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NU regents focus on prioritizing academics REGENTS from page 1 But in order for the process to be as painless as possible, faculty have to be involved in setting the criteria and deciding what stays and what goes. “Shared governments mean the faculty have a crucial and central role in the university as a whole,” said David Clark, Faculty Senate President at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. “Faculty must be a central part of the process.” ’ Regent Charles Wilson from Lincoln agreed that the faculty must be on board but said they must under stand that measures will have to be taken to actually solve the problem. “It needs to be an inclusive process,” Wilson said. “But in the end there must be some constructive outcome. If everyone is out to protect their own turf, we are going to face paralysis.” r- ■ — ■ ■ ■ — ■ Deans from various colleges also spoke in support of determining pri orities. Brian Foster, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UNL, said while he was in support of recogniz ing priorities, NU would have to tread carefully when deciding what to cut. “Successful new programs must build on what we have,” Foster said. “We don’t want to risk destroying foundations for what we want to build in the future.” Chairwoman of the Board of Regents Nancy O’Brien said setting priorities isn’t always negative for a program and in some instances might mean additional resources. “Some programs will see increased resources,” O’Brien said. “When you prioritize, you can also beef up programs.” The discussion of setting acade mic priorities began with a presenta tion by Robert Dickeson, author of the book “Prioritizing Academic Programs and Services: Reallocating Resources to Achieve Strategic Balance.” Dickeson said that universities all over the country are trying to make ends meet through ways that eventu ally lead to mediocrity. There is a better way, Dickeson said. “The most likely source for need ed resources is reallocation of exist ing resources, from weaker to strongest programs,” Dickeson said. Dickeson said the process had to be done by reaffirming the institu tional mission and selecting the appropriate criteria by which to judge each program. Even then, it still won’t be easy. “A tough decision is what to do, a tougher decision is what not to do and the toughest decision is what to stop doing,” he said. Questions? Comments? Ask for the appropriate section editor at (402) 472*2588 oreHnaiidn@uni.edu. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHfl999 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN Editor: Managing Editor: Associate News Editor: Associate News Editor: Opinion Editor: Sports Editor: A&E Editor: Copy Desk Chief: Photo Chief: DesignCMef: Wdi Editor: Asst Web Editor: General Manager: Publications Board Chairwoman: Professional Adviser: %$' Advertising Manager: A Asst Ad Manager: Classified Ad Manager: Josh Funk Sarah Baker Lindsay Young Jessica Fargen Mark Baldridge Dave Wilson LizaHoltmeier Diane Broderick Matt Miller JefFRandell Matt Haney Gregg Stearns Jennifer Walker Daniel Shattil Jessica Hofriiann, (402)477-0527 , Don Walton, (402)473-7248 Nick Paitsch, (402)472-2589 fcmie Yeager Mary Johnson' the world of Internet banking. Visit www.banknbc.com Pull up banknbc.com and you can enter our newest branch. It’s Internet banking from your own home where you can check your latest balances, transfer funds, apply for loans, and get your complete statement—24 hours a day. ,You can even pay your bills with the click of a button. So, enter the new world of Internet bank ing from home, brought to you by, who else. Your Hometown Bank. JPy' _ v ' NBC National Bank of Commerce 1248 O Street • Lincoln, NE 68508 • (402) 434-4150 Member FDIC • www.banknbc.com a First Commerce company " Virtues of research touted at meeting By Kimberly Sweet Senior staff writer With the right amount of federal funding, UNL could help develop vaccines, stop the transmission of food-borne disease or create a com puter smaller than the eye can see. UNL officials delivered this message to the NU Board of Regents on Friday, outlining their vision of how to make the University of Nebraska-Lincoln one of the pre mier land-grant research universities in the nation. The goals were presented in UNL’s strategic plan. The campus master plan, which is designed to guide development over the next 30 years, is included. Marsha Torr, vice chancellor for research, gave a presentation of the potential projects UNL could embark on with federal funds. Climate variability, food safety and processing, knowledge manage ment, Great Plains studies, life sci ences and nanoscale sciences are all among tne areas wnere UNL has strength to contribute to valuable research, Torr said. To demonstrate the potential UNL has to carry out research, Ton pointed to three areas where UNL is already developing useful research. Researchers worked with a virus similar to smallpox, which, Torr said, is becoming a concern in anti-terror ist circles. Also, a study of a virus that causes diarrhea in cattle may be one of the only viable lab models for Hepatitis C. Food safety is also an area researchers at UNL are working extensively in. The university is one of the few groups using techniques to produce vaccines against potential biological warfare agents. “By combining these strengths we can advance the knowledge in the transmission of food-borne micro bial disease and factors that lead to microbial resistance,” Torr said. Extremely small computers - those not much bigger than blood cells - will be developed in the next 15 to 20 years, Torr said The physics and electrical engineering depart ments have already made devices as small as a fraction of a blood cell that could be a stepping stone to this technology. While projects in the sciences make up one area of potential research, resources also exist to focus on the humanities side of dis covery. UNL is currently competing to be the home for the Plains region al humanities center. It would be funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and would be the home center for five states, said Richard Edwards, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. UNL Chancellor James Moeser told the regents the master plan would have to include buildings for research as well as classrooms so UNL’s mission of learning and dis covery could be integrated. The goals presented in Moeser’s plan included developing a new research and development zone, located between R and Vine streets, east of 17th Street and west of the Beadle Center. l ms goal cannot be realized until the 100-year flood plain that covers 50 acres of City Campus land is resolved, Moeser said. Moeser also proposed a space for more research on East Campus, since the flood plain limits construc tion on City Campus. After hearing the plan, Regent Robert Allen of Hastings expressed his concern that teaching and the classroom would become the “stepchild” of the university, and too much focus would be on research. Regent Charles Wilson of Lincoln agreed, expressing concern. “If we don’t do a good job with (teaching), we are not going to have statewide support for other things.” Moeser answered their concerns by saying that a good university focuses on both teaching and research. “I do not believe we can create a quality learning environment with out having the research base of knowledge,” he said. Together, We're Making Lives Better 621 Rose Street, Lincoln www.mdsharris.com/rcrt/recruit.htm