The heart of the University of Nebraska system is its Lincoln campus (UNL). Lincoln is the second-largest city in the state and, as a result, is able to offer many big-city amenities without sacrificing its small Midwestern town feel. Lincoln offers an extensive public parks system, an active music scene, an exciting downtown nightlife, and several performing art venues. Lincoln is frequently ranked among the top places to live in the United States, due in part to its miniscule crime rate and comfortable size. UNL's downtown location situates its students right at the core of this burgeoning mini-metropolis.
As UNL is such an unmistakable presence in the community, it should come as no surprise that campus social life is heavily intertwined with that of the city. Many of the Lincoln's cultural amenities are connected with UNL, including the Lied Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts theatrical productions and musical performances from internationally known artists and directors. Much of Lincoln's social life is also tied to Nebraska Cornhusker athletics. The football program has been a dominant mainstay on the national scene since the onset of the NCAA and has produced many notable athletes, including Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.
Across 10 colleges, UNL offers 140 undergraduate majors and 275 programs of study. It is an elected member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is, not surprisingly, consistently ranked amongst the top public universities in the nation. This great reputation is based in part upon many of Nebraska's unique programs and points of emphasis: Its Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research (UCARE) program gives undergraduates the opportunity to work alongside faculty members and to directly participate in ongoing campus research; its Learning Communities program gives students the opportunity to get to know students and faculty members that share their intellectual interests; its Service Learning program not only helps students develop hands-on experience in their fields, but also helps them cultivate a sense of civic responsibility by involving them in their local community; and its Student Exchange and Study Abroad programs give students the opportunity to explore the world or the country.
The Extended Education and Outreach (EE&O) program at Nebraska extends the university's educational opportunities to populations that are in situations which are different from your typical undergraduate. High School students can work towards college credit, or even work towards their high school diplomas; distance-learning undergraduate and graduate students can earn part or all of their degrees online; and professionals can take part in Webinars, which are non-credit programs designed simply to assist the evolution of their professional skills with an aim towards enhancing their careers. Many of the same degrees and programs that are traditionally offered by UNL are available through this program, while many additional, entirely career-oriented programs are offered exclusively through EE&O.
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