2023 Posts

Kara Green rewrites her story with UNK’s social work Bachelor of Science degree

Posted: December 19, 2023 11:00:00 AM CST

Kara Green rewrites her story with UNK’s social work Bachelor of Science degree

“Who would have thought my story would be a success story,” Kara Green, recent University of Nebraska at Kearney Social Work B.S. graduate, said.  Her story began more than 1,000 miles away in Long Beach California where she was removed from her mother’s care and placed into the foster care system. She soon found herself as a homeless youth in Oregon and later a single mom in Nebraska.  These challenges allowed Green to discover her passion and career in...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, General, Natural and Social Sciences

Payton Schake finds “his people” through UNK’s online School Counseling M.S.Ed. program

Posted: December 12, 2023 4:00:00 PM CST

Payton Schake finds “his people” through UNK’s online School Counseling M.S.Ed. program

“When you look at a guy like me, I don't really scream school counselor or mental health professional at all,” said Payton Schake, upcoming graduate from the University of Nebraska at Kearney School Counseling M.S.Ed. program.  Growing up in the farming community of Amherst and working on his dad’s construction sites from the young age of eight has made Schake’s hands rough and his large stature closer to one of a lineman than your stereotypical...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, Graduate Studies, General

Daily Operations Run Smoothly for UNK’s Faculty and Student Body Thanks to These Office Associates

Posted: December 12, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Daily Operations Run Smoothly for UNK’s Faculty and Student Body Thanks to These Office Associates

Dr. Tim Obermier, who serves as interim chair of UNK’s Cyber Systems Department, understands that the role of the office associates who work in the College of Business and Technology is “critical in providing essential services that enable students to obtain internships and obtain professional positions.” The faculty and student body couldn’t agree more as these ladies are instrumental in making daily life run smoothly for everyone at the University of Nebraska at...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Education, General, Business and Technology

The Administrative Support Team Holds Everything Together for UNK’s CBT

Posted: December 5, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

 The Administrative Support Team Holds Everything Together for UNK’s CBT

In order for any college to run efficiently, it takes a true team effort. Fortunately for the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Stacy Darveau, Suzette Eppler, Carol Koch, and Darlene Sandoval have mastered the art of working as a team. They mainly support the Business Division within the College of Business and Technology. While they each do a stellar job in their respective positions, it is when they come together that the College of Business and Technology is able to run like a well-oiled...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, Marketing, General

2023 Outstanding Innovation in Online Teaching Winner Dr. Amanda Sladek focuses on flexibility and accessibility for online learners

Posted: November 30, 2023 10:00:00 AM CST

2023 Outstanding Innovation in Online Teaching Winner Dr. Amanda Sladek focuses on flexibility and accessibility for online learners

The University of Nebraska at Kearney has 4,244 students who are currently enrolled in at least one online course.  UNK is filled with excellent faculty who have mastered this new form of instruction students are demanding, including Assistant Professor and Composition Coordinator of English Dr. Amanda Sladek, who the Office of Graduate Studies and Academic Innovation is recognizing with the 2023 Outstanding Innovation in Online Teaching Award.   The Office...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, General, Graduate Studies

Ashton Baxa UNK MBA graduate was lost but has since found her direction through strong connections

Posted: November 29, 2023 12:00:00 PM CST

Ashton Baxa UNK MBA graduate was lost but has since found her direction through strong connections

“I would say that my tour is the reason that I'm at UNK, even though I got lost,” Ashton Baxa said.  Baxa, an upcoming University of Nebraska at Kearney MBA graduate from Osborne, Kansas physically got lost on campus when she first came for her campus visit.   She has since found herself studying abroad in the Czech Republic, expanding her network, and landing a career at Intellicom in Kearney prior to finishing her MBA. She will soon find herself...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: General, Business and Technology, UNK Online, Graduate Studies

UNK’s Cyber Club: Where the Focus is on Building Relationships

Posted: November 28, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

UNK’s Cyber Club: Where the Focus is on Building Relationships

John Behrens, who currently serves as the president of the Cyber Club at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, plans to become a software developer when he graduates in a couple of years. For the time being, his focus is on enjoying college while learning all he can from his professors in the Cyber Systems Department. Thanks to faculty advisor Dr. Ross Taylor, who Behrens describes as “the best,” students involved in UNK’s Cyber Club get the chance to combine learning with...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, General, Marketing

UNK Public History M.A. student Micah Huyser elected board member for the Mountain Plains Museum Association

Posted: November 27, 2023 5:30:00 PM CST

UNK Public History M.A. student Micah Huyser elected board member for the Mountain Plains Museum Association

“The History Department absolutely encourages our students to get involved in the field through professional service opportunities,” said University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Associate Professor of History Dr. Will Stoutamire.   This service can include serving as a member of a professional association, something that current student Micah Huyser recently had the honor of being elected to do.   Huyser is currently pursuing a Public History M.A....

