The annual diversity report is a comprehensive report on the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts throughout the preceding year. It is intended to provide campus and community with a detailed overview on the inclusive excellence efforts at the University – through practice, research, and policy, while providing snapshots on the key data and statistics. This page represents key points of the report, and the full output can be downloaded below.
Download the Full ReportInclusive Excellence at Nebraska
MLK Week
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s MLK Week celebration featured opportunities for service, education, and conversation in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 2023 theme was “The fierce urgency of now.” The week long celebration offered events for students, faculty, staff, and members of the Lincoln community.
The week’s events included:
- Jan. 18: A Conversation with Brian Stokes Mitchell, two-time Tony Award winner
- Jan. 23-27: Engage Lincoln
- Jan. 24: Late Night Dish It Up: Divine Nine Edition
- Jan. 25: MLK Commemorative Celebration
- Jan. 27: Inclusive Teaching Strategies That Foster an Anti-Racist Classroom
- Jan. 28: Afrikan Peoples Union MLK Banquet
Husker Dialogues
The annual Husker Dialogues are designed to introduce first year students to communication resources and tools that allow them to engage in meaningful conversations.
Husker Dialogues held in-person events in 2022 for the first time since the pandemic began. The multiple in-person opportunities were supplemented by a more limited virtual experience.
2022 Husker Dialogues, by the numbers:
- 1,083 first-year students attended
- 98.52% of attendees agreed that the conversation guides promoted respectful discussion
- 93.53% of attendees agreed that the student stories increased their awareness of diversity in the campus community
- 98.52% of attendees agreed that the conversation guides promoted respectful discussion
- 93.26% of attendees agreed that they will attend an event focused on diversity and inclusion in the next year
- 82% of attendees felt more confident in discussing diversity and inclusion issues
- 89.52% of attendees agreed that learning about diversity and inclusion is important in their university experience
- 74.43% of attendees found the event thought-provoking
Nebraska Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impact Awards
Instituted in 2021 and presented by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Nebraska Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Impact Awards recognize individuals and groups who actively advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in transformative and sustainable ways at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Our Nebraska Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Impact Awards recipients for the 2022-2023 were:
- Dr. Markeya Peteranetz | Diversity Leadership Staff Award
- Dr. Chad Brassil | Diversity Leadership Faculty Award
- Jose Soto | Diversity Leadership Alumni Award
- Peter Ferguson| Diversity Community Impact Award
- Daelyn Zagurski | Promising Undergraduate Student Leader Award
- Ritu Jadwani | Promising Graduate/Professional Student Leader Award
- Middle Eastern and Northern African Student Association | Collective Impact Award
Learn more about the award winners
Collective Impact Conference
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion celebrates collective impacts across campus. To that end, we invited faculty, staff, and graduate students who champion DEI to an afternoon of connection, care, and development on March 30, 2023.
The conference:
- Identified over 450 diversity champions from across campus through extensive online research, communication with unit supervisors and staff, the Council on Inclusive Excellence and Diversity, and college deans.
- Executed a conference with over 200 registrations, one plenary session, nine breakout sessions, and a reception.
- Initiated a partnership with Dining Services to “Continue the Conversation” by providing dining hall vouchers to those who want to continue connecting with people they met from across the university.
Impacting Excellence Through Community Engagement
Star City Pride Parade
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln was well-represented in Lincoln’s Star City Pride Festival on June 17-18, 2022. People from across Lincoln gathered downtown to support the LGBTQIA+ community for the second annual Star City Pride Parade on June 18.
Juneteenth
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln was well-represented in Lincoln’s Star City Pride Festival on June 17-18, 2022. People from across Lincoln gathered downtown to support the LGBTQIA+ community for the second annual Star City Pride Parade on June 18.
Excellence in Teaching and Practice
At Nebraska, diversity and inclusion are central to the mission and pursuit of excellence for all our academic colleges. Our colleges strive to be leaders in expanding opportunities and reducing barriers for all people in Nebraska and beyond through our enduring commitments to diversity, inclusion, and the relentless pursuit of scholarly excellence. True excellence requires that each individual be able to work and learn in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and acceptance. Each person has something to gain from and offer to our community of learning, discovery and outreach.
Visit the college Diversity and Inclusion websites:
Excellence in Leadership, Policy Research, and Development
University Libraries
University Libraries had a productive year in creating exhibits and programs, supporting campus and national inclusive excellence and diversity programs, and acquiring diverse content and collections.
Changes in policies and procedures improved recruitment efforts and acknowledged the inclusive excellence and diversity activities in evaluations. University Libraries identified strategic initiatives and partnerships that aligned with the commitment to “taking active steps towards inclusive excellence by deeply integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all our everyday work.”
Office of Research and Economic Development
The Office of Research and Economic Development is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion across the range of their research and creative activity. Following are examples of ways that Nebraska researchers are using their expertise to address issues facing underserved populations and to deepen society’s understanding of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, ideologies, and cultures.
- Bridging connections between history, civil rights
- Guiding mental health clinicians in treating transgender, gender diverse individuals
- University joins GEM Consortium
- STEM-POWER Research Program
- STEM-POWER Researchers:
- Marianna Burks, Instructor and science specialist for UNL’s TRIO Scholars Program
- Kristi Montooth, Susan J. Rosowski Professor, Biological Science
- Patricia Woch Hill, Research Associate Professor, Center for Science Mathematics & Computer Education and Department of Sociology
Excellence in Education, Climate, and Culture
Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services
The mission of the Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services (OASIS) is to enhance student success by promoting academic excellence, diversity awareness, and social engagement. They seek to transform the lives of students through culturally sensitive academic support and retention services.
OASIS Student Success Program
Achieving Academic Success, by the numbers:
- 94% of students successfully completed the first-year seminar in the fall semester
- 48.8% of all OASIS Scholars achieved a 3.5 grade-point average or higher in the fall semester
- 47.7% of first-year scholars achieved a 3.5 or higher in the spring semester
- 17.3% achieved an ACT score of 26 or higher
Services are targeted to meet the needs of historically underrepresented populations such as first-generation, low-income, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, undocumented, ethnic or racial minorities, international students, and students with diverse identities. All are welcome.
Peer Mentorship Program
The Peer Mentorship Program is for student leaders assisting first-year students with the academic, social, and cultural engagement transition to UNL. Through one-on-one interactions and group meetings, thoughtful facilitators provide guidance and support to first-year students, serving as role models and successful advocates for navigating the first-year experience.
The OASIS program was a massive influence on the person I am today. Throughout the past 4 years, the program allowed me to meet some amazing people who have helped me grow both as a student and a mentor. As an OASIS peer mentor, it provided me with many opportunities that I would normally never have gotten.
Athletics
Nebraska Athletics offers three affinity groups: Nebraska Athlete Ally (LGBTQIA+), Black Student Athlete Alliance, and International Student- Athlete Alliance. Student-athlete support and resource groups help student-athletes form a sense of community and belonging.
Student-athletes can also participate in a diversity leadership team. The Husker JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) team focuses on civic engagement. The group monitors bills through the discussion and voting stages in the Nebraska Legislature and keeps student-athletes and others informed on how those bills might affect them.
Staff and Coaches
Nebraska Athletics coordinates monthly Lunch and Learn sessions and provides tailored educational workshops that are meant to expand the knowledge and understanding of our staff and coaches and aid in healthy, productive conversations.
Recent topics included:
- Microaggressions and Implicit Biases
- Cultural Competency
- Gender Inequality
- Disability Awareness