College &
Careers
Special Supplement to Suburban Newspapers Inc. FEBRUARY 2021
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February, 2021
Southeast Community College’s new Health Sciences facility opens opportunity for students to pursue healthcare careers The new Health Sciences facility on the Southeast Community College Lincoln Campus, 8800 O St., is an academic facility ahead of its time. Opened for classes on Jan. 11, this 81,909-square-foot building contains 14 state-of-the-art health science labs, eight classrooms, student collaboration spaces, and dozens of the most technologically advanced pieces of medical equipment. “This new facility will provide an innovative and immersive learning environment for our healthcare students,” said Jill Sand, SCC’s dean of Health Sciences. “We can’t wait to see the students flourish and grow in interactive, technologically enhanced labs and classrooms.” Programs in the Health Sciences facility include Associate Degree Nursing, Dental Assisting, Healthcare Services, Human Services, Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technology, Paramedic, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, Surgical First Assist, Surgical Technology, and more. Each program offers an affordable path into the healthcare profession with boundless opportunities for upward advancement. In hands-on labs and simulations, different programs will often work together to stabilize, diagnose and treat patients to familiarize students with real hospital procedures. The facility is equipped with advanced distance education technologies, allowing SCC to collaborate in real time with the Beatrice and Milford campuses and the six learning
center locations that were established to provide educational opportunities throughout the College’s 15-county service area. The learning centers have lab spaces to support a variety of the Health Sciences programs that could lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree without the need to travel to Lincoln. SCC graduates around 2,000 health sciences students every 10 years— most of whom stay in Nebraska to work in healthcare and further their education. The new Health Sciences building can accommodate far more students than before, creating more opportunity for Nebraskans to enter healthcare. There are over 5,300 job openings in Nebraska related to SCC healthcare programs as of January 2021. Students in SCC healthcare programs can graduate in two years or less, and 94% of students either secure employment or continue their education. “I believe this is one of the highest quality health sciences facilities in the country,” said Dr. Paul Illich, SCC president. “There is high demand for healthcare professionals in Nebraska, and SCC is more than prepared to help meet that need now and into the future.” SCC held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with limited attendance on Nov. 10, 2020. Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley was in attendance. “This is a game-changer for Nebraska,” Foley said. “The graduates will find so many wonderful opportunities in Lincoln and beyond.”
Hausmann Construction, BCDM Architects and Perkins & Will helped design the structure. Construction began in late 2018. SCC’s Lincoln Campus serves nearly 8,000 students each term, with the Health Sciences Division representing one of the highest-demand areas among students and employers. Among the fastest growing healthcare jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are home health aides, personal care aides, nurse practitioners, and physical therapist assistants. There also is an increased need for administrators, including those who manage long-term care facilities. SCC has a Long Term Care Administration program. Those interested in entering an SCC healthcare program can learn more about the new facility, find additional program information and apply at ChooseSCC.com.
February, 2021
Metropolitan Community College is the path forward for those looking to advance their career, start a new one or to finish a college degree. There are options for every new and returning adult student. With online certificate and degree options, adults looking to make a career change or update job skills can earn an associate degree or career certificate in less time than a bachelor’s degree, and with less debt upon completion. Classes are offered in mornings, afternoons and evenings. Students can choose from MCC Anytime courses where they can complete work when their schedule allows, or MCC LIVE Online that meets virtually with an instructor and other classmates at a scheduled time. There is also a blended option that has students meeting face-to-face half the time and online for the other half. These options can help those with busy schedules who are wanting to further their education. In-person classes vary due to the ongoing pandemic and MCC health measures. For new or returning students looking to
move quickly, MCC offers many accelerated courses. These courses cover the same quality and quantity as a 12-week course in half the time and are also offered in a variety of delivery formats. Accelerated courses include general education requirements, as well as required courses for degrees in Business, Real Estate, Law and more. Adults looking to return to college may see it as out of reach due to financial reasons. MCC offers scholarships and financial aid to every learner. The scholarship application process is simple, with a universal application that automatically applies students for scholarships they qualify for. Financial Aid can work with each individual to find a plan that works for them. Take the steps today to continue an educational path forward at MCC. Visit mccneb.edu to get started, or call 531-MCC-2400.
