University of Nebraska at Omaha
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| University of Nebraska-Omaha | |
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| Motto: | Connect-Collaborate-Create |
| Established: | 1908 |
| Type: | Public Space Grant University |
| Chancellor: | John Christensen, PhD |
| Faculty: | 842 |
| Students: | 14,903 |
| Location: | Omaha, NE., USA |
| Campus: | Urban |
| Athletics: | 13 Teams competing in 13 D-II Varsity Sports, 1 Team competing in D-I Hockey |
| Colors: | Crimson & Black |
| Nickname: | Mavericks |
| Mascot: | Durango |
| Affiliations: | NCC, CCHA |
| Website: | www.unomaha.edu |
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is the Omaha, Nebraska campus of the University of Nebraska system, and is the second-largest institution of higher education in Nebraska, after the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. After its foundation as Omaha University 1908, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University of Nebraska. The institution has a strong tradition of serving commuter students from within Omaha, but in recent years has developed student housing to better serve students from Nebraska, the United States, and the world for whom the commute is not convenient. UNO has a strong academic reputation, with many well-regarded programs. It has more ranked programs than the other two sister universities in the University of Nebraska system.
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[edit] History
[edit] Omaha University
The original Omaha University was founded in 1908 in the Kountze Place neighborhood of North Omaha. The first classes were located in the Redick Mansion, once at North 24th and Pratt Streets, from 1909 through 1917. Established a few blocks north of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, most of the early faculty were recruited from Seminary teachers, as well as the faculty of Bellevue College. There were 26 students in the first year, most of whom graduated from Omaha High School. Three of the University's first four presidents were ordained Presbyterian ministers.[1] [2] Two other buildings on the original campus included Jacobs Hall, a gymnasium erected in 1910, and Joslyn Hall, a classroom building erected in 1917.
Jacobs Hall was a gymnasium facing North 24th Street that was built in 1910 with $14,000 received from the sale of land contributed by Lillian Maul. The land, the first donation to the University, was near the present West Dodge campus of the university. It was the first new building constructed on the university campus. Joslyn Hall was built with funds contributed by a well-known Omahan, George A. Joslyn. Donating $25,000 toward the building, Joslyn stipulated the school identify another $25,000 in a year. The building was located just north of Redick Hall and was finished in January 1917. Joslyn Hall had three stories and a basement with a total of thirty classrooms that accommodated 750 students. The building included chemistry and physics laboratories, an auditorium and music department.[3] Redick Hall was sold and moved in February 1917, to Minnesota where it became a resort.
In the early 1920s a proposed "magnificent campus" was slated for development between 21st and 25th Avenues, bounded by Kountze Park and the Carter Lake Park. In 1927, businessmen formed the North Omaha Activities Association in order to redevelop Saratoga School's playing field into a football field for the University's football team. With new bleachers built to accommodate a crowd of a thousand, the Saratoga Field was home to OU's football team until 1951.[4] The school also served as OU's science call from 1917 to 1926.[5]
[edit] Current north campus
The University moved from the North Omaha campus to its present main location at 60th and Dodge Street in 1938. The old campus buildings were used as apartments and offices, and were demolished to make way for a 12-story Omaha Housing Authority apartment building for the elderly, which was completed in 1965.[6]
Dr. Milo Bail became president of Omaha University in 1948 and served until 1965. During that time Omaha hotel magnate Eugene C. Eppley's foundation gave more than $1.2 million to the university. After Eppley's passing, the Eppley Foundation donated another $50,000 to recruit distinguished professors. The Eppley Administration Building, designed by John Latenser, Sr.,[7] at the University of Nebraska at Omaha was named in recognition of the Foundation's giving.[8][9] In 1952 the national Silver Wings student organization was founded at UO. In June 1964 Jacobs and Joslyn Halls were the last two original OU buildings at 24th & Pratt Streets to be demolished. In 1976 the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library replaced the Eppley Library.
[edit] New south campus
Currently the University of Nebraska at Omaha has two campuses: North (Dodge Street) and South (Pacific Street). They are connected via Elmwood Park Road, also called South 67th Street, and separated by Elmwood Park. UNO plans to expand the South Campus via the new Aksarben Village, which will also house dormitories for the College of St. Mary and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. It also will include a new Courtyard by Marriott and conference centers. Through this project, UNO aims to create the atmosphere of a college town in the center of Omaha.[citation needed]
- Further information: Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
[edit] Academics
UNO is the home of the Peter Kiewit Institute a $70 million state-of-the art computer science facility and engineering facility, making it one of the premier computer science, management information systems(MIS) and bioinformatics programs in the region. PKI houses UNO's College of Information Science and Technology and UNL's College of Engineering and Technology. The College of Information Science and Technology offers undergraduate/graduate degrees in Computer Science, Management Information Systems and Bioinformatics (graduate degree offered in collaboration with UNMC's Pathology's graduate program).
