University of Nebraska—Lincoln: Fact Book 2003—2004

Role and Mission Statement The Role of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, chartered by the Legislature in 1869, is that part of the University of Nebraska system which serves as both the land-grant and the comprehensive public University for the State of Nebraska. Those responsible for its origins recognized the value of combining the breadth of a comprehensive University with the professional and outreach orientation of the land grant University, thus establishing a campus which has evolved to become the flagship campus of the University of Nebraska. UNL works cooperatively with the other three campuses and Central Administration to provide for its student body and all Nebraskans the widest array of disciplines, areas of expertise, and specialized facilities of any institution within the state. Through its three primary missions of teaching, research, and service, UNL is the state\u27s primary intellectual center providing leadership throughout the state through quality education and the generation of new knowledge. UNL\u27s graduates and its faculty and staff are major contributors to the economic and cultural development of the state. UNL attracts a high percentage of the most academically talented Nebraskans, and the graduates of the University form a significant portion of the business, cultural, and professional resources of the State. The quality of primary, secondary, and other post-secondary educational programs in the state depends in part on the resources of UNL for curricular development, teacher training, professional advancement, and enrichment activities involving the University\u27s faculty, museums, galleries, libraries, and other facilities. UNL provides for the people of the state unique opportunities to fulfill their highest ambitions and aspirations, thereby helping the state retain its most talented youth, attract talented young people from elsewhere, and address the educational needs of the nontraditional learner. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been recognized by the Legislature as the primary research and doctoral degree granting institution in the state for fields outside the health professions. UNL is one of a select group of research universities which hold membership in the American Association of Universities (AAU). Through its service and outreach efforts the University extends its educational responsibilities directly to the people of Nebraska on a state-wide basis. Many of UNL\u27s teaching, research and service activities have an international dimension in order to provide its students and the state a significant global perspective