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The University of Nebraska was chartered on February 15, 1869 and charged with the land-grant mission of public education and service to the state. Since then, the university has inspired and prepared learners, leaders, and scholars to change the world. Through deep expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exceptional student experiences, UNL addresses Nebraska’s most complex challenges, strengthens our global society, and boldly shapes limitless promise and lasting impact.

In 2019, UNL marked a 150-year legacy of improving the quality of life for Nebraska and beyond with aspirations toward the next 25 years for the university with the N150 Commission and N2025 Strategic Plan. As we continue forward on our journey to transform lives and empower generations to lead boldly and courageously, we align with the foundational pillars and strategic priorities of the University of Nebraska System’s Odyssey to Extraordinary. 

Our Bold Path Forward and the Odyssey to Extraordinary are designed to transition the institution from "excellent" to "extraordinary" through transformative goals with measurable data. At UNL, program performance data will be combined with qualitative measures developed by colleges, units, and departments to ensure a holistic understanding of our progress. The NU System will collect performance data from all NU campuses on a quarterly basis that will provide additional progress on NU System goals.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln inspires and equips learners, leaders, and scholars who change the world. Through deep expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exceptional student experiences, we address Nebraska’s most complex challenges, strengthen our global society, and boldly shape a future of limitless promise and lasting impact.

Empowering generations to lead boldly, courageously, and with purpose greater than ourselves.

In the months following the launch of the Odyssey to Extraordinary, UNL vice chancellors and deans convened to draft Our Bold Path Forward, an outline of a strategic framework that would provide guidance for colleges, units, and departments as they set actionable goals and strategic priorities through the 2028-29 academic year.

Now, it is time for our campus community to take the next step in co-creating our path forward by transforming this outline into our official North Star. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to actively participate in this process and provide suggestions to the draft framework online. Submissions will be collected through May 8.

At the same time, in-person recommendations will be collected through information sessions with university governance groups, stakeholders, committees, and workgroups along with college and unit leadership teams.

All contributions will be considered for the future framework, and next steps will be shared at the end of spring semester with open forums held on city and east campus. Additional opportunities for in-person and online submissions will be available.

Guiding principles for this important work include:

• Excellence – Expect, promote, and reward excellence in all aspects of our mission. 
• Impact – We are drivers of positive impact for Nebraska and beyond. 
• Collaboration Over Competition – We unite efforts across campuses, colleges, departments, institutes, and centers for collective momentum and amplified impact. 
• Access – Ensure all students benefit from transformative opportunities and high-quality education.
• Adaptability – Balance shared governance with agility. 
• Authenticity – Honesty and integrity in all communications and interactions. 
• Strategic Stewardship – Invest in priorities that yield strong returns and advance mission-critical goals.
• Prominence - Recognize excellence and impact with markers of distinction.

Our Bold Path Forward will be launched at the beginning of 2026-27 academic year. Vice chancellors, deans, directors, and department executive officers will be guided by this framework to ensure all strategic goals are in alignment with UNL and NU System goals. 

Our Bold Path Forward will be embedded in our branding and national presence going forward, spotlighting our unique identity, value, and strategic opportunities by:

• Launching a unified marketing and branding campaign grounded in our clarified identity.
• Communicating our distinctive culture and core strengths to all core audiences. 
• Positioning UNL as an importer and retainer of talent, not an exporter.
• Elevating the university’s reputation on the national stage while maintaining strong statewide impact.

Together, we will boldly transform Nebraska’s tomorrow — one of limitless promise, innovation, and opportunity.