1-Opening Welcome
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Mary Niemiec
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06/11/2021
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Welcome and opening remarks by Mary Niemiec, AVP Digital Education and Director, University of Nebraska Online and Susan Fritz, PhD, Provost
Welcome and opening remarks by Mary Niemiec, AVP Digital Education and Director, University of Nebraska Online and Susan Fritz, PhD, Provost
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- [00:00:03.310]I'm just really, really happy to be able to
- [00:00:05.750]welcome you to NU amplify 2021.
- [00:00:09.790]It's been quite a year.
- [00:00:12.520]And in response to the, you know
- [00:00:15.210]global pandemic, administrators, faculty members
- [00:00:19.900]and staff at our university and across the country
- [00:00:25.260]focus their energies on continuing to provide students
- [00:00:28.630]with high quality educational experiences.
- [00:00:32.370]And this is in the face of monumental challenges.
- [00:00:37.500]This year, the Digital Education Symposium and
- [00:00:41.950]the Women in IT Conference joined together
- [00:00:45.140]to amplify these voices
- [00:00:47.350]to share what we've learned and achieved,
- [00:00:50.080]as we continue to focus on student success,
- [00:00:53.380]teaching excellence, grounded in our commitment
- [00:00:56.620]to diversity and inclusion.
- [00:00:59.131]The University of Nebraska
- [00:01:01.430]and the Information Technology Services
- [00:01:03.970]are pleased to bring you and NU Amplify 2021: A Symposium
- [00:01:09.120]On Digital Teaching, Technology and Inclusion.
- [00:01:12.940]Engagement in participation in this year's
- [00:01:15.040]symposium has been terrific with nearly 600 registrants.
- [00:01:19.830]This year's event promises to be one of the largest
- [00:01:23.350]since we first began offering the symposium.
- [00:01:27.340]Events like this are so greatly enhanced
- [00:01:31.130]through the generous support of our sponsors.
- [00:01:34.100]And we are very appreciative of these partners
- [00:01:37.310]who ensure the university can continue to provide
- [00:01:40.020]quality professional development events like this.
- [00:01:45.130]I would like to take a few moments
- [00:01:46.930]to recognize these sponsors
- [00:01:50.190]Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company,
- [00:01:54.360]Connection,
- [00:01:55.740]Public Sector Solutions,
- [00:01:58.470]Cox Business,
- [00:02:00.600]DataVision,
- [00:02:02.300]Dell Technologies,
- [00:02:04.130]E & I Cooperative Services,
- [00:02:07.000]Feedback Fruits,
- [00:02:09.450]Guidepoint Security,
- [00:02:11.975]iClicker,
- [00:02:14.050]Microsoft,
- [00:02:16.472]NU AV Design Build,
- [00:02:19.510]NU Federal Credit Union,
- [00:02:22.140]Office of Diversity and Inclusion,
- [00:02:24.820]Tanium
- [00:02:25.653]and Unizin.
- [00:02:27.390]Sponsors, a sincere thank you.
- [00:02:31.460]Now, you know, a couple of housekeeping items for today.
- [00:02:35.560]Marcia already mentioned on the web page
- [00:02:41.060]which is nebraska.edu.amplify/agenda
- [00:02:46.020]where you can find the host schedule of events on ongoing
- [00:02:51.330]and you can refer to the agenda email, too,
- [00:02:53.680]if you'd like to access it directly.
- [00:02:57.040]Sessions will be recorded
- [00:02:58.640]and available for viewing after the symposium.
- [00:03:01.640]And we will email all registrants
- [00:03:04.200]with updates when the sessions are available.
- [00:03:07.680]Now if you attend the sessions
- [00:03:08.900]I encourage you to take a minute and give us your feedback.
- [00:03:11.790]Links to online session evaluations will be included
- [00:03:14.760]at the conclusion of each session.
- [00:03:17.552]We read these responses and it helps us really plan
- [00:03:21.480]and strategize for the future events.
- [00:03:24.050]And also, as Marcia mentioned
- [00:03:26.200]we have a conference hashtag #nuamplify21
- [00:03:30.480]she put that in the chat, please use this to connect
- [00:03:34.310]with others and share highlights of the day.
- [00:03:37.575]This past year, many of us have attended virtual conferences
- [00:03:42.890]and it has been an ongoing challenge
- [00:03:48.370]and goal to stay connected and try to make sure
- [00:03:53.330]that we have those networking opportunities.
