(Picture credit University of Nebraska)
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents convened for a special meeting and closed session Tuesday afternoon to discuss a partnership with the Omaha Community Foundation to buy out Clarkson Regional Health Services’ ownership of Nebraska Medicine.
The board unanimously resolved to seek a qualified partnership with the philanthropic organization after it initially appeared that the $500 million buyout and $300 million purchase of Clarkson-owned properties would rely on state-issued debt in the midst of a statewide budget downturn.
“It was concerning enough that a bill was introduced and heard in committee,” said Speaker of the Unicameral John Arch, addressing the board during public comment. “The question raised was: ‘Surely there is another way?’”
“As a matter of fact, the phrase I heard was, ‘this should be a no-brainer,’” he said. “The Legislature would view joining the philanthropic community at this time as a very sensible decision.”
Also present to speak in favor of the partnership option was Governor Jim Pillen, himself a former Regent.
“When we’re talking about these kinds of projects, not everything makes sense like black-and-white in business. It takes incredible partnerships; it takes incredible trust,” he said. “I would ask you all to consider voting yes to be full partners with Omaha Community Foundation.”
University of Nebraska at Lincoln Athletics Director Troy Dannen addressed the board on the importance of the University’s relationship with philanthropic organizations.
“We’re only enabled to be successful through the relationships the support the partnerships that we have with philanthropic community” he said of Husker athletics. “We stand strong because of our relationships, the trust, and the empowerment given to us by those who, with your approval, will work similarly to empower the University we all care about.”
Tuesday’s special meeting followed on the heels of previous negotiations with OCF, the Walter Scott Family Foundation, and the University of Nebraska Foundation. The organizations had been in talks with the board about a future partnership to continue Nebraska Medicine’s mission in late June, just days before Clarkson’s official departure as a governing member.
The board had affirmed a temporary shared governance structure in June as talks continued, and “near-final” governing documents for long-term partnership were subsequently drafted. The board’s move on Tuesday authorized the final round of negotiations to take place, setting the stage for OCF to become a long-term governing member of Nebraska Medicine.
“My qualms have been the lack of details in the documents that we’re considering,” said Kathy Wilmot of District 7. “I’ve been assured by everyone that’s been involved in this much longer than I have that we’re working with very trustworthy partners that truly want to see this go forward.”
University President Jeffery Gold thanked all involved, recalling the uncertainty that enveloped Nebraska Medicine already-unknowable future when Clarkson Regional announced its intention to depart.
“We got a call literally two years ago this August by a couple folks at Clarkson wanting to talk about divesting themselves,” Regent Jim Scheer recalled, “and we got a lot of flak because we met in secret in places I didn’t know existed for literally almost a year and a half.”
The under-the-radar meetings at Clarkson’s request, Scheer recalled, meant that the board endured heavy scrutiny when news of the group’s divestment finally broke in January of this year. He stated his hope that the day would go a long way in putting that chapter decidedly into the past, recommitting to medicine, and restoring trust.
“It’s time that we don’t talk about the future: the future is today.”
Regent Jack Stark of District 2 called the vote the biggest of his career, and with the renewed philanthropic support for health education, research, and treatment, he said it would probably be the board’s biggest vote for the next 50 years:
“To have the entire governor’s office and Legislature supporting this sort of thing, and to know what this means for so many faculty, and particularly for those patients… this is a monumental day” he said.
Timothy Clare of District 1 agreed, also calling the decision his biggest, and speaking of the future in the strongest of terms:
“This project is one thing; I’m looking forward to changing the world.”
— Lewis Thune is a writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.