Two and one-half miles separate the UNMC and UNO campuses.
The campuses are, in fact, in closer proximity to one another than the East Campus and City Campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
And, they already share many programs, as well as a print shop, Institutional Review Board and, beginning May 8, a chancellor, pending Board of Regents approval in June.
On Monday, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., discussed his appointment to lead UNO for an indefinite period of time, in which he’ll serve as an ‘architect’ to find synergies, identify and reduce barriers, share untapped resources and create more pipeline programs between the two institutions.
Dr. Gold said he’s received many emails of congratulations since the news was announced last Thursday, but he’s also heard concerns, including whether this might lead to a merged campus and campus identity, and questions as to how he’ll balance the time necessary to govern two universities. This is about being helpful at a difficult time,” he said. “We’ve embarked upon a journey to bring programs and people together.”
Personally, he said, “this is going to be a rebalancing of my time,” he said, as he looks at the national committees and boards he serves on and the editorial journals he edits.
Dr. Gold also outlined the state’s budget shortfall and the impact it will have on the university system. “We cannot cut our way out of this,” he said. “We need a thriving knowledge-based economy and must grow our research enterprise, our education enterprise and our clinical enterprise . . . the long-term solution (to the state’s budget issues) has got to be growth and diversification of the economy of the state.”
He encouraged faculty, staff and students who wish to share thoughts with their state senators, to do so immediately as the budget is being discussed this week. For those interested in contacting their representative, they should identify themselves as a constituent in their specific senator’s district and use their own non-UNMC email address.
Will this be available to watch online?