search articles:     from the issue of September 7, 2006         UNL among top 50 colleges For the third straight year, UNL has made U.S. News and World Report's annual America's Best Colleges rankings' top 50 list for public national universities. The magazine released its 2006 rankings Aug. 17. Showing improvement in several key categories, UNL was listed as tied with six other universities at 98th place overall in the magazine's "Best National Universities" list. Among public national universities, UNL is tied with five other universities at 46th. Last year, UNL was 98th overall and 45th among the public universities. For UNL, key indicators of student success are up: retention, graduation rate, and the overall quality of incoming students judged by ACT scores. Among the key data, UNL's graduation rate improved to 63 percent, from 61 percent the year before. Freshman retention rate is 82.2 percent (reported in U.S. News as an average of 81 percent). For more information, go online to www.usnews.com. GO TO: ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 7 NEWS HEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER 7 Year in Review 15 proposals for teaching, learning excellence funded Air Force ROTC sweeps national honors Awards and Honors Beef scholars program begins Big Event draws more than 1,000 campus volunteers BIT Mobile rolls across Nebraska Buffett, Gates visit campus Cassman directs energy center Chemist creates synthetic bone Circle of Nations hosted by UNL Civil Rights marcher gives keynote address in MLK observance Combined campaign raises $331,994 Committees lay foundation for general education reform Core Values: Achievement Core Values: Diversity Core Values: Engagement Core Values: Excellence Core Values: Learning Core Values: Research and Creative Activity Core Values: Stewardship Eight students chalk awards Energy research partners UNL scientists, public power Engineering opens 2006 with new lab Excellence in Brief Faculty earn top teaching, research honors Fall semester opens with LGBTQ minor Five faculty members earn Fulbright honors Four record CAREER grants Franco takes student affairs helm Ginsburg tenders two UNL lectures Hurricane Briefs Journalism issues two depth reports Learning community builds on Thompson Forum speakers Libraries expand Cather collections NaBRO lands 5-year Korean bridge project Natural Resources moves to Hardin Hall NU Directions hailed as model program Partnership aims at commercialized cholesterol fighter Program aimed at next generation of researchers Program cards a first Psych symposium examines lesbian, gay, bisexual identities Research funding tops $100 million milestone Research on campus Retention drive launched Robots participate in 18-day mission Sheldon revives tradition Theatre Arts honors Carson Three new majors offered to students Transportation Center earns grant University takes new tack in accreditation UNL aids $5M wheat effort UNL among top 50 colleges UNL, Grand Island students celebrate college opportunity UNL students approve new culture center UNL updates online image Weisz helps shape court's handling of abused and neglected children Year in Review issue can be downloaded in pdf format 732561S36113X