- EVC Announce - NU mailman

Interim Dean Announcement
by EVC Mark Button 12 Dec '25

12 Dec '25

Dear CoJMC Faculty, Staff, and Students, I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Adam Wagler as Interim Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications effective December 24. A news release will be published soon in Nebraska Today. Many of you are familiar with Adam in his role as Associate Dean for Academic Programs and associate professor of advertising and public relations. He has been with the college since 2006, and he has served in a leadership capacity since 2021. I am confident that Adam will provide steady, thoughtful leadership for the college, ensuring continued momentum on the college's strategic plan. I am grateful for his willingness to serve in this role. I look forward to his partnership as a member of the campus leadership as we collaboratively work with faculty, staff, students and external constituents to develop the next iteration of the university's vision and strategic priorities in the new year. I will keep you apprised of the next steps and search process as we move forward. Warm Regards, [A close-up of a signature AI-generated content may be incorrect.] Mark E. Button, Ph.D. Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer

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Board of Regent's Vote – Department Elimination
by EVC Mark Button 05 Dec '25

05 Dec '25

Dear Students, I am following up on the Chancellor’s message regarding the Board of Regent's decision to eliminate four departments at UNL. I know this is difficult news, and I want to reaffirm the university's commitment to student success and program completion. Work will begin immediately to design and develop degree completion pathways, which will be finalized during the spring 2026 semester and communicated before priority registration begins on March 23. Pathways for completing minors, administrative endorsements, and certificate programs will also be made available by March 23. You will receive information about what you can do to prepare and the contact information for your Transition Coordinator. Look for a message from the College Dean's office on or before December 12. If you haven't already, visit the FAQ on the budget process website<https://budgetprocess.unl.edu/faq/ > to learn more about degree completion pathways and Transition Coordinators. We are committed to your success and care deeply about your academic and emotional well-being. Your advisor, academic navigator, or graduate chair are here for you, as is CAPS<https://caps.unl.edu/ > and Student Advocacy and Support<https://studentadvocacy.unl.edu/ >. If you have concerns about your visa status, reach out to ISSO<https://global.unl.edu/isso/ >. Sincerely, Mark E. Button, Ph.D. Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer

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Announcement Regarding Dean Veil
by EVC Mark Button 24 Nov '25

24 Nov '25

Dear CoJMC Faculty, Staff, and Students, As you recently learned, Shari Veil has been selected to serve as the Provost for North Dakota State University. This is an exciting opportunity for Shari, and especially meaningful as it represents a homecoming to the institution where she earned her doctorate in communication. Shari was announced as Dean in January 2020, just months before the world shut down. The immediate goals of her deanship were to increase creative activity and scholarship as key components of the college's strategic plan, one that would focus on keeping the college steady and nimble as it adapted and grew in the exciting and changing landscape of journalism and mass communications. Shari has accomplished this goal and much more. She has led the college through a period of significant growth—reversing enrollment declines, expanding experiential learning opportunities, increasing external funding, and strengthening faculty governance and research productivity. Together, you have embraced your college's motto of "do from day one" with the expansion of the Experience Lab, providing relationships and connections with industry professionals and opportunities for real-world work, allowing students to experiment and gain valuable skills that will serve them well in the workforce. Creative activity has surged with significant growth in faculty publications, conference presentations, and increased local and national recognition. Together, as the college’s faculty, staff, and students, you have sharpened the college’s focus and impact. Please help me wish Shari and her family the best. Her last day at UNL will be December 23. I will share information about an interim dean soon. Details about a search for your next leader also will be forthcoming. Warm Regards, [A close-up of a signature AI-generated content may be incorrect.] Mark E. Button, Ph.D. Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer

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Chancellor's Budget Reduction Plan, Upcoming Board of Regent's Vote
by EVC Mark Button 19 Nov '25

19 Nov '25

Dear Students, I am writing about the proposed elimination of your Department in the Chancellor's budget reduction plan. I realize this was very difficult news to receive. I want to ensure that you are fully aware that the UNL community will continue to support your path to degree completion. First, I want to emphasize that only the University of Nebraska Board of Regents can approve the elimination of an academic degree program. They will consider the Chancellor’s plan at their meeting on December 5. I know that must feel like a very long time to wait for a final decision, and that you may be wondering what happens next. If your department is approved for elimination, work will begin immediately to design and develop degree completion pathways. Pathways will be created with student input. They will depend on program and individual student situations, such as total credit hours earned. Pathways will be finalized during the spring 2026 semester and communicated to all students in an impacted program before priority registration begins on March 23. A Transition Coordinator would be identified and available to help students successfully navigate completing their degree. It is expected that programs will strive to provide the curriculum and experiences which students would normally engage, including experiential learning, research paths and practical training. However, in some instances a compressed timeline and modifications of some requirements may be necessary, such as course substitutions. The FAQ on the budget process website<https://budgetprocess.unl.edu/faq/ > has been updated with new, detailed answers to the following: * What is a degree completion pathway? * How will degree completion pathways be developed and implemented? * What is a Transition Coordinator? If you have academic concerns, reach out to your advisor, academic navigator, Graduate Studies<https://graduate.unl.edu/ >, or graduate chair. Contact Husker Hub<https://huskerhub.unl.edu/ > if you have any concerns about financial aid or scholarships, or Graduate Studies about graduate assistantships. Consider making an appointment with CAPS<https://caps.unl.edu/ > if you need emotional support, or reach out to Student Advocacy and Support<https://studentadvocacy.unl.edu/ >. If you are an international student with concerns about implications to your visa status, contact ISSO<https://global.unl.edu/isso/ >. We will continue to keep you informed as soon as information is available. Sincerely, Mark E. Button, Ph.D. Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Note: Undergraduate minors in geology, and meteorology, and the MA in Educational Administration would be retained.

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CAS Interim Dean, Next Steps
by EVC Mark Button 26 Sep '25

26 Sep '25

Dear College of Arts and Sciences Faculty, Staff, and Students, As you know, I have been appointed to serve as the permanent Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer for UNL. I am honored to serve our academic community in this capacity, and I am incredibly grateful for the years I served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. I am deeply committed to the College of Arts and Sciences and its comprehensive mission, ambitious vision, and strategic goals. I look forward to continuing to work with you, but in different ways, and to championing the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary inquiry. Thank you for your contributions, commitment, and leadership. The academic excellence and strong collaborative culture of the College of Arts and Sciences will be instrumental in helping us attract the college's next permanent dean. I am pleased to share that Pat Dussault has agreed to serve as Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Please join me in thanking Pat for his willingness to continue advancing the college's strategic priorities. I look forward to engaging with you about the timing of a national dean search in the coming months. I will be in touch closer to the first of the year with details on the next steps. Sincerely, [A close-up of a signature AI-generated content may be incorrect.] Mark E. Button, Ph.D. Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer

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2026

2025

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