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: General, Graduate Studies, UNK Online

UNK Management Students Learn A “Latte” About Business from Travis Hollman

Posted: November 21, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

UNK Management Students Learn A “Latte” About Business from Travis Hollman

Students in UNK’s MGT 401 class have been practicing what their instructor, Travis Hollman, has spent most of his adult life doing. While still at UNK himself, Hollman started his own business, one that is still successful two decades later. The entrepreneurial mindset that made him a success as a business owner has carried over into his work as an instructor at UNK’s College of Business and Technology. In 2008, Hollman became an adjunct instructor at UNK and hasn’t looked...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, Entrepreneur, General, Marketing

Cultivate Your Future Network Now

Posted: November 14, 2023 11:50:00 AM CST

Cultivate Your Future Network Now

Megan Goeke, with her passion for business, is uniquely qualified to serve as the faculty advisor for Cultivate, one of the most exciting clubs offered to students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In addition to her family entrepreneurial background which goes back for generations, Goeke owns local businesses as well as works as the College of Business and Technology’s Career Center assistant director and online coordinator/academic coach. A strong focus on entrepreneurship is...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Marketing, Business and Technology, General, Education, Entrepreneur

UNK’s MBA provides Troy Bruntz McCook hospital President and CEO more than expected

Posted: November 10, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

UNK’s MBA provides Troy Bruntz McCook hospital President and CEO more than expected

“I don't want to say I was just trying to get the MBA because my board made me get my MBA, but that was the main reason why I got my MBA,” said Troy Bruntz, 2022 University of Nebraska at Kearney MBA alumnus. “I was surprised with what I really didn't know until I started taking all the courses.”  Bruntz worked 13 years as the Community Hospital chief financial officer in McCook. He received his bachelor's degree in accounting from UNK and is a Certified...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Business and Technology, Graduate Studies, General, UNK Online, Health Education

Epsilon Pi Tau Carries the Torch of Excellence for UNK

Posted: November 7, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Epsilon Pi Tau Carries the Torch of Excellence for UNK

Dr. Tim Obermier, who currently serves as the College of Business and Technology’s interim chair for the Cyber Systems Department, has 32 years of experience at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kearney State College as well as his doctorate from Colorado State University. As an Industrial Technology professor, he has had many professional opportunities over his career including the state director for industrial...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, General

Three Easy Guidelines for Accessible Videos

Posted: November 6, 2023 3:00:00 PM CST

Three Easy Guidelines for Accessible Videos

Video accessibility refers to making videos and multimedia content accessible to individuals with disabilities, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, can fully understand and engage with the video. Say Aloud All Visuals and Sounds - Saying aloud visuals and sounds while recording will add all necessary information to the captions/transcript to help people with visual, auditory, and cognitive disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to: Words on...

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By: Learning Design Team

Category: General, Learning Design

UNK’s Aviation Student Organization Allows Students to Spread Their Wings

Posted: October 31, 2023 9:00:00 AM CDT

UNK’s Aviation Student Organization Allows Students to Spread Their Wings

Dr. Dan Smith knows a thing or two about aviation. In fact, he knows more than most people do. His expertise started when he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996. He then spent two decades flying aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps. During the first decade, Dr. Smith flew helicopters. He finished his military career flying the MV-22 Osprey which is the only operational tiltrotor aircraft in the world. Fortunately for aviation students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, his...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, General

Not Your High School’s FBLA

Posted: October 24, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Not Your High School’s FBLA

Theresa Yaw, faculty advisor for Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate at UNK, wants to get the word out that “FBLA Collegiate is a lot different than FBLA High School” thanks to the variety of opportunities available for anyone interested in business. She has been in charge of the club since she started teaching economics at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2016. She shares that FBLA Collegiate, formerly known as Phi Beta Lambda, has “been growing every...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Marketing, Business and Technology, General, Entrepreneur

UNK’s online Sociology B.S. program moves Maria Bergner one step closer to changing the world

Posted: October 21, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

UNK’s online Sociology B.S. program moves Maria Bergner one step closer to changing the world

  “Live as if you will die tomorrow. Learn as if you will live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi.“It’s one of the quotes I live up to, and that's always been a mantra,” University of Nebraska at Kearney 2022 alumna Maria Bergner said.  Bergner completed her Sociology B.S. degree online after experiencing a workplace injury that forced her to reconsider her long-time career in the medical field. She found a calling that incorporated her passion for the...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Natural and Social Sciences, General, UNK Online

Two UNK graduates, one presidential award, many young students’ lives changed forever

Posted: October 19, 2023 8:00:00 AM CDT

Two UNK graduates, one presidential award, many young students’ lives changed forever

Chelle Gillan and Judy Williams “are like two peas in a pod,” according to Williams.  Of course, the two biology enthusiasts would describe their friendship as a plant.   Beyond their close friendship and passion for science, the two attended the same university, taught at the same school, and were both nominated for the same prestigious teaching in STEM award.  “The legacy continues, right,” said Gillan. “I mean, she graduated...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, General, Education, Natural and Social Sciences, UNK Online

Huge impacts lead to hard goodbyes: Dr. Wendy McCarty retires after 21 years at UNK

Posted: October 17, 2023 8:00:00 AM CDT

Huge impacts lead to hard goodbyes: Dr. Wendy McCarty retires after 21 years at UNK

“What is the best way for me to make a difference in the lives of more people?” Dr. Wendy McCarty asked herself decades ago as a young teacher.  “As a teacher, you get to impact your students in small batches, but if you can make a difference with future teachers, then you are making a difference within many classrooms,” Dr. McCarty, director of UNK’s Transitional Certification Program, said.  In 2002, the fully online program was launched to...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, General, Education, UNK Online

Homegrown Possibilities Abound at UNK’s AG Business Club

Posted: October 10, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Homegrown Possibilities Abound at UNK’s AG Business Club

