More than 30 University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty and staff gathered April 3 to kick off Our Bold Path Forward, a new strategic framework that will guide the university through the 2028-29 academic year.
The roundtable, held at the Willa Cather Dining Complex, was the first in a series of sessions designed to gather input from faculty, staff and students. The initiative aligns with the University of Nebraska system’s Odyssey to Extraordinary strategic plan.
Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson said the framework is being developed collaboratively, with a focus on transparency and accountability.
“It is more important than ever that we work together across UNL to co-create a universitywide strategic framework — not something developed around us, but something built by us,” Ankerson said.
She said the framework will include structured reporting and public summaries of community input, with clear timelines and defined accountability, to ensure transparency and ongoing engagement across the university.
“This will be a living document that guides decisions across every level of the institution,” she added.
The 90-minute session was structured as small-group discussions to ensure all voices were heard. Participants worked at tables with facilitators and were asked four key questions: what they want for their units, what they need to succeed, how their work aligns with UNL’s five strategic pillars, and how collaboration could be strengthened across departments and colleges.
Jordan Gonzales, the chancellor’s chief of staff, said the session was designed to capture the voices of the campus community.
“Today is not going to be a presentation — it’s going to be a conversation,” Gonzales said. “Your voices are going to be the most important thing in this room.”
The framework mirrors the system-level structure of Odyssey to Extraordinary, with five pillars: teaching and learning, research and creative activity, partnerships and engagement, culture and environment, and stewardship and effectiveness. University leaders said strategies under each pillar will be tailored to UNL’s role as a Big Ten flagship, land-grant research university.
Participants praised the forum’s structure for encouraging discussion and collaboration. Patricia Sollars, director of undergraduate education, said the focused questions and facilitation helped ensure ideas were fully captured.
“It was valuable to hear how others across campus are thinking about the same challenges and opportunities,” Sollars said. “These conversations will spark new ideas and help us see connections we might not have considered otherwise.
“I would encourage everyone to get involved in future sessions — there’s a lot to gain from the exchange of perspectives.”
Additional forums are scheduled April 10 at the Nebraska East Union's Great Plains Room and a virtual session on April 20. Details on the virtual session will be announced. Online feedback can be submitted online through early May. A “what we heard” report will be released before the framework is finalized July 1.
