University of Nebraska at Kearney

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.

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)
Motto	Be Blue. Be Gold. BE BOLD.
Type	Public university
Established	1905 (1905)
Parent institution	University of Nebraska system
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Budget	$147,637,530[1]
Chancellor	Charles Bicak (interim)
President	Jeffrey P. Gold
Vice-Chancellor	Julie Shaffer
Academic staff	322
Students	6,327 (Fall 2019)[2]
Undergraduates	4,484 (Fall 2019) [2]
Postgraduates	1,843 (Fall 2019)[2]
Location	Kearney , Nebraska , United States 40°42′02″N 99°06′03″W
Campus	Rural, 235 acres (95 ha)
Colors	Blue and gold[3]
Nickname	Lopers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – The MIAA
Mascot	Louie the Loper
Website	www.unk.edu

History

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

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

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

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

There are several fraternities and sororities on campus.

Athletics

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

• Jon Bokenkamp – American writer and producer best known for his role in writing the screenplay for Taking Lives, The Call, and creating the NBC series The Blacklist along with The Blacklist: Redemption.
• Emily Balcetis – associate professor of psychology at New York University
• Joba Chamberlain – New York Yankees pitcher^[13]
• Richard Davenport – president of Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Tervel Dlagnev – wrestler, Bronze Medal 2012 Olympics
• Gary Dop – poet
• Bob Green – former Montana Tech Football head coach
• Marg Helgenberger – actress (CSI, China Beach)
• Arthur Hobbs – defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• Jack Hoffman – high school football player and pediatric cancer research advocate; died from cancer shortly after completing his first semester at UNK
• Tom Kropp – NBA player (Washington Bullets, Chicago Bulls), father of UNK alumni Dominique Kropp
• Bart Kofoed – NBA basketball player
• Richard G. Kopf – judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
• Stephen Lawhead – noted author of several fantasy and science-fiction novels
• Ira J. McDonald – Los Angeles City Council member, 1941–45
• Bill Milldyke – broadcast journalist and foreign correspondent
• George Murdoch (stage name: Tyrus, formerly known as Brodus Clay) - professional wrestler, cable news personality, and actor
• Harry Northup – actor Taxi Driver and The Silence of the Lambs, and poet, Red Snow Fence
• Larry L. Peterson – computer scientist
• Mahabir Pun – Ramon Magsaysay Award winning Nepalese philanthropist
• Randy Rasmussen – former New York Jets player
• Tim Schlattmann – co-executive producer of Dexter (TV series)
• Tauese Sunia – former governor of American Samoa
• Kamaru Usman – NCAA DII Wrestling champion, professional mixed martial artist, former UFC Welterweight Champion^[14]
• Raufeon Stots, two-time NCAA Division II Wrestling champion, current Bellator mixed martial artist
• Don Welch – poet^[15]

Notable faculty

• Allison Hedge Coke, English professor.
• Don Welch, English professor.