Whether it’s a field trip to Chicago, a fun night of bowling, or learning from a guest speaker, members of the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s AG Business Club enjoy a bounty of opportunities each school year. Facilitated by Dr. Jody Herchenbach and Greg Nies, this student-led organization has been experiencing a revitalization in recent years. Now is a great time to become a part of all that is going on in this exciting club. For Dr. Jody Herchenbach, who has a background as...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: General, Business and Technology, Marketing

Online Learning Strategies to Support Students with Disabilities

Posted: October 4, 2023 8:00:00 AM CDT

Online Learning Strategies to Support Students with Disabilities

Accessibility in online course design ensures that individuals with diverse abilities and disabilities can effectively access and engage with educational content.A disability is any condition or impairment of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions). The common forms of disabilities seen in online learning include: Common types of...

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By: Learning Design Team

Category: UNK Online, Learning Design, General

Parker Hannifin, Supply Chain Management Corporate Sponsor, Appreciates UNK’s Emphasis on Quality

Posted: October 3, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Parker Hannifin, Supply Chain Management Corporate Sponsor, Appreciates UNK’s Emphasis on Quality

For Parker Hannifin, a global leader in the technology industry, quality is a must. Fortunately for their Kearney location, they don’t have to look any further than their back door to find that kind of quality churning out of UNK’s College of Business and Technology every year. Colton Stuhr, who graduated from UNK in 2018 and is currently employed by Parker Hannifin, shares that they “want the type of person that can step into the role” which is exactly why one-third...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, Marketing, General

Kameran Dostal's natural superpowers land her the 2023 Elementary Art Teacher of the Year award

Posted: September 26, 2023 3:00:00 PM CDT

Kameran Dostal's natural superpowers land her the 2023 Elementary Art Teacher of the Year award

Kameran Dostal is a real-life superhero, and recently was announced the Nebraska Art Teachers Association’s 2023 Elementary Art Teacher of the Year award to prove it.   Dostal is an elementary art teacher at Emerson and Meadowlark elementary schools and a current graduate student in the University of Nebraska at Kearney Art Education M.A.Ed. program. She also received her B.A.Ed. from UNK in 2018.    Art class has always held a special place in...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, General, Education, UNK Online

For This Alumnus, Every Day at Work Feels like Coming Home to UNK

Posted: September 26, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

For This Alumnus, Every Day at Work Feels like Coming Home to UNK

For Dusty Birge, who graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney back in 2011, going to work every morning feels a little bit like taking another Industrial Distribution class. His years spent in the classroom not only prepared him for his current career but also gave him the confidence that has been instrumental in the success he has enjoyed since graduation. Birge shares that what made UNK’s ID program unique was the way it “catered to an industry where the industry was...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Entrepreneur, Marketing, Business and Technology, General

Beta Alpha Psi Opens Doors for UNK Accounting Students

Posted: September 19, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Beta Alpha Psi Opens Doors for UNK Accounting Students

For Dr. Sarah Borchers, her love of accounting extends beyond the classroom. As an undergraduate student, she was actively involved in an accounting society. Once she entered graduate school, this society received accreditation and became Beta Alpha Psi. She understands how “beneficial to (her) own career” the networking aspect of belonging to this honorary organization was for her and is grateful for the chance to pass along the same opportunity to her own financial students. In...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: General, Business and Technology

YuJa - Sharing Media

Posted: September 15, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

YuJa - Sharing Media

In YuJa, content creators can share their media with users inside and outside of the Video Platform using video Sharing, Publishing and Direct Links. Watch this video to learn. (2 min)

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

Your Future Starts Today at UNK’S Industrial Distribution Organization

Posted: September 12, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Your Future Starts Today at UNK’S Industrial Distribution Organization

Mitch Peters describes himself as “very connected with the students” at the University of Nebraska at Kearney while also being “connected to industry.” For the members of UNK’s Industrial Distribution Organization, this is a powerful combination. He is passionate about the industry, a passion that includes an understanding of the roles of recruitment, networking, and professional development in the lives of those who will one day become part of the distribution...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: General, Marketing, Business and Technology, Entrepreneur

Building Connections through Instructor Presence

Posted: September 7, 2023 4:00:00 PM CDT

Building Connections through Instructor Presence

Instructor presence simply means "being there" in your course. It refers to the active and visible involvement of the instructor in an online educational environment. It is a crucial aspect of effective online teaching and learning, as it helps create a sense of connection, engagement, and support for students. Online courses require intentional efforts to establish a strong instructor presence.It is easy for students to feel isolated or disconnected from their instructors and peers in...

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By: Learning Design Team

Category: Learning Design, General

Tech Tip: Improve Online Course Accessibility

Posted: September 7, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Tech Tip: Improve Online Course Accessibility

Five Easy Ways to Improve Accessibility in Your Online Courses.1. ImagesWhen uploading images, charts, and graphs provide a description of the image. Include key details in the description that are important for learning the material. If the image is purely decorative, mark it as such.2. Audio and VideoMake sure all videos have closed captioning. Audio-only files should include a transcript. YuJa auto-captions all uploaded and user-created media. 3. ColorsWhen using color, ensure there is...

