In an unprecedented and deeply worrying move, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is considering eliminating six programs, including Statistics. A university with a strong research and teaching mission cannot function without a Statistics department. Statistics is foundational to research and teaching across the sciences, social sciences, and engineering, and it provides students with the analytical training, and quantitative literacy they need. Statistics drives progress in agriculture, medicine, technology, and countless other areas. Many funding agencies explicitly require a statistician as part of major grants. Eliminating a department like this could weaken collaborations, diminish national reputation, and harm the university’s ability to compete for research funding.  Sixteen of the eighteen Big Ten universities have stand-alone Statistics departments, and all maintain strong programs. Preserving programs that are essential to research and education is critical for the future of any comprehensive university.

Your signature strengthens the support for the department and more broadly for the profession of statistics.

For context:
Nebraska Public Media: https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/breaking-unl-proposing-to-eliminate-six-academic-programs/
UNL budget proposals: https://budgetprocess.unl.edu/proposed-budget-reductions/