons and firearms on University-controlled property, in University vehicles and at University-sponsored events. The policy also provides for posting notices prohibiting handguns on each campus as determined appropriate by the campus chancellors.

In 2006 the Nebraska Legislature passed into law the Concealed Handgun Permit Act, effective Jan. 1, 2007, which allows people with appropriate permits to carry concealed handguns. The Act established a general prohibition of guns on “school property;” however, last month the Attorney General determined the University was not a “school” for purposes of this bill. Consequently the University was not automatically excluded from the Act.

The agenda for committee meetings follows:

8 a.m. Business Affairs Committee
Topic: Panel Discussion of the State Fiscal Climate
Presenters: Mike Calvert, Director of Fiscal and Program Analysis for the Legislature; Gerry Oligmueller, State Budget Administrator
Topic: University of Nebraska Budget Request
Presenter: Chris Kabourek, Director of Budget, University of Nebraska
Topic: University of Nebraska at Omaha Housing and Parking
Presenter: Julie Totten, Interim Vice Chancellor of Administration, UNO

9:30 a.m. Strategic Framework Taskforce
Topic: Need-Based Financial Aid
Presenter: Linda Pratt, Interim Executive Vice President and Provost
Topic: Administrative/Business Process Efficiencies
Presenters: David Lechner, NU Vice President for Business and Finance; Don Leuenberger, UNMC Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance; Deb Thomas, UNMC Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance
Topic: Workforce Development
Regent Chuck Hassebrook

11 a.m. Academic Affairs Committee Topic: Graduation Rates
Presenter: Marijane Hancock, NU Assistant Vice President and Director of Institutional Research and Planning
Topic: Proposed Northeast Division of College of Nursing in Norfolk
Regent Kent Schroeder

Highlights of the afternoon board meeting include:

• Election of the Board of Regents chair and vice chair.
• Approval of new student housing at UNO that would add apartment-suite style units for up to 400 students on a site adjacent to University Village; also, approval of a new 600-900 vehicle parking structure in the same area.
• Approval of the purchase of approximately 10 acres at 67th and Center Streets in Omaha as part of the UNO facilities plan.
• Approval of the UNK 2006-2015 Facilities Development Plan.
• Approval to provide wireless access in UNK residence halls.
• Approval of the program statement and budget for renovating Bruner Hall of Science at UNK, funded through LB605. The renovation will enhance class labs, create new research labs and modernize instruction and research capability, as well as demolish and replace Mary Morse Lecture Hall.
• Approval of a name change at UNL from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences to the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, better identifying what students will study in this department.
• Approval of the program statement and budget for the new Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, expanding the current Low Vision Clinic. This will establish the only non-profit provider for comprehensive visual rehabilitative services in the region.
• The Board will receive proposed amendments to University bylaws to make changes in vacation and sick leave policy as a consequence of the Nebraska Supreme Court decision in the case of Roseland vs. Strategic Staff Management. The amendments will be voted on at the March 9, 2007, meeting of the board.

The board also will receive the 2006 Fall Tenure Density report and a report on 2004-05 graduation rates as part of the Strategic Framework discussion.

For additional information contact:
Mary Kay Roth
(402) 472-7127
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.