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By: Learning Design Team

Category: General, Learning Design

UNK Students Receive Advice to Last a Lifetime

Posted: September 5, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

UNK Students Receive Advice to Last a Lifetime

It’s not often that people are given a glimpse into their future. Thanks to adjunct instructors Jeremy Armagost and Troy Brockmeier, students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney are offered a chance to see what their future financial life can look like. Using their own knowledge as well as the wisdom offered by Brian Ursu, author of Now What, these financial advisors share their knowledge with UNK College of Business and Technology students who are much younger than their typical...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, Entrepreneur, General

UNK’s online Biology M.S. program is a ‘hidden gem’ for students like Rebecca Waters

Posted: September 4, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

UNK’s online Biology M.S. program is a ‘hidden gem’ for students like Rebecca Waters

Four years after Rebecca Water’s graduated from the Biology M.S. program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, the biology professors received an email thanking them for their continued support and knowledge that she received throughout the program that ultimately led to her graduating from Troy University’s School of Nursing.  Waters, originally from Gainesville, Texas, completed high school in Jonesboro, Georgia and her undergraduate from the University of West...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Natural and Social Sciences, UNK Online, General, Graduate Studies

Meet New Hires Adam Spanier and JD Stone

Posted: August 29, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Meet New Hires Adam Spanier and JD Stone

For Adam Spanier and JD Stone, seeing each other in Discovery Hall this fall will add a new dimension to their long-standing friendship. Both Spanier and Stone are newly hired instructors at the College of Business and Technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Between them, they bring a wealth of knowledge to share with the students who will be fortunate enough to take their classes. Spanier, who is currently pursuing his PhD at UNO, has been a part-time adjunct lecturer for the...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: General, Business and Technology

UNK’s Social Work B.S. program helps drive transfer student Sarah Keller towards her goals

Posted: August 24, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

UNK’s Social Work B.S. program helps drive transfer student Sarah Keller towards her goals

University of Nebraska at Kearney’s online Social Work student Sarah Keller is an overcomer.  Hard work and resiliency transitioned Keller from being an inmate at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Blair, Nebraska to working there as a corrections officer. Keller’s dedication to her education allowed her to overcome her fears of attending a university, which in turn landed her a position as a case manager where she helps others overcome their...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, Natural and Social Sciences, General

Meet Dr. Constance Li!

Posted: August 22, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Meet Dr. Constance Li!

Dr. Constance Li, a new Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s College of Business and Technology, has learned a lot during the travels that brought her to UNK. Her experience in the industry as well as her academic pursuits make her the perfect fit for the experiential style of learning that UNK is famous for. Dr. Li received her undergraduate degree in Shanghai, China before traveling to America to study at California State University in Los...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, General

Start of Semester Canvas Checklist

Posted: August 10, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Start of Semester Canvas Checklist

You may be ready for the semester, but let’s make sure your Canvas course is too! Review this checklist prior to your students starting the course. 1. Publish Your Course(s)Once the course is ready, make sure you publish it so your students can access it. Publishing the course does not automatically publish all the course content, you will have to publish the modules and course items individually. 2. Add a Profile Picture  Personalize your Canvas profile by...

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By: UNK Learning Design

Category: General, Learning Design

Katie Henry lands dream job while still enrolled in UNK’s online History M.A. program

Posted: July 22, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Katie Henry lands dream job while still enrolled in UNK’s online History M.A. program

When Katie Henry, a current University of Nebraska at Kearney online History M.A. student, began her program at UNK, her professors continuously strived to help each student find meaningful careers. Luckily for Henry, hers came before she even graduated from her program.  “I really love it,” Henry said about landing her dream job as the Assistant Curator at the City of Greeley Museums in Colorado.   “I just really love working in education and...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, Graduate Studies, General

YuJa Analytics

Posted: July 14, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

YuJa Analytics

YuJa user-Level Analytics provides useful information about how a specific user is engaging with the published content. This information can help faculty to better understand how specific users are engaging with course content. Learn more about YuJa analytics. You can also register for one of our YuJa trainings.

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

DJ Bokelman finds the perfect mix with UNK’s blended General Kinesiology & Sports Science M.A.Ed. program

Posted: July 3, 2023 6:00:00 AM CDT

DJ Bokelman finds the perfect mix with UNK’s blended General Kinesiology & Sports Science M.A.Ed. program

The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s blended General Kinesiology and Sports Science M.A.Ed. program has provided DJ Bokelman the perfect mix of courses, networking, and experiences to achieve her dreams of becoming an athletic director.  Bokelman, originally from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, began her undergraduate career at Concordia University where she was a member of the women’s golf team. She then transferred to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in hopes to switch...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, General, Graduate Studies

Support from UNK allows Brin Martin to earn M.A.Ed. despite lengthy stay in NICU with daughter

Posted: June 20, 2023 6:00:00 AM CDT

Support from UNK allows Brin Martin to earn M.A.Ed. despite lengthy stay in NICU with daughter

Most University of Nebraska at Kearney students look forward to being handed their diploma on graduation day, but Brin Martin was excited to receive a hug from her advisor, Sarah Bartling.  Martin received her associate degree from Mid-Plains Community College then transferred to UNK where she graduated with her bachelor's in early childhood in 2018. In 2020, after a couple of years of teaching Special Education, Martin decided to pursue her master’s online through UNK. She...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, UNK Online, Education, General

Word Hacks

Posted: June 16, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Word Hacks

Delete the entire Word at once You can delete an entire word by holding the Ctrl key along with Backspace to speed up your work.   Smart Lookup you can quickly search the web from inside Word. Get information about a word, such as its definition, the word’s origin, pronunciation, and much more. Just right-click on a word > Smart Lookup.

