Hastings College, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center form an academic partnership.
Administrators stress the agreement combines the best features of both educational settings: public and private, as well as rural and urban.
Beginning on a limited basis for the spring of 2021, before expansion next fall, Hastings College students will be able to register for a number of remote and online upper division courses at UNO and some areas of UNMC while continuing their Hastings studies.
“This partnership is an important example of our role as a premier public institution,” said UNO and Med Center Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “We understand it is our mission to serve the people and the institutions of Nebraska that support workforce development, educational attainment, economic development, and premier health care.
Gold continues, "we hope these steps are just the beginning of this partnership, given our common interest in early child education, the liberal arts, STEM, business, technology, and the arts.”
N-U System President Ted Carter says the partnership is an innovative approach to helping the state of Nebraska fulfill its workforce needs.
With the expanded offerings in remote and online education from UNO, Hastings College students can continue to participate in intercollegiate athletics, fine arts programs and campus life, at Hastings.
"We are excited to undertake this partnership to build cooperative academic programs with UNO and UNMC,” said Rich Lloyd, Ph.D., the executive president of Hastings College. “It is our priority to further enhance our strong academic offerings by allowing our students to take courses not offered at Hastings College, but that align with career aspirations or meet academic needs as students look to add an emphasis area, or apply to graduate or professional programs.”
Hastings College students who are interested in pursuing coursework at UNO and some areas of UNMC will work with their academic advisor to identify courses that would enhance their existing Hastings College curriculum.
The leaders say future cooperation between the three campuses may also include internship exchanges or degree programs that begin at one institution and are completed at the other.
Faculty will work cooperatively to identify such programs.