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Partnership Summit Shines Light on College Growth

Partnership Summit Shines Light on College Growth
Interim Dean Kathy Farrell presents to the Dean's Advisory Board at the Partnership Summit
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business hosted the fifth annual Partnership Summit on October 6, as over 150 advisory board members from around the nation met to provide insight and learn more about Howard L. Hawks Hall. Interim Dean Kathy Farrell highlighted the day with the State of the College Address, where she noted the significant role Nebraska Business continues to play at the University.

“Our enrollment levels have grown significantly over the past five years at the undergraduate and graduate levels,” said Farrell. “We’ve supported growth at the University as a whole and that’s without having students see our fabulous new building that’s now in place. For the fall of 2017, the College of Business leads all colleges at Nebraska in new freshmen students among those who have declared a major. It’s a good place to be and we’re really driving enrollment at the University.”

Farrell explained she expects to see the number of business degrees conferred begin to rise significantly as four-year graduation windows catch-up with enrollment growth at the College of Business over the past several years.

Tonn Ostergard addresses Partnership Summit audience at luncheon in the Henrickson Family Atrium
Tonn Ostergard addresses Partnership Summit audience at luncheon in the Henrickson Family Atrium
“It’s been challenging to support this new growth and we believe we’re positioned strategically to provide the support. Twelve new faculty joined us this year and we hired across most of our departments,” she said.

Following the college address, advisory members adjourned to the Henrickson Family Atrium to enjoy lunch where Tom Heacock ’00, treasurer and corporate controller of The Buckle, Inc., received the College of Business Young Alumni Award. Tonn Ostergard ’81, CEO and chairman of Crete Carrier Corporation, delivered the keynote address at the luncheon where he focused on philanthropy.

“The presence of everyone here speaks to your commitment to give back and the gratitude you feel in your heart for the value of the education you received at Nebraska,” said Ostergard. “When I started on the building campaign, leaders at the University made it abundantly clear that no public dollars would be available for this project. This $84 million dollar building is now the largest privately-funded project in the history of University of Nebraska. Nebraskans as a group are very generous and we’ve been fortunate to be the benefactors of that generosity.”

The boards meeting for the Partnership Summit included the Dean’s Advisory Board and Young Alumni Advisory Board. Also meeting were boards for actuarial science, accounting, junior accounting, business research, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, marketing, management, MBA, sales excellence and supply chain management.
Published: October 9, 2017