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University of Nebraska at Kearney

Coordinates: 40°42′02″N 99°06′03″W / 40.70056°N 99.10083°W / 40.70056; -99.10083
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University of Nebraska at Kearney
Former names
Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney (1905–1921)
Nebraska State Teachers College (1921–1963)
Kearney State College (1963–1991)
MottoBe Blue. Be Gold. BE BOLD.
TypePublic university
Established1905 (1905)
Parent institution
University of Nebraska system
Academic affiliations
Space-grant
Budget$147,637,530[1]
ChancellorCharles Bicak (interim)
PresidentJeffrey P. Gold
Vice-ChancellorJulie Shaffer
Academic staff
322
Students6,327 (Fall 2019)[2]
Undergraduates4,484 (Fall 2019) [2]
Postgraduates1,843 (Fall 2019)[2]
Location
Kearney
,
Nebraska
,
United States

40°42′02″N 99°06′03″W / 40.70056°N 99.10083°W / 40.70056; -99.10083
CampusRural, 235 acres (95 ha)
ColorsBlue and gold[3]
   
NicknameLopers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II – The MIAA
MascotLouie the Loper
Websitewww.unk.edu

The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) is a campus of the public University of Nebraska system and located in Kearney, Nebraska. It was founded in 1905 as the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney.

History

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In March 1903 the Nebraska State Legislature appropriated $50,000 to build a normal school in western Nebraska. In September of that same year, after 111 ballots, the State Board of Education accepted the city of Kearney's offer of 20 acres (8.1 ha) and Green Terrace Hall at the western edge of the city to become its site. On October 18, 1904, the cornerstone of the first building was laid, while in the summer of 1905 the school offered its first classes in Kearney public facilities. The first classes on campus were held in the fall of 1905 as building was being completed. The first-year class consisted exclusively of women; Men's Hall was later established as the first hall for male students. The major sidewalks on campus were once roads, and the stoplight was located where the water fountain is now.[4] The first president was Augustus O. Thomas.[5]

In 1921 the institution's name changed to Nebraska State Teachers College. In 1963, it became Kearney State College. Both name changes were a part of system-wide changes for the state colleges.[4]

In 1989, a legislative act transferred the institution from the Nebraska State College System to the University of Nebraska system. After a Nebraska Supreme Court review, Kearney State College became the University of Nebraska at Kearney on July 1, 1991. Before its affiliation with the University of Nebraska, Kearney State had often been called "K State", an expression also often used for Kansas State University.[4]

The university experienced financial distress in the early 2020s. In 2023, university leaders planned to eliminate over 24 faculty positions and nine degree programs to begin to mitigate the university's $4.3 million budgetary shortfall.[6]

Campus

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The UNK campus comprises 49 buildings on 514-acre (208 ha). Not all buildings are part of the contiguous campus, and many are used for non-academic purposes.

Museums

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The Museum of Nebraska Art, founded by the state legislature and located in Kearney since 1986, is administered as a department of the university.[7]

The G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture is a Richardsonian Romanesque mansion on the western edge of campus, formerly the residence of the administrator of the Nebraska State Tubercular Hospital. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture is open to the public, as well as being used for University functions.[7][8]

eCampus

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UNK has an eCampus offering online undergraduate and graduate degree programs as well as a blended-learning (online and face-to-face) Driver Education endorsement program.[9] UNK was ranked 9th best Public Regional University in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, and the eCampus was ranked 35th overall among online graduate education programs in the United States in US News' 2017 Online College Rankings.[10]

Greek life

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There are several fraternities and sororities on campus.

Athletics

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Main article: Nebraska–Kearney Lopers
Nebraska–Kearney Athletics wordmark

The Nebraska–Kearney (UNK) athletic teams are called the Lopers. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) for most of its sports since the 2012–13 academic year.[11][12] The Lopers previously competed in the D-II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) from 1994–95 to 2011–12 (which they were a member on a previous stint as a provisional member during the 1989–90 school year); and in the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1976–77 to 1988–89.

UNK competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country, football, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and wrestling; basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.

Notable alumni

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Notable faculty

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References

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  1. ^ "UNK 2014 Fact Book: Budget Information" (PDF). Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "College Navigator - University of Nebraska at Kearney".
  3. ^ Communications & Marketing Color Specifications. UNK. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c UNK History
  5. ^ "Augustus Orloff Thomas". nebraskaauthors.org. Nebraska Authors.
  6. ^ Spitalniak, Laura (November 22, 2023). "University of Nebraska at Kearney to cut around 2 dozen faculty positions". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  7. ^ a b UNK Buildings
  8. ^ "G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture". frankhouse.org.
  9. ^ "UNK eCampus". Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  10. ^ "2017 Online College Rankings". US News. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  11. ^ Corbitt, Ken (August 23, 2012). "Newcomers add strength to rugged MIAA". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  12. ^ Toppmeyer, Blake. "MIAA adds 2, more on horizon – Maryville, MO". Maryville Daily Forum. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  13. ^ "Joba Chamberlain – Huskers.com – Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site". Huskers.com. September 23, 1985. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  14. ^ "Kamaru Usman". September 14, 2018.
  15. ^ "Don Welch remembered for poetry, inspiring UNK students". UNK News. August 8, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
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