- [00:03:55.730]Hopefully this will allow that to happen.
- [00:03:58.690]And now, it's my honor
- [00:04:02.220]and my pleasure to introduce Provost, Susan Fritz
- [00:04:07.200]with a special welcome address,
- [00:04:09.720]Dr. Fritz is Executive Vice President and Provost,
- [00:04:14.600]and as many of you know, she served as Interim President
- [00:04:19.210]our first woman President at the University of Nebraska.
- [00:04:24.310]But I don't know if many
- [00:04:26.240]of you understand the impact that
- [00:04:28.760]Dr. Fritz has had on what we do here today.
- [00:04:34.220]She's been at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln
- [00:04:37.721]for many years,
- [00:04:40.290]and started here at the system in 2011.
- [00:04:45.220]That and I've had the honor
- [00:04:47.030]and pleasure to work with her during that entire time.
- [00:04:50.880]She's an innovator, a visionary and an advisor
- [00:04:57.080]and advocate for quality online instruction.
- [00:05:02.320]Because of her encouragement, support online
- [00:05:06.820]at the University of Nebraska has thrived.
- [00:05:10.760]She's maintained a focus on an access agenda.
- [00:05:16.090]How can we allow more students to get the credentials
- [00:05:20.300]that they need here?
- [00:05:23.200]And how many times have I walked into her office?
- [00:05:27.180]And she looked at me and said, Mary, I have an idea.
- [00:05:31.100]And that's like, all boy here we go again, Susan,
- [00:05:34.790]it's wonderful.
- [00:05:37.070]Without her, we would not be at the level we're at now.
- [00:05:42.380]And I just want to thank her on behalf of all
- [00:05:46.780]of us who are involved in digital education at
- [00:05:49.270]the university and personally, Susan,
- [00:05:54.730]my deep thanks, Mary.
- [00:05:56.010]It's been quite a partnership.
- [00:05:58.620]Well, good morning on behalf of NU
- [00:06:00.160]President Carter and me, I wish to welcome you to the NU
- [00:06:03.700]Amplify 2021 Symposium.
- [00:06:08.470]Like the symposiums that have proceeded this one today
- [00:06:11.380]you will have the opportunity to learn the latest
- [00:06:14.060]in pedagogy, techniques, trends, and research
- [00:06:18.130]from nationally and internationally renowned speakers
- [00:06:21.156]as well as colleagues from across our NU campuses.
- [00:06:25.760]And once again, the symposium will be online.
- [00:06:29.010]Last year, 643 attendees registered for this Symposium.
- [00:06:34.250]An increase of 25% of the previous year's registrants.
- [00:06:39.940]At the time, I was struck
- [00:06:41.470]by how fortunate we were to have the technology resources
- [00:06:44.650]and talent to hold the Symposium online.
- [00:06:47.760]Similarly, I was struck
- [00:06:49.520]by how fortunate we were to be able to meet the learning
- [00:06:52.440]and working needs of our students, faculty, and staff
- [00:06:56.150]through leveraging technology
- [00:06:58.050]throughout the spring semester and subsequent semesters.
- [00:07:02.510]The shift to online was nothing short of miraculous.
- [00:07:06.090]And in large part, I thank each of you for your commitment
- [00:07:09.360]and perseverance to making that shift successful.
- [00:07:14.530]Also, I am grateful for the continued emphasis
- [00:07:17.360]of university leadership and investing
- [00:07:19.340]in technology and talent, which enviably position
- [00:07:23.400]NU to effectively make the transition.
- [00:07:28.000]There will be a great deal
- [00:07:29.250]which institutions will learn from these shifts
- [00:07:31.550]and therefore some processes will likely be changed
- [00:07:34.830]for the better. I am so pleased you'll gain insights
- [00:07:38.520]about these potential innovations from your keynote today.
- [00:07:41.850]And I challenge you to think
- [00:07:43.360]about how these innovations can improve student faculty
- [00:07:46.570]and staff experiences at NU.
- [00:07:51.500]These symposiums and so many other capacity building
- [00:07:54.000]efforts are some of the overarching strategy of NU Online.
- [00:07:58.390]NU Online has been ably led for nearly
- [00:08:00.500]10 years by Mary Niemiec.
