NU Board of Regents approves budget request, adds artificial intelligence degree

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved its 2025-2027 budget request during its Thursday meeting.

The budget will be sent to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education before being sent to the state for final approval.

The proposal included a request for the state to invest $1.5 million each year to the Presidential Scholars Program. The scholarship covers the full cost of attendance plus a $5,000 stipend for students who receive a 36 on the ACT. The university hopes to expand the program to provide the scholarship to students who receive a 32 or above on the ACT.

This $1.5 million would match what the Board of Regents approved at its last meeting. If approved, the program would have $3 million each year starting in the 2025 fiscal year.

Several of the regents commended Chris Kabourek, who introduced the scholarship while serving as interim president, for his efforts to visit communities across the state to talk about the scholarship.

Regent Tim Clare said with this additional investment into the program, the university needs to ensure it will be present in schools across the state.

“We have to get off of our fannies and go see these students in their respective communities, in their respective schools, establishing relationships with administrators and principals and superintendents and counselors,” Clare said.

There is also a request for $1.5 million to be put toward expanding research across Nebraska campuses.

The board approved several new undergraduate programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The degree will be in collaboration with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“Artificial intelligence, or AI as we know it, is changing, literally, by the minute,” Gold said. “It is almost certain to change every aspect of our lives, from the way we work to the way we interact with each other and spend our time. That's both exciting and a little bit scary, but there's no question that this technology and what it brings with us is here to stay.”

Chancellor Joanne Li said there are only 13 degrees in artificial intelligence across the country.

“We believe that will really provide the state of Nebraska a cutting edge in training our workforce in high tech areas,” Li said.

Members also approved a certificate in Esports Media and Communication and a certificate in Wildlife Habitat Management at the Lincoln campus.

The board also approved spending $50 million on non-construction design work for Project Health, which will be a new facility on the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Omaha campus. When finished, it will be the primary in-patient hospital for Nebraska Medicine with 550 beds.