Story by NU Board of Regents
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved major renovations to Memorial Stadium during its meeting on Friday.
The initiative, known as Big Red Rebuild, marks a sweeping transformation designed to elevate fan experience, expand ADA accessibility, address long-standing maintenance needs and secure Memorial Stadium’s status as a world-class venue well into the future.
“Big Red Rebuild is a fan-driven, once-in-a-multigeneration investment that modernizes Memorial Stadium while preserving its legacy—ensuring it remains a premier destination for college athletics and year-round events, like tomorrow’s Zach Bryan concert,” said NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. during his update to the board. “This project also has the intended goals to strengthen Nebraska’s ability to attract students, compete at the highest level, and generate even more significant economic impact across the state.”
During his update, Dr. Gold highlighted a new partnership between the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and Nebraska Extension to improve access to cancer screenings across Nebraska, particularly in rural and underserved areas. He also highlighted ongoing university efforts to coordinate support and resources for Nebraskans affected by the recent wildfires across Nebraska.
Dr. Gold shared an update on a recent partnership between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the U.S. Department Health and Human Services to expand nutrition education nationally within the medical curriculum, which he called “an important step in preparing future physicians to better address disease prevention and long-term health through evidence-based care.” The guidelines have already been adopted by more than 50 medical schools.
He also highlighted a recent visit to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus by Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, during which she and Gov. Jim Pillen signed a proclamation celebrating combined accreditation of UNL and UNMC.
Finally, he briefed the board on a Competitiveness Conversation focused on the bioeconomy that the University of Nebraska System and the National Council on Competitiveness will jointly host in Omaha April 29-30.
“Updates such as these reflect the momentum we are building every day across the university—an ongoing odyssey, built upon strong foundations of excellence, toward the truly extraordinary,” said Dr. Gold. “At the same time, we are well aware and highly responsive to the ever-changing higher education and healthcare landscapes, all of which are replete with both challenges and opportunities on the local, national and global levels. With the depth of expertise across our campuses, the strength of our partnerships, and the resources we continue to align around our mission, we are continuing to shape our University’s future in meaningful ways as well as for Nebraska and beyond.”
In other action, the board:
Approved renovations to the Student Success and Activity Center at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis and to Elephant Hall at Morrill Hall on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus;
Approved construction of a new Infectious Diseases Air Transport training facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which will establish biocontainment patient transport training to support care for patients with highly infectious diseases and provide hands-on training opportunities for military personnel and other partners;
Approved a Program Statement for the Samuel Bak Museum and Learning Center at UNO.
Approved the elimination of four low-enrollment degree programs at the University of Nebraska at Kearney;
Approved the permanent positions of NU Provost David Jackson and NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Tiffany Heng-Moss;
Heard a presentation from Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Rick Evans, director of the National Strategic Research Institute;
Recognized the four outgoing student regents;
Recognized four Kudos Award winners from each of the University of Nebraska campuses.