The University of Nebraska has made significant progress in its pursuit of joint accreditation for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). This development marks a crucial advancement for the institution.
Recently, the Higher Learning Commission approved the university’s application for joint accreditation, as noted in a news release by the University of Nebraska (NU). This authorization is seen as a pivotal moment for the university system.
NU President Dr. Jeffrey Gold highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “This is an important step in our university’s Odyssey to the Extraordinary. Joint accreditation paints an accurate picture of the strength and prestige of the University of Nebraska, and represents us in a way very similar to our highly regarded peers. I look forward to sharing more information as it becomes available.”
Joint accreditation is viewed by Dr. Gold and other NU officials as essential for UNL’s efforts to rejoin the Association of American Universities (AAU), a prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. UNL was removed from this group in 2011, primarily due to its lower level of federally funded research compared to other member universities. The focus on agricultural research at UNL, which the AAU has increasingly deprioritized, further complicated its standing. Joint accreditation would allow UNL to include research funding from UNMC in its AAU bid.
Currently, UNL is the only institution in the Big Ten Conference that is not part of the AAU. To support UNL’s reentry into the AAU, the NU Board of Regents has shown commitment by scheduling a special meeting to address the joint accreditation matter.
This announcement coincides with UNL’s efforts to address a $27.5 million budget deficit due to structural funding issues. Chancellor Rodney Bennett recently unveiled a budget reduction plan, which includes eliminating four academic programs among other measures. The Regents plan to review this proposal in their upcoming December meeting.
