University of Nebraska Kearney

Center for Rural Research and Development (CRRD) 
Department of the Month
July 2008

The UNK Staff Senate is pleased to recognized the Center for Rural Research and Development (CRRD) as the July 2008 UNK Department of the Month.

”The mission of the CRRD focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation by empowering the region’s residents to seek avenues of rural economic development through university, community, and global partnerships by building entrepreneurial and professional capacity, and encouraging creative thinking about the economic growth of our region...”

The CRRD was restructured in 2007 and dovetailed two new programs, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Business and International Education.  This has increased its ability to respond to the education and training needs of students and business owners domiciled in rural Nebraska and doing business in a global marketplace.

The Center has partnered with regional businesses, economic development and community development nonprofit organizations, such as the South Central Economic Development District and Nebraska Public Power District, to launch entrepreneurship and innovation programs such as the Community Needs Assessments service.  The CRRD works with the Center for Economic Education in the UNK College of Business and Technology to develop K-12 programming to assist with supplemental curriculum in the form of podcasts on entrepreneurship and doing business on a global scale.  In addition, agreements have been signed with third party study abroad partners allowing faculty/staff and students to complete study abroad and internship experiences. Additional programming and projects that have been implemented and completed include the Nebraska State Agency Director Speaker Series which brought State Agency Directors to campus.  The CRRD implemented the "Global Scholars: A Sharing of International Experiences" which is a forum for students, faculty and staff to share their travel abroad experiences.   Additionally, the CRRD has created the Hall of Excellence in WSTC that celebrates the visiting lecturers and the international travels of CBT students, faculty and staff as well as the many awards earned by CBT student organizations.

For all of their hard work the UNK Staff Senate is pleased to recognize the Center for Rural Research and Development as the July 2008 UNK Department of the month. 

Thank you to the sponsors of the Department of the Month: UNK Athletics and Staff Senate.