{"id":128504,"date":"2025-12-19T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=128504"},"modified":"2025-12-18T14:37:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T20:37:04","slug":"dr-davies-addresses-joint-accreditation-at-monthly-forum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/12\/19\/dr-davies-addresses-joint-accreditation-at-monthly-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Davies addresses joint accreditation at monthly forum"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Joint accreditation between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln should allow for the two institutions to become stronger on a national level, Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davis, MD, said during this month\u2019s all-campus forum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Davies addressed the recently approved joint accreditation among other topics during the forum, which was held on Dec. 16 at the UNMC College of Dentistry in Lincoln.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The structural realignment allows for key institutional metrics such as enrollment, degrees awarded, faculty honors and research spending to be reported together. UNL and UNMC shared accreditation from 1913 to 1968.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move also opens the door to being invited back into the Association of American Universities, Dr. Davies said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The accreditation is not a full merger, Dr. Davies said. Both campuses would continue to have separate leadership, budgets, senates and advisory councils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a win-win and will give us greater prestige at national meetings,\u201d Dr. Davies said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the forum, Dr. Davies was joined by Jon Watts, senior associate vice president and chief operating officer for the University of Nebraska System, and Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD, dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Kugel gave an update on the college, including his goals of fostering more collaboration between researchers and clinicians at the college level. Dr. Kugel said he and other leaders are looking to improve efficiencies and clinics within the college, including evaluating curriculum and the way things are taught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watts said he hopes to be collaborative in his systemwide role. Watts, who began his current role in September, spent nearly 10 years as chief business officer at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. That role helped him understand issues on a campus level. In his new position, he said he plans on bringing leaders together to work through issues and concerns as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Davies also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n