Editor's note: Juan Franco is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's vice chancellor for student affairs.
The marching band is playing. The football and volleyball teams are practicing. Sorority rush is under way and students are moving into the residence halls. Life has returned to campus!
We are delighted to have new and returning students on campus for the beginning of the fall semester. This promises to be another exciting year for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
We anticipate another increase in enrollment. This is very good news for the university but does present us with some challenges in accommodating the larger number of students. These are challenges we welcome. We have started discussions about a new academic building to address the need for more classrooms. We will break ground on a new residence hall to be built on 17th and R streets. This hall will house about 560 students. We are also in the process of renovating Abel and Sandoz halls.
Construction of the new Gaughan Multicultural Center will begin in September. The center will be linked to the Nebraska Union through an above-ground walkway. Facilities will be upgraded in Campus Recreation with the installation of all-weather turf in the Mabel Lee fields. We continue discussions on the exact site of the ice arena that will be built in the Haymarket area and will be available for UNL student use.
Much excitement surrounds the building of the Innovation Campus on the State Fair grounds. This should provide an economic boost to Lincoln and the state of Nebraska and provide students, faculty and staff exciting opportunities.
Our goal for students is that they have a quality educational experience and leave UNL with a degree in hand. In addition to providing students great experiences in the classroom, our hope is that they also enhance the great values that they bring with them from home, engage in ethical behavior, behave responsibly, look after each other and enhance their interest in civic engagement.
This year we plan to work with the Foundation for a Better Life to promote good values, character development and self-esteem among our students. You may have seen the posters and billboards sponsored by this foundation. My favorite poster has a picture of Kermit the Frog with the statements "He eats flies," "Dates a pig" and is a "Hollywood Star." There is still hope for me.
At the risk of sounding like a parent (the longer you are away from your parents the more you will realize how smart they are), I do have my annual list of suggestions to help you make the best of the time you spend with us:
Keep up with your academic work. Don't wait until the last minute to study for your exams or to write your research papers.
Get involved in university activities and organizations. Students who withdraw from the university are often students who isolate themselves and do not become a part of the university community.
Seek help as soon as you feel that you may be experiencing any kind of difficulty. The university has many programs to help students, including tutoring services, counseling services, a student health clinic, etc. Also most faculty are willing to spend extra time with you or suggest where you can go for help if you are having trouble in their classes.
Know the laws and policies regarding the downloading of music on your computer. Some students have had to pay hefty fines to the recording industry for illegally sharing music files.
Finally, challenge yourself to reach new heights. Remember if a frog that dates a pig can make it in Hollywood, there is hope for all of us.
Remember to have fun while learning. Some day you will think of your college years as "the good old days."
If you have questions or if I can help in anyway, please feel free to come see me in my office which is located in Canfield, room 106, the "bubble" located in the main floor of the Nebraska Union (on Wednesdays) or e-mail me at jfranco2@unl.edu. I hope you have an enjoyable and productive semester.
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