J.B. Milliken

Even with economic woes, J.B. Milliken is optimistic about the future for UNK and the other universities in Nebraska.
J.B. Milliken is the current president of the University of Nebraska system and spoke with UNK faculty members Thursday, Feb. 12 in Copeland Hall. There were around 50 faculty members that gathered in Copeland to hear Milliken speak. Milliken addressed many different issues, but the bulk of the open forum dealt with the upcoming budget for the four universities. The four universities include UNK, UNO, UNL and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
“There is no denying that this will be a tough budget year,” Milliken said. The president is very aware of what the U.S. Economy is going through, but he views Nebraska’s situation as being a glass that is half full.
According to Milliken, due to Nebraska’s large financial reserve, well managed fiscal and great leadership Nebraska and its universities are in a better position than some other institutes in the country. There was also a record amount of private funding last year that totaled $160 million, which should help in the future.
Milliken understands that there will probably not be a new record set this year in private funding, but he feels that the universities have great momentum coming into this year.
“Nebraska is a unique state that takes ownership in its universities,” Milliken said. Milliken stated that due to this feeling of ownership Nebraska would not allow their students and colleges to suffer.
Milliken said that even though there is a lot of momentum coming into this year UNK and the other universities should search for new revenue sources, whether it is from an increase in private fundraising since there probably won’t be a decrease in public funding and to keep increasing enrollment.
“More is better,” Milliken said.
Milliken also expressed his excitement for how much UNK has grown. UNK is at its highest enrollment since 1999 and has also increased the enrollment of minority students by 50 percent from 2004 to 2009. There has also been an increase in international student enrollment.
The forum concluded with Milliken offering words of encouragement to the UNK faculty. Milliken stated that he is impressed with what the faculty has accomplished and said that they are all doing valuable work.
He also made it clear that the board of regents and him would be thoughtful about the policies and decisions that would arise this next year.