University of Nebraska at Omaha

University of Nebraska at Omaha
Motto	Connect-Collaborate-Create
Established	1908
Type	Public Space Grant University
Chancellor	John Christensen, PhD
Academic staff	842
Students	14,903
Location	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Campus	Urban, 158 acres (64 ha)
Colors	Crimson and Black
Athletics	NCAA Division I
Nickname	Mavericks
Mascot	Durango
Affiliations	Summit League, WCHA
Website	www.unomaha.edu

Coordinates: 41°15′34.49″N 96°0′18.19″W / 41.2595806°N 96.0050528°W / 41.2595806; -96.0050528 The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, 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. On October 8, 2008, the University of Nebraska at Omaha celebrated its 100th year of existence.^[1]

History

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.^[2][3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] The school also served as OU's science call from 1917 to 1926.^[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.,^[6] at the University of Nebraska at Omaha was named in recognition of the Foundation's giving.^[7][8] 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.

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.^[4]

Academics

UNO is classified as a doctoral/research university in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. 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, UNL's College of Engineering and Technology, and the Holland Computing Center, which houses the Firefly supercomputer.^[9] The College of Information Science and Technology offers undergraduate/graduate degrees in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Bioinformatics (graduate degree offered in collaboration with UNMC's Pathology's graduate program), Information Assurance, and Information Technology Innovation.

In addition, the University of Nebraska at 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 ranks UNO as a Tier 1 school. 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 Master 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 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 Journal of Religion and Film.

Modern Campus

Kaneko-UNO Library Study space

Currently the University of Nebraska Omaha has two campuses: North Campus (Dodge Street) and South Campus (Pacific Street) which are separated by Elmwood Park, both in Midtown Omaha. UNO also operates the Kaneko-UNO Library, located at 12th and Jones streets in downtown Omaha. The Kaneko-UNO focuses on stimulating creativity and offers research scientists, business leaders, teachers, visual artists, and students access to resources and materials they might not find in their day-to-day environment.

North Campus

The North Campus is the largest and primary campus for the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The following colleges and their associated facilities are located on the North Campus:

University of Nebraska-Omaha North campus

College of Arts and Sciences College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media College of Education College of Public Affairs and Community Service Graduate Studies International Studies Service-Learning Academy

Additionally, the North Campus is also the home to the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library, the Strauss Performing Arts Center, the UNO Art Gallery, and the Black Box Theater, a state-of-the-art facility utilizing mobile seating units to allow for a customizable and trans-formative space.

University Village and Maverick Village student housing complexes, each composed of multiple variably sized buildings, are spread across the western edge of the North Campus (Additional housing is also present on South Campus).

The HPER (Health, Physical Education, and Recreation) building is a recently renovated complex that houses the Athletic Department for the Division I Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks as well as student fitness areas. Attached is the Sapp Field House and Al F. Caniglia Field. The Pep Bowl is located near Caniglia Field.

South Campus

The South Campus houses the primary facilities for the College of Business Administration and the College of Information Science and Technology, which includes the Peter Kiewit Institute and the Firefly supercomputer. The Scott Technology Center incubator, which aims to assist start-up enterprises that offer products which are cutting-edge, high risk, and are of high quality scientific, technology or engineering nature, is also located on the South Campus. The Scott Data Center and Scott Conference Center are other features of South Campus.

Additional on-campus housing is provided on the South Campus via Scott Hall, and the multiple units which comprise Scott Village and Scott Court. UNO plans to expand the South Campus via Aksarben Village. UNO has also recently purchased property south of Center Street, with possible intentions of developing further on-campus housing and for on-campus athletic facilities.

Athletics

Main article: Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks

Nebraska-Omaha's sports teams have been nicknamed the Mavericks since 1971.^[12] The university currently operates 14 intercollegiate athletic programs which are currently in transition to NCAA Division I status and set to join The Summit League. In the process UNO has abandoned its football and wrestling programs. Wrestling had been the school's most successful sport with national championships in 1991, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011.^[13] The Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey team competes in the Division I Western Collegiate Hockey Association, joining the league in 2010-11, and is the only Division I hockey program in the state. UNO has also added a men's soccer program in 2011, and is only the second division I men's soccer program in the state (the other being Creighton).