In addition, the University of Nebraska, Omaha enjoys an excellent reputation. National rankings for its undergraduate and graduate programs include honors from U.S News America's Best Colleges 2007, Entrepreneur Magazine Entrepreneurial Colleges, Princeton Review's and "Best Midwestern College 2007." U.S News America's Best Graduate Schools 2009 ranked the public affairs program in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service 27th in the nation, and also ranked several specializations in the Masters in Public Administration high: information and technology management (6th), public finance and budgeting (9th), city management and urban policy (13th), public management administration (15th), nonprofit management (18th). Criminology was ranked 9th in 2005.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha's Economics Department ranks among the best economics departments in the world according to an international study conducted by Tom Coupe, a researcher at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.[10]
The College of Business Administration's Masters in Business Administration students ranked in the top 5% nationally, while the undergraduate students ranked in the top 15% on a most recent standardized exam on business topics conducted by the Educational Testing Service.[11]
UNO maintains a widely-regarded online film journal called the The Journal of Religion and Film.
[edit] Athletics
Nebraska-Omaha's sports teams are nicknamed the Mavericks. The university currently operates 14 intercollegiate athletic programs which compete in the NCAA Division II North Central Conference. Nebraska-Omaha will join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association on July 1, 2008.[12] The hockey team competes in the Division I Central Collegiate Hockey Association. In 1975 the women's softball team won the AIAW national championship.
Men's sports at UNO include baseball, basketball, football, hockey and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and volleyball.
[edit] Administration
As of 2007, the chancellor of UNO is John Christensen, Ph.D., and the deans are:
- College of Arts and Sciences - Shelton Hendricks, Ph.D.
- College of Business Administration - Louis G. Pol, Ph.D.
- College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media - Gail F. Baker, Ph.D.
- College of Education - John Langan, Ed. D.
- College of Information Science and Technology - Hesham H. Ali, Ph.D.
- College of Public Affairs and Community Service - Burton J. Reed, Ph.D.
- Criss Library - Stephen R. Shorb, M.A., M.L.S.
- Graduate Studies - Deborah S. Smith-Howell, Ph. D.
- International Studies and Programs - Thomas E. Gouttierre, M.A.
[edit] Fight song
UNO Fight
We will fight, fight, fight for our Mav-er-icks, We will fight, fight, fight for our team. Everyone knows when that old whistle blows, We will shout, we will yell, we will scream. GO MAVS! We will fight, fight, fight for our Mav-er-icks, we will cheer so all fans will know. Be at win or lose or draw, Everyone for Omaha, We will fight for U-N-O.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Karyn Allison, Internationally acclaimed jazz singer
- Marlin Briscoe, first black quarterback in the NFL, played for and attended UNO from 1964-1967.
- Harold Dow, CBS News correspondent and investigative reporter
- Rick Evans[1], U.S. Air Force Colonel, Commander of the Nebraska Air National Guard's 155th Air Refueling Wing[2] in Lincoln, NE
- Peter Fonda, actor, attended Omaha University, but did not complete his degree.
- Chuck Hagel, U.S. Senator
- Jeff Koterba, Nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist
- James J. Lindsay, United States Army General
- Preston Maxwell, an independent Professional wrestler who has held several titles around the midwest.
- Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes attended UNO, but did not complete his degree.
- Gene Okerlund, Wrestling Announcer for notable companys like the AWA, WCW and now WWE
- Terry Santo, former CEO and owner of Professional Traffic Consultants in Omaha attended UNO.
- Jim Young, CEO and President of Union Pacific Railroad
- Big Pussy (radio), syndicated radio producer of the Todd-n-Tyler Radio Empire on KEZO-FM based out of Omaha, NE, and heard on KICT-FM in Wichita, KS and on KZRQ-FM in Springfield, MO
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "History of Omaha at a glance", Douglas County Historical Society. Retrieved 4/10/08. p 65.
- ^ (1993) A History of UNO. University of Nebraska at Omaha. Retrieved 5/29/07.
- ^ "Old campus fades into oblivion", UNO Alumni Newsletter. August 1964. Retrieved 4/29/08.
- ^ Saratoga Field University of Nebraska at Omaha website.
- ^ (1960) "West Dodge Campus Choice Gave Unique Building Design", The Gateway - UNO. Retrieved 3/26/08.
- ^ "Old campus fades into oblivion", UNO Alumni Newsletter. August 1964. Retrieved 4/29/08.
- ^ (1960) "West Dodge Campus Choice Gave Unique Building Design", The Gateway - UNO. Retrieved 3/26/08.
- ^ "There's more to UNO buildings that just a name", Gateway. July 10, 2004. Retrieved 2/3/08.
- ^ "University buildings", UNO Gateway. Retrieved 2/4/08.
- ^ Coupe, T. Study. Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
- ^ Press Release. University of Nebraska at Omaha.
- ^ (2006) "New mark to be used for 2008 Basketball Championships, utilized full-time beginning July 1" Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Retrieved 2/4/08.
[edit] External links
- University of Nebraska at Omaha website
- UNO Mavericks - Athletic Department
- The College of Information Science and Technology's PKI's Aim
- http://library.unomaha.edu/
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