University of Nebraska Risk Appetite
The following risk tolerances were adopted on January 23, 2014, and modified December 4, 2025, by the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee to provide a framework for the amount and type of risk the University is willing to take to meet its strategic objectives.
- Very high tolerance for risk in pursuing and generating new revenue streams.
- Very high tolerance for risks arising from the use of Artificial Intelligence to promote operational and teaching efficiency, creativity, and effectiveness, while maintaining the confidentiality of student, research, financial, and other University data.
- High tolerance for risks in the pursuit of innovative and breakthrough research, scholarship, and public engagement.
- High tolerance for strategic risk-taking that enhances instructional quality or student experience.
- High tolerance for strategic risk-taking that promotes productivity, creativity, and reputation.
- High tolerance for risk which contributes to public policy discussions with government, or which supports equitable access to higher education.
- High tolerance for risks related to activities that improve university academic and research success and will be viewed as national best practices.
- Moderate risk tolerance for rewarded financial risk.
- Moderate tolerance for proactive integration and advancement of inclusive excellence, with identified accountability measures.
- Very low tolerance for risks arising from inappropriate discharge of fiduciary responsibilities.
- Very low tolerance for risks that undermine the actual safety, or the perception of safety, of our students, faculty, staff, or visitors.
- Very low tolerance for intentional non-compliance with laws or regulations.
- Very low tolerance for risks arising from inappropriate or unauthorized release or use of sensitive data, including financial, research, student, or intellectual property data.