People often ask L. Dennis Smith, Ph.D., what he considers his greatest accomplishment as president of the University of Nebraska. His answer: “Without hesitation, I can say that I have tried to foster a culture of excellence in which research and scholarly study are valued.”
Dr. Smith told the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Friday he is grateful for the support of the four campus chancellors in encouraging aggressive competition for research funding. “The faculty responded, and the results are phenomenal,” he said.
Dr. Smith made the remarks during his annual state-of-the-university address — his last as president.
When Dr. Smith arrived in 1994, the university was bringing in about $66 million annually in competitive research grants. This year so far, competitive grants stand at $147 million, and Smith said that, before he steps down next June, he expects the university to surpass $175 million.
Recent grants have included $10.5 million to study genes in neurosensory systems at UNMC, and $6.5 million to develop a botulism vaccine at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Smaller, but critically important grants include $800,000 for the University of Nebraska at Kearney to help improve English proficiency in Nebraska schools, and $2 million to the University of Nebraska at Omaha to help increase the number of students pursuing science and mathematics degrees.
Research was only one area Dr. Smith cited as having improved significantly over the past decade. Others include:
- New and renovated buildings on all four campuses thanks to an $80 million bond issue funded jointly by the university and the Nebraska Legislature and with additional support from the University of Nebraska Foundation;
- Recruitment of top students — Smith said only a few top scholars chose NU campuses in 1993; this year, over half the Nebraska high school scholars listed in the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star chose NU;
- A growing national reputation for graduate education — with over a dozen graduate programs listed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2004 rankings of “Best Graduate Schools;”
- Improved diversity, thanks in part to creation of the position of Associate to the President to advance minority and gender equity — minority faculty numbers have more than doubled and minority student enrollment has grown from 5.9 to 7.5 percent during the decade;
- Concentration on the needs of Nebraska farmers and ranchers and improved rural health care;
- Implementation of systems to make university communications and business operations more efficient and effective;
- Better communication about the university and its value to the state through an integrated marketing plan;
- More private funding, including $727 million raised by the NU Foundation in its “Campaign Nebraska.”