Faculty are at the heart of our institution's instructional roles. Institutions that truly value students also value the faculty who teach, assist and advise those students. Faculty, cooperative extension agents, counselors, and others with instructional and instructional support roles, deserve to be encouraged and recognized for outstanding achievement in their area, irrespective of other institutional roles. Faculty need to be supported with adequate resources, facilities, salaries and professional development opportunities, including opportunities to understand the diversity of Nebraska. Research Our state and nation depend on our postsecondary institutions to conduct research and scholarship that generates new knowledge and technological advances in theory, techniques and products.
Research is a part of each institution's role and mission in varying degrees.
At some institutions, particularly the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, research, both basic and applied, is central to their reason for being. At the State Colleges, research is more closely tied to teaching and directly applicable to the instructional setting or faculty development. Community college research is directly applicable to the classroom or work place. The Commission expects each institution to strive for a balance between teaching and research that is appropriate to its distinct mission. Research means resources and recognition for our institutions.