Members of the Nebraska state government, as well as the Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education (CCPE), toured UNMC last week, along with representatives from the University of Nebraska Office of Central Administration.
The tour included a meeting with UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., reports on the iEXCEL initiative and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. In addition, the group toured the interactive digital wall, The UNMC Center for Drug Discovery and Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education, the Student Life Center and the cancer center. It was hosted by UNMC’s Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs, and Deb Thomas, vice chancellor of business and finance.
Kathy Tenopir, legislative program analyst and legislative counsel for the state’s Legislative Fiscal Office, called the visit a chance for UNMC to showcase itself before a group of people that, in one way or another, touch the university’s budget.
“We’re generally very pleased with these visits,” said Tenopir, who was one of the guests who tried the augmented reality head-mounted display set technology while touring the iEXCEL Visualization Room. “We spent an hour with the chancellor talking about what is up and coming, what is occurring now. It’s all very useful to develop relationships, so that when you need information or there’s an issue or a problem, you have met the person you need to talk to.”
Visitors included:
- Kathy Tenopir, fiscal analyst, Legislative Fiscal Office;
- Gary Timm, chief finance and administrative officer, CCPE;
- Mike Wemhoff, facilities officer, CCPE;
- James Van Bruggen, budget management analyst II, Department of Administrative Services, State of Nebraska;
- Ron Withem, senior associate vice president for university affairs & director of governmental relations, University of Nebraska Central Administration (UNCA);
- Chris Kabourek, assistant vice president of budget & planning, UNCA;
- Rebecca Koller, assistant vice president and director of facility planning and management, UNCA; and
- Erin Cooper, administrative assistant & project coordinator, UNCA.
UNMC participants included:
- Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs, UNMC;
- Deb Thomas, vice chancellor for business & finance, UNMC;
- Ken Hansen, associate vice chancellor & director of campus facilities, UNMC;
- Ron Schaefer, director, planning/construction, UNMC; and
- Anne Bowen, senior assistant to the chancellor, UNMC.