Students can choose from MCC Anytime courses where they can complete work when their schedule allows, or MCC LIVE Online that meets virtually with an instructor and other classmates at a scheduled time. There is also a blended option that has students SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC. 3 meeting face-to-face half the time and online for the other half. These options can help those with busy schedules who are wanting to further their education. In-person classes vary due to the ongoing pandemic and MCC health measures. For new or returning students looking to move quickly, MCC offers many accelerated courses. These courses cover the same quality and quantity as a 12-week course in half the time and are also offered in a variety of delivery formats. Accelerated courses include general education requirements, as well as required courses for degrees in Business, Real Estate, Law and more. Adults looking to return to college may see it as out of reach due to financial reasons. MCC offers scholarships and financial aid to every learner. The scholarship application process is simple, with a universal application that automatically applies students for scholarships they qualify for. Financial Aid can work with each individual to find a plan that works for them. Take the steps today to continue an educational path forward at MCC. Visit mccneb.edu to get started, or call 531-MCC-2400.
Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.
Metropolitan Community College is the path forward for those looking to advance their career, start a new one or to finish a college degree.
Path Forward
NOCand K OUreturning T YOUR GEN -EDS E ARLY There are options for everyKnew adult student. With online certificate and degree options, adults looking to make a FIRST T WO Yearn EARS Aan T MC C CAN SAVE Y OU THOUS ANDS career change or update job skills can associate degree or Take your general education requirements at MCC, then transfer career certificate in less time tthan degree, and with o a foura -yebachelor’s ar institution. less debt upon completion. Why are your first two years at MCC a smart move?
• MCC tuition is, on average, less than half the cost of a four-year institution • Financial aid and scholarships are available • Transfer agreements with more than 30 four-year Nebraska colleges • Online classes in ways that work for you
Classes are offered in mornings, afternoons and evenings. Enroll today. Students Spring qucan arter choose from MCC Anytime courses where they can starts Marwork ch 11. when their schedule allows, or MCC LIVE Online complete Visit mccneand b.eduother or call classmates 531-MCC-2400at . a that meets virtually with an instructor scheduled time. There is also a blended option that has students meeting face-to-face half the time and online for the other half. Note: To verify transfer agreements, contact your target four-year institution before enrolling.
Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.
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Discovery Hall brings ‘unparalleled’ opportunities to UNK campus Just ask College of Business and Technology Dean Tim Jares, who can’t stop talking about Discovery Hall and everything it brings to UNK. “This building is exceptional in so many ways,” Jares said while standing inside the state-of-theart facility completed this summer. “You’re engaged from the moment you walk in the door.” Located on UNK’s west campus, Discovery Hall blends modern and industrial design to create a 90,000-square-foot space that’s inviting, interactive and visually stunning. The layout allows students, faculty and visitors to observe lab and classroom activities, and there’s plenty of natural lighting to keep things bright. “You can tell they really tried to spoil the students and staff with some of the things they offer here,” said UNK senior Victoria Alvarado, an interior and product design major from Omaha. Alvarado and a couple friends were hanging out in one of several common areas where
February, 2021 Lopers can gather to study or relax between classes. She called the new science, technology, engineering and math facility a “huge improvement” over Otto C. Olsen, the 65-yearold industrial arts building where her program was previously located. “It’s definitely different than the rest of the buildings on campus,” Alvarado said of Discovery Hall. “I like that it’s more fresh and modern. It just feels good to be in here.” Alvarado’s favorite spot is actually outside the building, where a rooftop garden overlooks the rest of west campus. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Ryan Teten is fond of the open floor plan throughout the three-story structure, which promotes collaboration and innovation among the various departments located there – industrial technology, cyber systems, mathematics and statistics and physics, astronomy and engineering. “Discovery Hall not only provides exciting spaces for our faculty and students to utilize, it embodies the Loper spirit,” he said. This cross-disciplinary approach exposes students to new academic areas and encourages faculty to share instructional and research ideas that advance UNK’s mission. “Students seeking an environment with cutting-edge technology will be taught in the newest building in the state. This enables innumerable face-to-face and remote learning possibilities,” Teten said.