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

New technologies, same great program: UNK’s online Biology M.S. celebrates 20 years of excellence

Posted: June 12, 2023 6:00:00 AM CDT

New technologies, same great program: UNK’s online Biology M.S. celebrates 20 years of excellence

The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s online Biology M.S. program is celebrating two decades of educating students through an online format.   The program was developed in May of 2003, making it older than the majority of UNK’s incoming freshman.   “I believe we are the oldest fully online Biology M.S. program,” Biology M.S. Online Program Coordinator Brian Peterson said.  Throughout the decades, the program and technology has...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, General, Graduate Studies, Natural and Social Sciences

Online student Scott Foens feels connection to UNK from nearly 500 miles away

Posted: June 6, 2023 6:00:00 AM CDT

Online student Scott Foens feels connection to UNK from nearly 500 miles away

A major reason people steer away from online higher education is the fear of feeling like a number or not being connected to the campus, professors, or peers. This is not the case for Scott Foens, a current student in the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s online History M.A. program. Foens is a U.S. Airforce veteran and currently works for the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa overseeing the land management system. His undergraduate was in history and his passion for writing history were...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, UNK Online, General

Honored MBA Graduate Mitch Peters is taking care of business in all aspects of life

Posted: May 26, 2023 11:00:00 AM CDT

Honored MBA Graduate Mitch Peters is taking care of business in all aspects of life

“Not only does it make you more marketable having those three letters next to your name, but it also really helps round you out as a professional,” University of Nebraska at Kearney MBA alumnus Mitch Peters said.  Peters graduated from UNK’s Master of Business Administration program in the fall of 2022 and was recently awarded the College of Business and Technology’s MBA Honored Graduate, which he states, “is a tremendous honor and...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Business and Technology, Graduate Studies, UNK Online, General

UNK Biology M.S. student Blase Rokusek awarded Graduate Student of the Year

Posted: May 22, 2023 11:00:00 PM CDT

UNK Biology M.S. student Blase Rokusek awarded Graduate Student of the Year

After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Nebraska at Kearney two years ago, Blase Rokusek has now earned his Master of Science degree from UNK with a new honor: 2023 Graduate Student of the Year.  The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach created the Graduate Student of the Year award in 2022 to celebrate outstanding students, like Rokusek.  “We are thrilled to recognize Blase Rokusek as the Graduate Student...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, General, UNK Online, Natural and Social Sciences

Dr. Janet Eckerson has “been on the whole journey” with UNK online Spanish Education M.A.Ed. graduate Brenda Lopez Adame

Posted: May 22, 2023 8:00:00 AM CDT

Dr. Janet Eckerson has “been on the whole journey” with UNK online Spanish Education M.A.Ed. graduate Brenda Lopez Adame

When Brenda Lopez Adame graduated from high school, she did not see a career in education in her future, but a high school teacher saw her potential and would not let her get away from a true calling that easily.  “My high school teacher was Janet Eckerson,” Lopez Adame explained. “She was the one that asked me, ‘Have you considered teaching?’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely not.’”  Little did Lopez Adame know; her former high...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, General, Education, UNK Online

After 20 years of teaching, Jennifer Lauder makes a bold career change

Posted: May 17, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

After 20 years of teaching, Jennifer Lauder makes a bold career change

Jennifer Lauder was an elementary teacher at Alliance Public Schools for nearly two decades when she decided she was ready to make a bold change.   Enrolling into the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s online Learning, Design and Technology M.S.Ed. program with a concentration in Leadership in Instructional Technology led to a 400-mile move, a graduate assistantship, a master’s degree, and a new position she calls a “dream job.”   Bold change...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: General, Education, UNK Online, Graduate Studies

World traveler Amy Woodcock finds UNK from 6,000 miles away, thanks to unknown alumnus

Posted: May 15, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

World traveler Amy Woodcock finds UNK from 6,000 miles away, thanks to unknown alumnus

While many students are counting down until the spring 2023 commencement ceremony, preparing their outfits for the big day, or even decorating a cap with an inspirational quote; you won’t find Amy Woodcock, a spring graduate from the English M.A. program, doing any of that.   Woodcock will be approximately 6,000 miles away from campus on graduation day, as she currently resides in Sasebo, Japan, where she teaches 9th and 11th grade English for the US Department of...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, General, UNK Online

Uploading Media Content

Posted: May 12, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Uploading Media Content

 Users can upload files by using Manage Media in YuJa application.    Uploaded files may be auto-captioned and accessed in the same way as a file created using the YuJa Software Capture application.  Read or watch the instructions.

