Masters Week is a week during each fall semester when outstanding alumni who have shown great promise, success and leadership in their chosen life's work are recognized as "Masters." These Masters return to campus for the week to interact with students and University officials. During their visit, Masters help students realize ways to build successful careers. Masters also update faculty on developments in their fields.

Masters Week began at the University of Nebraska in the 1963-64 academic year, with the first Masters on campus in the spring of 1964. The program was started at the request of then-chancellor Clifford Hardin, who had been invited back to Purdue University to take part in that school's "Old Master Program." The program originally was coordinated by the Student Council, Mortar Board and Innocents Societies and the Chancellor's Office. Today, Masters Week is sponsored by Innocents and Mortar Board, the Chancellor's Office and the Alumni Association.

Candidates for a Masters Week award must be Nebraska graduates with a number of years of outstanding service, have information and experience that are valuable to the entire academic community and currently be active in their professions. Candidates should be articulate and should be able to communicate effectively with students and faculty. This award is free standing and can only be granted once to each Master.

The selection of Masters is very competitive. Each winter, faculty submit nominations. In the spring, a pre-screening committee consisting of students and representatives from the faculty and administration make recommendations to the chancellor. The chancellor then chooses the participants for the program.

The three goals for the event are:

• To help students realize there are many ways to apply formal education to successful careers.
• To help students learn of current developments in their intended professions.
• To update faculty on significant trends and developments in their fields.