Academic Initiatives and Priorities

The Office of Academic Affairs is involved in a number of important projects and initiatives involving academic life at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This section describes some of the current UNL academic priorities and initiatives we are involved with.

Accreditation

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The SVCAA is responsible for coordinating University efforts to prepare for the accrediting agency's periodic site visits and reviews.

Learn more about our accreditation efforts.

Budget Planning

The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is actively involved in campus budget planning.

Learn more about our budget planning efforts.

General Education Review and Reform

As the Chancellor announced in his 2005 State of the University address, we have embarked on a two-year process of reviewing and reforming our general education program: "The time frame here is ambitious but we need to get this done. We must set as our goal to have a program that can be adopted in the Spring of 2007 with a staged implementation beginning with the class that enters the university in the Fall of 2007. We are counting on faculty to take a thoughtful and active interest in this process from the outset so that we can achieve this goal with adequate opportunity for reflection and approval."

Learn more about General Education at UNL.

Initiative for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ITLE)

Learn more about ITLE.

Programs of Excellence

The Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs coordinates the UNL Programs of Excellence selection and funding process.

Learn more about POE.

Strategic Planning

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has implemented an iterative strategic planning process. The planning process is coordinated by the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and involves the participation of all University units. Academic strategic plans are submitted annually by all academic units reporting to the Chancellor, the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and the Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Learn more about UNL's strategic planning efforts.

Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP)

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a partner campus with the Association of American Colleges & Universities in their Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) Campaign. This campaign champions the value of a liberal education–for individual students and for a nation dependent on economic creativity and democratic vitality. UNL's efforts are coordinated with our reform of general education.

Instructional Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC)

The Instructional Technology Advisory Committee is charged to assist the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (SVCAA) in identifying and resolving issues concerning the assessment, acquisition, use, configuration and support of campus-wide instructional technology resources.

Learn more about the Committee's Charge and Committee members.

International Programs Advisory Committee (IPAC)

The International Programs Advisory Council (IPAC) is a representative group of university leaders, reporting to the Chancellor, to help UNL articulate a strategic vision for international programming.  IPAC’s main function is to define a forward-looking focus for the university’s international work.  To this end, the work of IPAC will be to support the ongoing international relationships and work of our faculty, and to promote visionary planning. Operational and structural issues will continue to be addressed by other appropriate UNL entities. The initial work of this committee will be to become informed by the two most recent reports of task forces on international programming.

Learn more about the Committee's Charge and committee members.