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

Loping From UNK Student to President of Kearney Winlectric

Posted: May 2, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Loping From UNK Student to President of Kearney Winlectric

For recent college graduate Hunter Novacek, finding a job wasn’t a problem. As a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Industrial Distribution program, one that boasts an almost 100% job placement rate, Novacek knew he had a great chance of immediate employment. However, his journey as an ID student helped him do more than just land a job. He was able to take loping strides from seeing his name printed on his college diploma to watching it appear on his office door...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: General, Business and Technology, Entrepreneur, Marketing

UNK Higher Education Student Affairs M.S.Ed. international student Jennifer Bucci is living as a verb

Posted: April 27, 2023 10:00:00 AM CDT

UNK Higher Education Student Affairs M.S.Ed. international student Jennifer Bucci is living as a verb

“Oscar Wilde said that if you know what you want to be, then you inevitably become it – that is your punishment, but if you never know, then you can be anything. There is a truth to that. We are not nouns, we are verbs. I am not a thing – an actor, a writer – I am a person who does things – I write, I act – and I never know what I am going to do next. I think you can be imprisoned if you think of yourself as a noun,” Stephen Fry, English actor,...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Education, General, Graduate Studies, UNK Online

For Lutz, The Solution to Their Business Needs Can Be Found at UNK

Posted: April 25, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

For Lutz, The Solution to Their Business Needs Can Be Found at UNK

There’s a lot of talent in Nebraska. For companies like Lutz and their HR manager Robby Renshaw, weeding through all that talent can be a daunting task. Thankfully, Renshaw has found an ally in the University of Nebraska at Kearney, a place that makes her job overseeing recruiting much easier. When Renshaw, a HR manager at Lutz, a business solution firm with locations in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island, visits UNK, she knows she will be steered in the right direction. Thanks to the...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, General

Graduate Student Association creates new opportunities for graduate students at UNK

Posted: April 25, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Graduate Student Association creates new opportunities for graduate students at UNK

The 2022-2023 school year marked the inaugural year of the Graduate Student Association at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The eight-member organization is working hard to recruit new members to accomplish their primary goal of making sure graduate students feel like they have a voice on campus.  “Right now, we are trying to grow our membership and let other graduate students—on and off campus—know that we are always here for them,” said GSA President...

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By: Tatiana Moore

Category: Graduate Studies, UNK Online, General

Olivia Slater and Jada Ruff first graduates from UNK's online Public Communication M.A. program

Posted: April 25, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Olivia Slater and Jada Ruff first graduates from UNK's online Public Communication M.A. program

More than twenty-nine percent of UNK’s master's degree graduates in the last five years also hold a bachelor’s degree from the institution.   Olivia Slater and Jada Ruff will be among these alumni after the Spring 2023 commencement ceremonies, but they will also be identified as the first graduates of the Public Communication Master of Arts program, a relatively new addition to the UNK graduate catalog.  After obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Sports...

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By: Tatiana Moore

Category: UNK Online, General, Graduate Studies

University of Nebraska at Kearney Graduate Research Awards

Posted: April 25, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

University of Nebraska at Kearney Graduate Research Awards

Graduate Oral Presentation Award Winners: 1st Place (tie): Kelsey Walker – “Structured Student Conversations and their Impact” Kobe Lo – “Management of Post-Concussion Syndrome in a High School Wrestler: A Case Study”  Graduate Writing Award Winners: 1st Place: Laura Gregory – “There’s a Double Meaning in That: Female Kinship and the Multifaceted Nature of Heroism and Blessedness in Much Ado About...

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By: Kaitlyn Gasper

Category: UNK Online, Graduate Studies, General

UNK's Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Dr. Amy Nebesniak's multiple roles make a bold impact

Posted: April 25, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

UNK's Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Dr. Amy Nebesniak's multiple roles make a bold impact

What kind of mark do you want to leave in the world? For Dr. Amy Nebesniak, an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, determining her answer to this question allowed her to take a more active role in her education and the formation of her goals.     As a graduate student, she wished she had known that “it is up to me to apply what I am learning and [to] start navigating the impact I want to make on the world,” she said. “I am not...

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By: Tatiana Moore

Category: Graduate Studies, UNK Online, General

UNK Mid-Nebraska Educator Pipeline hopes to decrease teacher shortage and improve retention rates for new teachers

Posted: April 25, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

UNK Mid-Nebraska Educator Pipeline hopes to decrease teacher shortage and improve retention rates for new teachers

According to a report released in December 2022 by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, by October 2022, 18 percent of public schools had at least one teaching vacancy, and 27 percent reported having multiple vacancies.   The trend in teacher shortage and retention rates has caught the attention of people throughout the nation, including staff and faculty at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. UNK faculty are teaming up with Kearney Public...

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By: Tatiana Moore

Category: Graduate Studies, UNK Online, Education, General

Validate Canvas Course Links

Posted: April 21, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Validate Canvas Course Links

As an instructor, you must always verify the links in your course. You can check these links using the course link validator, which searches through course content and returns invalid or unresponsive course content links in both published and unpublished content. Instructions

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

UNK Aviation Program: Helping High School Students Spread Their Wings

Posted: April 18, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

UNK Aviation Program: Helping High School Students Spread Their Wings

Giving to others comes naturally to Dr. Dan Smith, who currently serves as Assistant Professor of Aviation at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Whether he’s giving away his time and talents to his country as he did while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom I, Operation Enduring Freedom, or many of the other duties he performed as a United States Marine, Smith’s goal has always been to serve others. While serving his country as a lieutenant colonel in the USMC, Smith more than...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, General

For Dan Kwiatkowski, Past Experiences Shape Him into a Better Student

Posted: April 11, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

For Dan Kwiatkowski, Past Experiences Shape Him into a Better Student

Most college students do not assist a cow with the birth of her calf, sleep outside in 25-degree weather on weekend army reserve trips, or think about how they want to run the family farm they will inherit. But Dan Kwiatkowski is not your typical student. Kwiatkowski, an Agribusiness student who graduates this May, brings a variety of previous life experiences with him to UNK. One could argue that these experiences shaped him into a better student and helped him meet the challenges of...

