UNK Online
UNK Online
We’re Where We Are Because of Where We’ve Been: A Brief History of UNK Graduate Studies
Since the Fall of 1990, the University of Nebraska at Kearney has awarded 11,477 master’s degrees through its graduate programs.
More than 30 years later, the Office of Graduate Studies and Academic Innovation has undergone significant change. From office name updates to new programs, one thing has remained constant: the university’s commitment to helping graduate students reach their academic and professional goals.
Today, that commitment looks different than it did in the 1990s. Advances in technology have allowed many graduate programs to move to fully online or blended formats, making it possible for students across the country (and around the world) to earn degrees from UNK.
To meet the needs of today’s workforce, additional programs have been developed while others have been phased out. Accelerated pathways now allow UNK undergraduate students to begin their master’s classes in their junior or senior year, helping them save time and money while reaching their goals sooner.
Support for graduate students has also evolved. Today, the Office of Graduate Studies and Academic Innovation includes more than 40 team members dedicated to serving online and graduate students. This includes five learning designers who ensure online class content is accessible, engaging and easy to navigate, and a large team of online academic program advisors who support online students from application to graduation, and beyond.
By continuing to adapt, UNK is positioned to educate the next generation of leaders and lifelong learners across disciplines and industries.
With more than 11,000 graduate alumni making an impact across communities, UNK celebrates a proud and growing legacy of graduate success.
Fun fact: Prior to fall 1990, graduation data was tracked entirely by hand. The university’s transition to a digital system that year made it easier to analyze long-term trends and better understand the evolution of graduate education at UNK.
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