Presidential finalist Gold talks to UNL students and staff about his plans for NU

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — UNL students, staff and faculty on Monday heard from Dr. Jeffrey Gold, the priority candidate to become the University of Nebraska’s next president.

This is part of a 30-day public review period required by state law.

Gold hosted three forums Monday at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

SEE ALSO: UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold named priority candidate for NU’s ninth president

Gold said, if selected as president, he will spend his first days talking to the university community, members of the Legislature, and farmers and ranchers.

He said he wants to know “what they’re expectations are of this great university, where we’re exceeding those expectations and where we’re not.”

He said after that, he will start developing strategies to make sure the university is supporting the community. 

One graduate student is hopeful that the new leadership opens communication for students. 

‘We’re hopeful that we’ll continue to see grad students’ voices, as well as other students’ voices, heard at every level of the administration,” said Katie Mowat, president of the Graduate Student Assembly.

Gold said NU is facing the same challenges as other higher education institutions, including a decline in enrollment. 

He wants to reconsider what NU needs to do to remain competitive.

“Is the existing model we have today what’s going to take us to the future? ” he asked. “What got us here will probably not get us there.”

The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet next Friday and is expected to vote on Gold’s candidacy.