In honor of the 150th anniversary of the University of Nebraska’s Founding, Gov. Pete Ricketts has proclaimed Feb. 8-15 as University of Nebraska Charter Week.
The governor signed the ceremonial document at the Nebraska State Capitol on Feb. 11 and presented it to Chancellor Ronnie Green. Proclamations are a long-running state tradition, honoring and highlighting Nebraska organizations.
The university is celebrating Charter Week with a series of festivities. Learn more about the events, which include open houses at the Wick Alumni Center and Dairy Store on Feb. 15.
The full text of the proclamation is below.
Proclamation: Charter Week at Nebraska
Whereas, on Feb. 15, 1869, the Nebraska Legislature unanimously passed and Nebraska Gov. David Butler immediately signed legislation enabling founding of the University of Nebraska; and
Whereas, the university charter established Nebraska as a university, not a college, provided for six original colleges and stated: “the object of such institution shall be to afford inhabitants of this state the means of acquiring a thorough knowledge in the various branches of literature, science and the arts;” and
Whereas, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has a $2 billion total annual economic impact on the state of Nebraska; has experienced a three-year high in student enrollment; granted 5,529 degrees in 2018 — more than ever before; and disburses more annually than $300 million in research expenditures; and
Whereas, the University of Nebraska has facilities or activities in all 93 Nebraska counties via Nebraska Extension, the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station and Distance Learning; and
Whereas, the University of Nebraska’s cultural offerings such as the Lied Center for Performing Arts, Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, Glenn Korff School of Music, and museums like Sheldon Museum of Art, Center for Great Plains Studies, International Quilt Center and Museum, Larsen Tractor Test Museum and the University of Nebraska State Museum enrich and enhance lives; and
Whereas, University of Nebraska Husker athletics creates pride and joy both on the fields of play and in the hearts of alumni and fans, is a proud member of the Big Ten Conference, and has a nation-leading 333 Academic All-Americans; and
Whereas, more than 290,000 individuals have earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and alumni come from every state and nearly every nation and continent on the planet, making enormous achievements in their chosen fields; and
Whereas, current students (future alumni) are inspired by these achievements, and are ready to write their own stories and to make their mark on society; and
Whereas, There Is No Place Like Nebraska,
Now, therefore, I, Pete Ricketts, Governor of the State of Nebraska, do hereby proclaim the week of Feb. 8-15, 2019, as University of Nebraska Charter Week in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of the sesquicentennial observance.
