UNMC will keep growing, Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., said Monday at his regular campus forum with employees and staff.
“We are beginning to run out of space,” Dr. Gold said, noting a need for more educational and research infrastructure, thanks to continued increases in annual program enrollment and research funding.
Likewise, at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, “we’ve hit all of our targets,” for research and clinical metrics, and the building has only been open a year and a half, the chancellor said.
Meanwhile, UNMC is adding programs in occupational therapy and genetic counseling, while also launching an all-out effort against pancreatic cancer with a new center of excellence.
A recent fundraising trip to the west coast saw strong enthusiasm from the private philanthropic community, the chancellor said. These donors and potential donors are most interested in the historically highly successful type of public-private partnerships found at a state university.
State support remains crucial, Dr. Gold said. A report from the Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board is set for later this week. And, the university will testify before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee next week. The message to lawmakers?
“That the mission of the University of Nebraska is critically important to the economic prosperity of the state,” Dr. Gold said.
UNMC is asking for state support for its annual budget, for deferred maintenance upkeep of existing infrastructure, for campus safety, scholarship support, and for matching of private dollars toward the aforementioned pancreatic cancer center of excellence.
Speaking of growth, the chancellor gave several construction updates:
- The Davis Global Center is on schedule and on budget for occupancy in the summer with a September grand opening.
- The Wigton Heritage Center will start construction this spring. There will be some disruption in Wittson Hall and University Tower — including a short closure of the skywalk over 42nd Street.
- The northwest corner of 42nd and Leavenworth streets will be replaced with a privately-funded public art area, including 18 Kaneko columns and a walking garden.
The chancellor also:
- Thanked facilities staff for keeping the campus safe in winter conditions.
- Congratulated education award winners and looked forward to handing out research awards on March 5.
- Recognized the ongoing “Thank a Resident Week” program and the “Elevating the Conversation” movement for spurring further discussion on wellness and resiliency. The educational and clinical environments need to be less stressful, and thus more productive, the chancellor said.
“We all own this,” Dr. Gold said.