The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will vote Feb. 11 on the demolition of the vacated J.P. Lord, Munroe-Meyer Institute and Hattie B. Munroe facilities on the UNMC campus.
"These buildings are old … and the site needs significant remediation," UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said during his Feb. 3 all-campus forum. "There is a tremendous legacy as we turn the page and look to the future."
Demolition of the four distinct but physically attached facilities, which served the clinical, occupational and research needs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will provide space, in part, for the future home of Project NExT, a public-private partnership that creates a federal, all-hazard health security disease response space.
UNMC plans to repurpose the playground equipment at the vacant MMI building and is working with a campground in North Omaha.
Dr. Gold also shared the City of Omaha’s plans for a modern streetcar from downtown to UNMC, which will provide public transportation to campus. Pending City Council approval, the streetcar creates a significant level of excitement and economic impact along the proposed route, he said.
On the COVID-19 front, Dr. Gold said national, state and community cases are beginning to fall, but hospitalizations and case fatality rates are still high. Vaccinations and boosters remain effective, even with the BA.2 variant, a subtype of the omicron BA.1 variant.
UNMC faculty, staff and students are expected to get their booster when eligible. Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine recently received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in people ages 18 and older. There is currently no difference between the approved vaccine and the vaccine previously available through emergency use authorization. The Pfizer vaccine was approved for use in people age 16 and older in August and also has been authorized for use in individuals 5 to 15.
Dr. Gold said trials are underway by both Pfizer and Moderna for omicron-specific boosters; results and recommendations will be forthcoming as the clinical trials proceed. Pfizer has recently submitted data to the FDA requesting approval for a reduced dose for 2- to 5-year-olds.
Jane Meza, PhD, interim executive director for health security for UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, joined the chancellor and outlined current campus guidance, which includes wearing KN95s in all indoor spaces. This includes, she said, study spaces such as the McGoogan Health Sciences Library, unless you are alone in an individual study room. Failure to wear a mask is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, she said, and individuals may risk losing access to the library.
Campus leaders, she said, will make changes as the science and data warrants.
Read the latest campus COVID-19 guidance on masking, testing, exposures, research, gatherings and more. Questions? Email the Office of Health Security.
Individuals planning summer and fall campus events should complete an event planning form based on current campus guidance, Dr. Meza said, noting flexibility is key because "COVID has its own opinion on things."
Dr. Gold agreed: "COVID keeps surprising us with new and different variants and subtypes." Therefore, he said, it’s important that supervisors and employees remain flexible with work and learning arrangements and that campus guidance take into account the nature of future variants, including their severity, transmission patterns and impact on our community infrastructure.
In other matters, Dr. Gold said:
- Paul Umbach, founder of Tripp Umbach, will present economic impact data for the University of Nebraska System at the Feb. 11 NU Board of Regents meeting. Campus-specific data will follow.
- Campus climate data — gathered from the 2021 survey — will be released this spring. "I anticipate that there will be strengths, areas of interest and areas for improvement, and we will roll up our sleeves and build on our strengths as we work on those areas that can be improved," Dr. Gold said.
- Searches continue for a new vice chancellor for research and vice chancellor for business, finance and business development. Sarah Gloden Carlson, JD, will serve as interim assistant vice chancellor and director for UNMC human resources until the vice chancellor for business, finance and business development is filled, since that person will supervise the HR director.
- The campus soon will seek broad feedback on its strategic planning strategies, including a strengthened focus on the education, research and clinical side of rural health care; diversity, equity and inclusion; workforce development; and succession planning.
In closing, Dr. Gold noted that during the 1918 pandemic there was no definitive point where individuals declared failure or victory. "Through a combination of pandemic fatigue and reinfection rates, it just sort of blended into the background to where influenza is today," he said.
"(Influenza) is still a major challenge in this country and around the world and will be until someone comes up with the next generation of influenza vaccines that can be more effective for broader subtypes and variants of the flu." He anticipates COVID-19 will follow suit.
As always, Dr. Gold thanked the campus faculty, students and staff and reminded them to take care of themselves and each other. More than ever, he said, this is a time for care and caring.