The University of Nebraska marked progress toward its major joint accreditation initiative with a visit from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, highlighting the university’s continued efforts to strengthen student success, expand research collaboration and enhance its impact across the state.
During her visit, Secretary McMahon joined Governor Jim Pillen, University of Nebraska System President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, and university leadership at the Osborne Legacy Complex, where the governor issued a proclamation recognizing joint accreditation between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and UNMC as a significant step forward for Nebraska.
The proclamation emphasizes the importance of aligning the strengths of UNL and UNMC to advance academic excellence, enhance research competitiveness and strengthen stewardship of public resources, positioning Nebraska to compete more effectively for federal and industry funding.
“Today marks an important moment for the University of Nebraska and for our state,” Dr. Gold said. “Joint accreditation will reflect our commitment to working as one university to expand opportunity for students, accelerate research and innovation, and deliver greater value to the people of Nebraska. We are grateful to Secretary McMahon and Governor Pillen for recognizing the significance of this upcoming milestone and the impact it will have on our future.”
Secretary McMahon met with university leaders, toured the Osborne Legacy Complex and learned more about how Nebraska supports student success through innovative academic and athletic partnerships. The visit also included a signing event for the proclamation.
“Joint accreditation between Nebraska’s flagship, R1 land-grant university and our state’s only public comprehensive R1 academic medical center is a transformational milestone,” said Katherine Ankerson, interim chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “It will strengthen higher education, fuel life-saving research and innovation, and empower us to continue serving communities across our state with lasting impacts for generations.”
H. Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor for UNMC, said he was very supportive of joint accreditation and also was appreciative that each campus would retain its own faculty, staff and student leadership groups, as well as its distinct academic offerings.
“Both UNMC and UNL have distinct missions,” Dr. Davies said. “The joint accreditation will allow the two universities to collaborate more fully to expand and improve educational and research pathways while also enhancing our national reputation.”
Joint accreditation reflects a multi-year effort that began in 2024 with an application to the Higher Learning Commission. In November 2025, the application was accepted, and the Board of Regents unanimously approved a motion to move forward with joint accreditation, advancing the university’s commitment to greater alignment and impact. A final effective date for the transition has not yet been announced.
The initiative builds on a longstanding partnership between UNL and UNMC. By aligning institutional strengths, the effort will expand access to high-demand programs, strengthen research collaboration and support communities across Nebraska.
For students, joint accreditation will reduce barriers by creating more seamless academic pathways. For example, students pursuing nursing will benefit from a smoother transition between UNL and UNMC campuses, eliminating the need to leave one institution and re-enroll in another and improving completion outcomes.
Closer alignment will accelerate collaborative research, including in areas such as drug discovery and development, where combined expertise can move innovations more efficiently from discovery to real-world application. When combined together, UNL and UNMC would rank 55th nationally in total research expenditures and 62nd in federal research expenditures based on 2023-2024 data — substantially higher than their current individual standings.
Joint accreditation also aligns the University of Nebraska’s structure with that of its peers, creating new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthening its ability to fulfill its mission of teaching, research and engagement. As Nebraska’s flagship public university, the University of Nebraska is committed to delivering excellence in teaching, research and engagement while serving as a responsible steward of public resources and a driver of opportunity for all Nebraskans.