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By: Theresa Boedeker

Category: Marketing, General, Business and Technology

International Business Consulting: A New Spin on Study Abroad Experiences

Posted: April 4, 2023 10:00:00 AM CDT

International Business Consulting: A New Spin on Study Abroad Experiences

Studying abroad is nothing new for students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. In fact, it’s been an option at UNK for over 30 years. However, thanks to Dr. Timothy Burkink, who recently returned to the classroom after about 14 years in full-time administrative work, students now can benefit from his desire to “create shorter-term study abroad” opportunities integrated within the regular curriculum. Through his collaboration with Dr. David Kosina, assistant professor...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Business and Technology, General, Marketing

Student Competitions Put UNK on the Map

Posted: March 28, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Student Competitions Put UNK on the Map

Ever wonder if you really can have the best of both worlds? If you ask the UNK students who recently participated in a couple of major competitions, they’ll tell you that their school has figured out how to use the coziness of small class size to their advantage. These University of Nebraska at Kearney students were recently able to prove that you don’t have to attend a large university to compete with one.  Thanks to the experiential learning ubiquitous in classrooms across...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: General, Business and Technology, Marketing, Entrepreneur

Canvas Restoring Deleted Items

Posted: March 27, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Canvas Restoring Deleted Items

Canvas does not have a dedicated Recycle bin to show you the deleted items. However, Canvas, deleted pages, files, and announcements can be seen and/or recovered by typing "/undelete" after your course URL. Instructions: Navigate to your course and add the "/undelete" phrase to the end of the URL in the address bar. o   Example: https://canvas.unk.edu/courses/31463/undelete o   Press the Return key. o   This will take you to the "Restore Deleted Items" page. ...

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

Connections Have Been Key in Alumnus Brian Moore’s Career

Posted: March 21, 2023 12:00:00 AM CDT

Connections Have Been Key in Alumnus Brian Moore’s Career

“Connections separate you from others and get you in the front door,” Brian Moore says, when discussing his 30-year career in banking. It was connections developed with a fraternity brother and his dad at the University of Nebraska at Kearney that helped Moore land his first bank job just months after graduating with his Finance degree in 1992. Moore has always worked in the lending side of banking. Starting as a consumer lender, he moved to commercial loans, where he has been for...

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By: Theresa Boedeker

Category: General, Business and Technology, Marketing

It’s All about the Students for These Two UNK Professors

Posted: March 7, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

It’s All about the Students for These Two UNK Professors

It’s one thing to say that students matter. It’s another thing to demonstrate that they do. Sarah Borchers, Assistant Professor of Accounting and Theresa Yaw, Lecturer of Economics are two University of Nebraska at Kearney professors who live out this moto. Both take their teaching seriously and work to improve it. Working to Improve Borchers has been on both sides of the UNK classroom, as a student earning her BS and MBA and as a professor, which helps her teaching. “I am...

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By: Theresa Boedeker

Category: General, Business and Technology, Marketing, Education

UNK’s online History M.A. ranked a top school for online students

Posted: March 7, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

UNK’s online History M.A. ranked a top school for online students

The University of Nebraska at Kearney has been recognized as one of the best schools for online master’s in history for 2023 by OnlineMastersDegrees.org. Only six percent of regionally accredited postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position. UNK’s online History M.A. earned top honors for overall quality, affordability, and commitment to student success.  UNK’s online History M.A. offers a wide variety of rigorous courses at an affordable cost with faculty...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: UNK Online, Graduate Studies, General

Business & Technology Placement Data Shows there is a Return on Your Investment

Posted: February 28, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Business & Technology Placement Data Shows there is a Return on Your Investment

For students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, getting a great return on their investment is the ultimate goal of their college career. Fortunately for College of Business and Technology (CBT) students, there are many people working behind the scenes to help them every step of the way. Faculty members offer freshmen a seminar-type course for each available major. These courses shine a light on the career opportunities available at the end of a student’s college career. Dustin...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Marketing, Business and Technology, General

How an Internship Helped Carter Franklin Decide His Future Career Choice

Posted: February 21, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

How an Internship Helped Carter Franklin Decide His Future Career Choice

“Prior to my internship, I was actually considering changing majors,” Carter Franklin said. An accounting student at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, with a minor in marketing/management, he wasn’t sure how his class work applied to an accounting position. Nor was he sure about accounting as a career choice. “I found accounting semi-interesting, but I had doubts,” he admits.  Then Carter did a 12-week internship at Lutz in Grand Island during tax...

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By: Theresa Boedeker

Category: Marketing, Business and Technology, General

Business and Technology Living Learning Community: Bridging the Gap for College Freshmen

Posted: February 14, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Business and Technology Living Learning Community: Bridging the Gap for College Freshmen

Feeling prepared is often the hardest part of adjusting to college life for incoming freshmen. In fact, one out of five freshmen don’t return to school for their sophomore year. At the University of Nebraska at Kearney, students are given the opportunity to beat these odds by having the option of living in a creatively designed environment during their first year of college. For Brenda Jochum, who is in charge of making the College of Business and Technology’s Living Learning...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Marketing, General, Business and Technology

Experiential Learning allows recent Curriculum and Instruction M.A.Ed. graduate, Kelsey Walker to achieve her goals

Posted: February 9, 2023 11:00:00 AM CST

Experiential Learning allows recent Curriculum and Instruction M.A.Ed. graduate, Kelsey Walker to achieve her goals

Sometimes projects completed for coursework become forgotten assignments that acquire only a dormant state after the student has received a grade for the course. For Kelsey Walker, a recent graduate of the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program, this was not the case. Following her graduation from Chadron State College, Walker discovered a passion for teaching through her role as a middle school language arts educator. Having made this discovery, Walker knew she wanted to...

