The following message is from James B. Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska, on Hurricane Katrina and the university’s response.
Dear Colleagues and Students:
We have all been saddened by the news of Hurricane Katrina and the stories of personal grief and tragedy that have emerged over the past several days. This devastating natural disaster has affected the lives of millions, and our hearts go out to them. I have received calls and e-mail messages from students, faculty and staff asking what they can do to help, and offering suggestions for university efforts. In the face of such an overwhelming situation, our initial gestures may seem small. In the long term, I know we will find ways to make more significant contributions to the recovery and rebuilding efforts that lie ahead.
I want to update you on some of the things the University of Nebraska community is doing to assist victims of the hurricane. First, thousands of college students in the Gulf Coast region – including many students from the Midwest – have seen their campuses closed indefinitely due to hurricane damage. We have opened the doors of our campuses to them.
For those students eligible for admission who are unable to return to their home campuses, we will immediately accept as many as we can at our campuses. We will allow them to enroll this fall at in-state tuition rates, and provide assistance in quickly registering them for classes, finding housing and whatever additional help they need.
On Wednesday, we established an e-mail address (NUhelp@Nebraska.edu) and a 24-hour toll-free number (1-800-742-8800) to handle inquires. Prospective students can also complete a brief form at www.nebraska.edu. We have provided this information to local and national news outlets and to the national higher education associations.
We have received many inquiries over the last two days, and our campuses are already working with displaced students who wish to enroll at NU this fall. I want to commend the individuals on each campus who have taken on additional responsibilities and are providing timely, patient and professional assistance to these students. The reaction from students and parents with whom we have talked has been very positive.
There has been an enormous outpouring of support from faculty, students and staff on all of our campuses. Student and other groups are organizing fundraising efforts. Faculty and students are discussing service-learning programs involving on-site assistance. NU students, faculty and staff who have personal ties to the affected area have been encouraged to seek counseling and other assistance through existing university programs. We are also looking into providing space, to the extent available, to accommodate faculty from affected institutions.
Thank you in advance for your generous donations of time and assistance. I am grateful that the University of Nebraska can play a small role in providing help to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.