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Higher Education • MARCH 1, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
March 1, 2019
Access, workforce readiness at heart of multi-faceted priorities, investments by Michelle Leach
Access, affordability and adaptation to workforce needs remain central to institutions’ priorities and investments. “Most of the colleges have advisory boards that represent business and industry,” said B.J. Reed, Ph.D., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “They tell us the skills and competencies that they need, and we tailor curriculum to reflect that.” Informatics, cybersecurity, emergency management, unmanned aircraft (tied Reed to aviation programs), biomechanics and supply chain management represent programming additions. But changes transcend STEM; for instance, new centers on human rights and medical humanities. Reed said employers seek skilled programmers and coders who also think critically, problem-solve, and communicate effectively, and “well-rounded” students who participate in days of service — what UNO refers to as being “of the community, not just in the community.” Reed also noted how Intercollegiate Ath-
Dr. Sarah Kottich, EVP for operations and planning at the College of Saint Mary’s Clinical Nursing and Simulation Labs. letic Director Trev Alberts refers to athletics as to your institution,” he said. “Then you have the “front door to the campus,” and referenced to make sure they persist and succeed in community support of all student-athletes, not graduating.” just the successes of men’s basketball but also The single most important factor? women’s softball, volleyball and swim teams. “We try to connect with every single stuOverall, successes noted by Reed include dent who comes here through learning comcontinued improvement in student retention. munities and through more intensive advising, “Half the battle is to get students to come and identifying what their barriers are to stay-
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ing or persisting, and knocking those barriers down — it’s the personal touch,” Reed said. College of Saint Mary’s Executive Vice President for Operations and Planning, Sarah Kottich, emphasized ensuring the community understands a college’s/university’s value and impact to individuals and the broader economy; citing Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average individual with a bachelor’s degree earns $24,000 more annually than counterparts with a high school degree (nearly $1 million more over a 40-year career). Even with $1.6 Boyers trillion in U.S. student loan debt across 44.7 million borrowers, Kottich noted financing one’s education “is still one of the best investments you can make.” “Considering that the average monthly earnings of a college graduate are $2,000 higher than a high school graduate, that equates to a five-times return on their investment while in repayment,” she said (based on average $29,800 debt or $393 monthly payments). Kottich referenced the emerging trend of rethinking pricing strategy. “We made three significant changes to our pricing strategy: One, eliminated all fees in 2013; two, reduced tuition by 33 percent in 2017; and, three, increased the amount of donor-funded grants to students with high financial need,” she said. Kottich indicated these efforts have attracted an especially diverse incoming class across a community that includes 141 single parents, 325 first-generation students and 357 students with “high financial need” (of 1,168-total enrollment). Known for health occupation degree offerings, Kottich said CSM students can earn a high salary right out of college. She referred to diverse investments, including in its Athletic and Wellness Center to house 10 athletic teams and a new track and field team. “We’ve established partnerships with Omaha Public Schools and area Catholic schools, as well as community groups such as Ironhawk Fitness, Girls Inc. and several other organizations,” she said. “They, too, will benefit from this new facility.” Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical Simulation, Pamela J. Boyers indicated more faculty and hospital staff are adopting Continued on page 6.
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Higher Education — inside MARCH 1, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
$2.00
VOL. 45 NO. 9
Forensic expertise boosts opportunities for KPE engineering by Richard D. Brown
Home Run Pediatrics offers convenience of medical house calls. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 Aviture’s Doler leverages personal struggles to help others. – Page 4
in ion ds iat idlan v A M the
Aviation activity in the Midlands continues to see boost. – Page 33
Omaha-based KPE, an engineering and architectural firm in its 19th year, is far better known for its forensic expertise and the testimony its professionals give regarding troubled projects across much of the country. However, the leaders of the 18-employee firm are aiming to increase their architectural and engineering billings by at least 20 percent this year as they plan and design a variety of projects. Education sector projects such as the initial $8 million phase-one of renovations to Burke High School, varied commercial endeavors such as the renovation of a former skating/ entertainment building for use by Midwest Labs, work for Greenbelly — a restaurant that serves environmentally-responsible food — and Craft Axe, a recreational firm that offers customers an opportunity to throw axes at a giant dartboard-like target, are positioning KPE for continued Continued on page 27.
Associate Principal Brad Lauritsen … Emphasis on forensic projects is opening doors for an increase (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville) in engineering and architectural work.
Plastilite Corp. innovates biodegradable shipping material to meet recycling needs by Michelle Leach
Off of its 60th year, Omaha-based Plastilite Corp. is meeting demand for biodegradable packaging products with the rollout of REFOAM, and multifaceted partnerships are meeting demand for recycling by addressing barriers to the responsible disposal of containers that, while featherweight, fill up bins and trucks in no time.
“ E v e r y b o d y i n t h e m a rketspace is looking for something that is more eco-friendly,” said CEO Jon Ehly. “The big issue with EPS [Expanded Polystyrene] is how do you get the product to go away? I don’t think anybody has lived long enough that it goes away. It takes hundreds of years.” Headquartered at 4930 Battlefield Dr., Plastilite’s REFOAM Continued on page 26. PACE CEO Danna Kehm in the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center’s future performing arts space … Uplifting local nonprofits and the community by building a new arts and culture district in Council Bluffs.
PACE revitalizing historic Council Bluffs district to create new arts, culture hub by Becky McCarville
President and CEO John Ehly … Company rolls out biodegradable, recyclable products to better serve industries from fishing to food service.
Created in 2015 from an Iowa West Foundation initiative and what was previously the 35-yearold Bluffs Arts Council, Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment (PACE) will help local nonprofit arts and culture organizations by providing a hub with administrative support, facilities and maintenance, financial and fundraising support, venue space
and archival storage. PACE was formed after a series of arts studies, initiated in 2013 by the Iowa West Foundation with input from 30 organizations in Pottawattamie County, concluded that Council Bluffs and the surrounding area needed an umbrella organization to help smaller arts nonprofits as well as an arts and culture center that offers arts Continued on page 28.