LINCOLN- Across the county, higher education institutions are facing the headwinds of declining enrollment, budget cuts, and questions over the value of postsecondary education. In Nebraska, those conversations will carry over into 2024. As the University of Nebraska System eases into the 2024 spring semester, it still faces a $58 million budget shortfall over the next two years.

However, some have hope that the university can prevail despite these challenges. "We want to be world class for Nebraskans," said Chris Kabourek, NU's chief financial officer who will take on the role of interim NU president beginning Monday following the departure of the current university head Ted Carter.

Kabourek said his goals include keeping the NU's "railroad" running, addressing affordability and access despite the budget cuts, and executing as much of Carter's previous "Five-Point Plan" as possible. "We're a good university, but we have all the potential to be a great university and to help formulate a strategy to get us from good to great," said Kabourek, "That's what really kind of gets me up every morning and gets me going."

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