Faculty are invited to offer their ideas and advice for UNL's proposed research and economic development growth plan during the second forum, 2 to 3:30 p.m., today in the Nebraska Union Auditorium.
The forum will also be webcast at http://go.unl.edu/97e. Faculty viewing the webcast can email questions during the presentation to unlresearch@unl.edu.
The Research and Economic Development Growth Initiative has been initially drafted and reviewed by the deans. Feedback from faculty and administrators campuswide will help shape this plan, which will guide efforts to increase the excellence and stature of research and economic development at UNL. Specifically, the initiative addresses a plan to reach some of the key goals recently set by Chancellor Perlman, including reaching $300 million in total research expenditures by 2017, doubling the number of faculty receiving prestigious national awards and increasing faculty engagement with the private sector.
The forum provides a chance to learn more about proposed research and economic development goals and to offer suggestions on strategies, approaches and barriers to achieving these goals. A summary of the plan is available on the Office of Research and Economic Development website.
This plan is critical to UNL's future growth, said Prem S. Paul, vice chancellor for research and economic development.
"I urge all UNL faculty to make time to participate in this important discussion about our future," Paul said. "This is a work in progress. We're listening and we need your ideas."