Men's sports at UNO include tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf and hockey. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and volleyball.

Fraternities/Sororities

Fraternitites:

• Pi Kappa Alpha
• Lambda Chi Alpha
• Sigma Phi Epsilon
• Theta Chi

Sororities:

• Chi Omega
• Alpha Xi Delta
• Sigma Kappa
• Zeta Tau Alpha

Media

KVNO 90.7 FM is produced and broadcast from UNO's North Campus. The station's format is primarily classical music, although approximately 10% of its broadcast time is devoted to athletic and campus events.

MavRadio (HD FM 90.7-2 and online) is a student produced college/indie station also produced and broadcast from UNO's North Campus.

The Gateway is UNO's student newspaper which is published bi-weekly during the spring and fall academic semesters.

Administration

As of 2010, the Chancellor of UNO is John Christensen, Ph.D., and the deans are:

• College of Arts and Sciences - J. David Boocker, Ph.D.
• College of Business Administration - Louis G. Pol, Ph.D.
• College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media - Gail F. Baker, Ph.D.
• Associate Dean - Mike Hilt, Ph.D.
• College of Education - Nancy A. Edick, 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 - Audrey DeFrank, M.L.S. [Acting Dean]
• Graduate Studies - Deborah S. Smith-Howell, Ph.D.
• International Studies and Programs - Thomas E. Gouttierre, M.A.

Fight song

UNO Fight

We will fight, fight, fight for our Mavericks,
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 Mavericks,
we will cheer so all fans will know.
Be it win or lose or draw,
Everyone for Omaha,
We will fight for U-N-O.

Composer, Dr. James Saker

Notable alumni

• Charles J. Adams, United States Air Force Brigadier General
• Marlin Briscoe, first black starting quarterback in modern Professional Football (the American Football League), attended and played for UNO from 1964-1967.
• Harold Dow, CBS News correspondent and investigative reporter
• Dan Ellis, NHL goalie
• Dick Fletcher, Emmy Award-winning television meteorologist
• Peter Fonda, actor, attended Omaha University, but did not complete his degree.
• Chuck Hagel, U.S. Senator
• Jason Brilz, mixed-martial artist who fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
• Jeff Koterba, Editorial Cartoonist, Omaha World Herald
• James J. Lindsay, United States Army General
• Zach Miller, American football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes attended UNO, but did not complete his degree.
• Gene Okerlund, Wrestling Announcer for notable companies like the AWA, WCW and now WWE
• Penny Sackett, Astronomer and Chief Scientist of Australia
• Gerald Theunissen, banker in Jennings, Louisiana, who served from 1992-2008 in both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
• Leslie J. Westberg, United States Air Force Brigadier General
• James R. Young, Chairman and President of Union Pacific Railroad.

See also

• Education in North Omaha, Nebraska
• Nebraska Review
• Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library

References

1. ^ (2008) University of Nebraska at Omaha Celebrates 100 Years.
2. ^ "History of Omaha at a glance", Douglas County Historical Society. Retrieved 4/10/08. p 65.
3. ^ (1993) A History of UNO. University of Nebraska at Omaha. Retrieved 5/29/07.
4. ^ ^{a b} "Old campus fades into oblivion", UNO Alumni Newsletter. August 1964. Retrieved 4/29/08.
5. ^ Saratoga Field University of Nebraska at Omaha website.
6. ^ ^{a b} (1960) "West Dodge Campus Choice Gave Unique Building Design", The Gateway - UNO. Retrieved 3/26/08.
7. ^ "There's more to UNO buildings that just a name", Gateway. July 10, 2004. Retrieved 2/3/08.
8. ^ "University buildings", UNO Gateway. Retrieved 2/4/08.
9. ^ Holland Computing Center. Holland Computing Center Website Retrieved November 14, 2010.
10. ^ Coupe, T. Study. Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
11. ^ Press Release. University of Nebraska at Omaha.
12. ^ UNO Alumni.org - excerpt from Summer 1971 yearbook, Tomahawk
13. ^ http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/156765564

External links

• University of Nebraska Omaha website
• UNO Mavericks - Athletic Department