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By: Tatiana Moore

Category: Education, UNK Online, General, Graduate Studies

Submitting a Video Assignment on Canvas

Posted: February 9, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Submitting a Video Assignment on Canvas

Faculty: If you are asking students to upload a YuJa video to their Canvas assignment, please share this short video tutorial with your students.Hint for Everyone: Always check out the video tutorials in YuJa under Shared > YuJa Training.

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

Have We Got a Story for You!

Posted: February 7, 2023 8:15:00 AM CST

Have We Got a Story for You!

Almost everyone loves to hear a good story, but it takes someone special to tell one. Students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s College of Business are treated to the fine art of storytelling when they enter Dr. Karl Borden’s classroom. His stories take them back in time to when he was a little boy learning the nuances of business from his father to his long career as a serial entrepreneur. With this much experience in the world of finance at his disposal, he uses his...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Marketing, Business and Technology

UNK's Calvin T. Ryan Library provides students more than a good book

Posted: February 7, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

UNK's Calvin T. Ryan Library provides students more than a good book

Many departments across UNK’s campus would include among their list of attributes commitment to student success. Chief among them, one can find UNK’s Calvin T. Ryan Library. For Evan Boyd, Dean of the Library, faculty support of students, and their research, serves as one of the most important qualities of the library.   “My favorite thing about the library is how our work supports the learning of students across campus,” Boyd said.   The Minnesota...

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By: Tatiana Moore

Category: UNK Online, Graduate Studies, General

UNK's Research Services Council provides research opportunities to graduate students

Posted: February 7, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

UNK's Research Services Council provides research opportunities to graduate students

Graduate programs at UNK place an emphasis on student participation in research and creative activity. Whether in places like a laboratory or an archive, UNK students can pursue almost any original research or creative activity project.   However, for most graduate students, one of the biggest hurdles encountered in any type of research can often be funding—for travel, for equipment, for source acquisition, etc.   The Research Services Council (RSC), through...

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By: Tatiana Moore

Category: Graduate Studies, General, UNK Online

Hard Work Pays Off Thanks to UNK’s Generous Donors

Posted: January 31, 2023 6:00:00 AM CST

Hard Work Pays Off Thanks to UNK’s Generous Donors

The students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney don’t shy away from hard work. Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors, these students are rewarded for their incredible efforts inside and outside of the classroom. Supporters who recognize the importance of investing in the future make scholarships available to deserving UNK students. The perfect chemistry of student effort and donor generosity creates an environment where excellence is given a chance to extend far beyond the...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Education, Marketing, General, Business and Technology

Qualtrics File Upload Question

Posted: January 26, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Qualtrics File Upload Question

ITS has added the “File Upload Question” feature to Qualtrics. The “file upload question” feature allows respondents to upload a file along with their other responses.  Using the file upload, you can collect data that may not be available through standard survey questions.  How many files can be uploaded to each survey question? Only one file per survey question  What is the file upload limit per survey question? 100MB  What types of files can...

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By: Shahla Alavi

Category: Information Technology Services

Steve Klein: Making His Rounds at UNK’s West Center

Posted: January 24, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Steve Klein: Making His Rounds at UNK’s West Center

Much like the doctors of Nebraska’s State Hospital for Tuberculosis, who for sixty years made their rounds in what is now UNK’s West Center, Steve Klein spends each morning checking in on his colleagues. As a Facilities and Technology Specialist for the College of Business and Technology, his dedication to his work helps UNK run smoothly. Klein, who has worked at the University of Nebraska at Kearney for the past fourteen years, credits his “natural passion for handling...

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By: Sandy Brannan

Category: Entrepreneur, General, Marketing, Business and Technology

UNK Social Work B.S. graduate Lena Corrado hopes to improve the lives of military families, like hers

Posted: January 23, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

UNK Social Work B.S. graduate Lena Corrado hopes to improve the lives of military families, like hers

Lena Corrado, a winter 2022 Social Work B.S. graduate, has a long history of heroes in her family. She plans to continue the heroic lineage, but in her own way.  “My brothers were in the military, my dad was in the military, my mom worked for the military, my grandpa was in the military, my grandma was in the military, my uncles, and my great uncles,” explains Corrado. “They’ve been in every war since WWII.”  Corrado was born in Okinawa,...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: General, Graduate Studies, UNK Online

Jenn True: A truly outstanding principal and Loper

Posted: January 4, 2023 12:00:00 AM CST

Jenn True: A truly outstanding principal and Loper

  Jenn True, Emerson Elementary Principal and University of Nebraska at Kearney graduate was recently awarded the 2022 Outstanding New Principal of the Year Award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals.  While this award proves she has led her building with excellence, being a principal wasn’t always the career path True had in mind.  “I always had the concern that I wouldn’t want to become a principal because I would miss...

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By: Heidi Knake

Category: Graduate Studies, Education, General, UNK Online

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