Friday and Weekend, July 1 - 3, 2011
UNL is a member of the Big Ten, CIC today
Colleagues:
Now it's official. UNL is a member of the Big Ten Conference.
The Big Ten represents much more than a new group of teams with which we will compete; this new relationship, which includes our membership in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, is an enormous leap forward for UNL academics. The Big Ten is a historically prestigious and stable academic community of scholars and students, highly regarded in academic circles.
It may be surprising how an athletic conference helps fashion the way people perceive a university and a state, as well as how a university and a state perceives itself. To prospective faculty, students and businesses, and when we look in the mirror, we are a Big Ten university in a Big Ten state. Today, we celebrate this fact and the opportunities that come with it.
Tomorrow, it remains up to us to take full advantage of these new opportunities.
- Chancellor Harvey Perlman
CIC, Big Ten, Big Ten Network welcome University of Nebraska—Lincoln
Barbara McFadden Allen, Director
Committee on Institutional Cooperation
Today is one that goes in the history books. Today it's official that the University of Nebraska—Lincoln is now a part of an elite group of universities affiliated with the academic consortium of the Big Ten Conference. The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) is a powerhouse in academia, and I am delighted to be welcoming the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a membership that will strengthen the CIC.
Speaking on behalf of our headquarters staff, the Provosts of the CIC member universities, other key stakeholder groups, the 30,000 faculty at our universities, and over 400,000 undergraduate and graduate students, we are all looking forward to working with our new colleagues from Nebraska to enrich our already strong community. Read the full CIC welcome.
James E. Delany, Commissioner
Big Ten Conference
Today marks the beginning of a significant chapter in the history of the Big Ten Conference as we celebrate the full integration of the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. We are thrilled to officially welcome Nebraska, an institution whose values seamlessly mirror those that the conference has held for more than 115 years.
Nebraska's strong academic reputation and history of athletic success make the school exceptionally well-suited for membership. Since its formation in 1896, the Big Ten's mission has always been to excel in athletics without compromising the priority its member institutions assign to their academic standards and commitment to student academic success. Read the full Big Ten Conference welcome.
Mark Silverman, President
Big Ten Network
The date the Big Ten Network launched - August 30, 2007 - was a significant milestone in our young history. Today is another. With Nebraska now a part of the Big Ten Conference, BTN has a 12th strong partner in producing compelling content that showcases the powerhouse that is the Big Ten.
Last year alone, the BTN televised over 600 events and streamed 500 events on BTN.com. All Big Ten football and men's home basketball games are televised to a national audience. The BTN airs more women's sports and Olympic sports than any other network, giving national exposure to many sports that otherwise would not be televised. Read the full Big Ten Network welcome.
Launch a balloon in celebration
Participate in the virtual balloon launch in celebration of Nebraska's entry to the Big Ten Conference and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC).
Click on the banner (near the bottom of the UNL splash page) to launch ten balloons--as often as you like. The sky's the limit, just like UNL's new opportunities as a Big Ten and CIC university.
Big Ten celebration is 9 a.m. today
A celebration of UNL's official entry into the Big Ten Conference starts at 9 a.m., July 1 in the Van Brunt Visitors Center. The event is free and open to faculty, staff, students and the public.
Governor Dave Heineman will deliver a proclamation. Chancellor Harvey Perlman is scheduled to speak.
Tom Osborne
N-Sider columns countdown to Big Ten entry
In the days leading up to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's entry into the Big Ten Conference on July 1, the Athletic Department's Randy York is posting a series of 10 N-Sider columns. This Countdown to the Big Ten series will culminate with an N-Sider on Big Ten Conference Commissioner Jim Delany on July 1. Today, York interviews University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Director Tom Osborne. Read the interview on Huskers.com
