January 23, 2025
Dear UNL Community,
While the start of each semester is always a new beginning, this spring also coincides with a session of the Nebraska Legislature and a new U.S. Presidential administration. As a result, you are likely reading about actions or proposals at both the state and federal levels that could impact higher education. We are following these developments closely and consulting with the Office of the President, General Counsel, and others to better understand how UNL might be impacted. It is important to remember that much of what you are reading and hearing is about legislation in the early proposal stages that will be considered over the coming weeks and months.
Nevertheless, I do want to address proposed bills currently being considered by the Nebraska Legislature, specifically LB551, which would prohibit tenure at postsecondary educational institutions like UNL, and LB552, which would take actions relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Regarding LB551, we must protect tenure and academic freedom. For UNL to remain a top-ranked institution that serves the state of Nebraska, it must be able to attract and retain the best faculty in the world. It can only do so with strong commitments to tenure and to academic freedom.
Tenure provides the time and freedom to develop mature scholarship, be it historical research, developing and proving a scientific theory, or advancing creative activity. Enduring work is not manufactured on a cycle of renewing yearly contracts. Tenure allows faculty to be innovative and teach students on the cutting edge of knowledge.
Tenure allows faculty to explore, develop, and share ideas that are sometimes controversial and instigate disagreement. Tenure protects faculty from corporate or other influence, which is the only way to develop new ideas and research with integrity.
I am immensely proud of the dedication and productivity of our faculty, staff, and students. Every single day, our faculty members are teaching and mentoring students in classrooms and labs across our campus. They are creating knowledge, collaborating with world-class colleagues across the country and around the world, and making discoveries that directly benefit the people of Nebraska. We must preserve our ability to recruit and retain the best and brightest teachers, researchers, and scholars for this important work, and tenure is an essential element.
Regarding LB552, every person at UNL–every student, every faculty member, every staff member–matters. It is essential that all members of our community feel welcome here and supported. It is incumbent on each of us to do our part to foster such an environment.
As a public higher education institution, we are legally bound to adhere to all state and federal law, and we will do so. But let there be no doubt, you matter to me. You matter to us. Regardless of the outcome of this legislative proposal, we will remain committed to your success.
To be clear, there is much more emerging at the state and federal levels, including the current pause in communications from the National Institutes of Health about which we will communicate any research impacts to the research community as information is available. In the coming days and weeks, we will likely see additional changes. My commitment to you is that the Executive Leadership Team and I will remain on top of this. We will advocate for this institution; our mission of education, research, and engagement; and our people at every turn.
We should all be proud of what we are doing to elevate individuals and advance communities across the state of Nebraska. Thank you for all you do.
Rodney D. Bennett
Chancellor