- [00:08:02.900]As Associate Vice President for Digital Education
- [00:08:05.510]and Director of the University of Nebraska Online,
- [00:08:08.186]Mary has expertly emphasized collaboration and efficiency,
- [00:08:12.089]promoted relevant credentials for working adults
- [00:08:15.790]and place-bound Nebraska residents
- [00:08:17.601]and increased national and international awareness of NU.
- [00:08:22.450]Through her leadership, your commitment,
- [00:08:25.160]strategic investments and expert marketing,
- [00:08:28.830]NU Online has grown dramatically
- [00:08:30.650]and offering students, impacts and reputation
- [00:08:35.040]during the ten year period.
- [00:08:37.480]Because of Mary's steadfast leadership collaborations
- [00:08:40.380]across our campuses and faculty commitment
- [00:08:43.640]since 2011-2012
- [00:08:46.420]fully online programs
- [00:08:48.220]have grown 32% to 163 programs.
- [00:08:52.920]And student credit hours have grown
- [00:08:54.960]151% to 274,000
- [00:08:59.800]Student credit hours offered during this last year.
- [00:09:04.210]It is no wonder that nationally,
- [00:09:06.060]the University of Nebraska is considered an exemplar online
- [00:09:09.750]higher education collaboration effort.
- [00:09:13.830]Mary not only is a respected NU leader,
- [00:09:16.040]she also is a nationally
- [00:09:17.410]and internationally respected leader in online education.
- [00:09:20.910]For example, she currently serves
- [00:09:23.410]as the President of the Board
- [00:09:24.740]of Directors for the Online Learning Consortium
- [00:09:27.120]a leading online national organization.
- [00:09:32.040]Mary intends to retire
- [00:09:33.390]from the University of Nebraska on June 30.
- [00:09:35.910]And I thank her greatly for her partnership and commitment.
- [00:09:39.580]She has helped NU increase access
- [00:09:42.010]for learners and catalyzed NU efforts
- [00:09:44.840]to expand our educational reach around the world.
- [00:09:48.860]Here to say a few words about her as a collaborator
- [00:09:51.460]and a leader, my friend former NU CIO, Mark Askren.
- [00:10:02.020]Thank you, Susan.
- [00:10:03.160]I'm honored to be with all of you this morning to
- [00:10:05.040]mention my appreciation for Mary's contributions
- [00:10:07.514]to both our university and our industry.
- [00:10:11.290]There is leadership has been described as a force of nature
- [00:10:14.220]in a very positive way, and that's not an overstatement.
- [00:10:18.230]Mary is one of those rare leaders that is exceptional
- [00:10:20.870]at developing and articulating a transformational vision.
- [00:10:24.360]While at the same time, being able to build partnerships
- [00:10:26.910]in order to get those results.
- [00:10:29.634]In addition to being a great collaborator,
- [00:10:32.120]Mary has also dedicated her time and energy
- [00:10:34.220]to being a mentor.
- [00:10:35.970]She helped me improve as a leader and she's done the same
- [00:10:38.630]for many team members during her time here.
- [00:10:41.490]On numerous occasions, I've seen her lift
- [00:10:43.210]up others by giving them opportunities to shine
- [00:10:46.590]and she always shares credits for accomplishments.
- [00:10:49.420]There's no doubt that Mary brings net positive energy
- [00:10:51.980]to the table and lots of it.
- [00:10:54.840]And when she steps down from her position
- [00:10:56.730]she leaves us much stronger than when she started
- [00:10:59.640]which is the hallmark of a great leader.
- [00:11:02.730]Thank you, Mary, for all you've done for our community.
- [00:11:05.490]You've truly made a positive difference every day.
- [00:11:08.920]And with that, I'll turn it over to Mary to
- [00:11:10.830]introduce our keynote speaker for this morning.
- [00:11:15.080]Well, okay.
- [00:11:16.218]Thanks for setting me up to be able to do this.
- [00:11:21.090]Susan and Mark, thank you so very much
- [00:11:23.420]for your kind words as you know,
- [00:11:27.450]no single individual ever does anything.
- [00:11:31.300]NU Online has a massive team and it's the direct team
- [00:11:38.050]of the University of Nebraska Online.
- [00:11:40.450]It is also the team across the system in the campuses.
- [00:11:44.390]I've been very lucky and fortunate to be here.
- [00:11:48.110]So thank you.
- [00:11:49.010]Thank you, both.
- [00:11:51.400]And Susan, thank you for the wonderful welcome.
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