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Discovery Hall offers “unparalleled” opportunities for current and future Lopers, according to the dean. “As technology and science advance at breakneck speeds, Discovery Hall will ensure students from Nebraska and beyond are able to keep pace and be eminently prepared for graduation and the limitless job opportunities with which they will be presented,” he said. Modern classroom and lab spaces inside the building are designed specifically for the hands-on, specialized training needed to fill the high-skill, high-wage STEM positions in demand across the state and country. Industrial distribution students will learn in a branch simulation lab stocked with products, construction management majors can work with materials on site and interior and product
design has its own makerspace and a gallery showcasing student projects. There’s a Redbird flight simulator for aviation instruction and a large, touchscreen video wall purchased for cybersecurity that allows for real-time interaction between people both on and off campus. “Everything about this building aligns perfectly with the experiential learning initiatives we have as a university,” Jares said. In addition to benefiting current students, the College of Business and Technology dean believes Discovery Hall will be a major selling point for future Lopers when they visit campus. “Students don’t come to a university for the facilities alone, but I think this building starts the conversation and allows us to promote the high-quality opportunities we already have in place,” he said.
DISCOVERY HALL Academic programs: Astronomy, aviation systems, business intelligence, computer science, construction management, cybersecurity, engineering, industrial distribution, information networking and telecommunications, information technology, interior and product design, mathematics and statistics, physics. Construction start: May 2018 Opened: August 2020 Size: 90,000 square feet Cost: Part of a $30 million project replacing Otto C. Olsen, which was built in 1955 and has been on the state’s capital construction replacement list for more than 20 years. Funding: The building was paid for by renewal bonds and through state appropriation from LB957, which included the University of Nebraska Facilities Program of 2016. That appropriation directed deferred maintenance funding to facility replacement projects, including the Otto Olsen building.
February, 2021
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Keeping College Affordable Wayne State has long been the most affordable four-year college in the region. Now, thanks to the Nebraska State Colleges Tuition Guarantee, Pell-qualified Nebraska students can attend Wayne State College tuition-free. The program takes effect in Fall 2021 and applies to returning and new undergraduate students. Qualified first-time freshman and transfer students pursuing an undergraduate degree will receive a combination of federal grants, state or private grants, college remissions, or College Foundation scholarships to fill any tuition gap left after the Pell Grant. The State College Tuition Guarantee does not cover additional costs such as room and board, books, and fees. However, the student’s private or community scholarships will not be considered when providing support to cover tuition costs. Learn more at www.wsc.edu/tuition Esports Win Big at Wayne State The Wildcat esports team made a notable debut this school year, with nine of WSC’s 11 teams making the playoffs in November and two teams making it to their championship rounds. Wayne State College was also the recipient of the ECAC’s inaugural Esports Commissioner’s Cup Award for the Fall 2020 season. The award goes to the ECAC Esports
member university whose program achieved the most broad-based success across all nine games in which the ECAC sponsored competition. More than 100 students showed interest in joining the esports program, which selected 46 students (43 males and three females) for the roster in ECAC-sponsored gaming titles. Wayne State is part of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) and currently competes in seven gaming titles: Valorant, League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, Hearthstone, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros. The ECAC’s esports platform is expanding the geographic footprint of the conference nationally. During the summer of 2020, WSC created “The Den,” a $100,000 esports arena with stateof-the-art equipment, located in the lower level of the Kanter Student Center and reserved for esports athletes only. The arena features 12 high-end PCs and all the necessary accessories that the team will use for practice and competition, along with four flat-screen television displays for spectator viewing during competitions. Wayne State Creates Shotgun Sports Team The College is excited to announce the creation of a new Shotgun Sports Team. The club currently boasts 17 members that joined
Wayne State opened the 2020-21 academic year with record enrollment, new programs, and new opportunities for students to get involved outside the classroom. Learn more at www.wsc.edu to hone their competitive skills or pick up a new hobby. Club members will be competing in trap, skeet, and sporting clays events. The WSC Shotgun Sports Team is a part of the Prairie Circuit Conference, which consists of schools from Nebraska, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa, and Kansas. The new team anticipates competing in those states, as well as locally
here in Nebraska against college teams such as Midland, Doane, and Concordia. While this year team members are only practicing due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, beginning in the fall of 2021, they anticipate being able to attend at least five competitions a semester. Their dream goal is to make it to Collegiate Clay Target Championships in San Antonio, Texas, someday.
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February, 2021
Returning to school as an adult Education opens many doors. Sometimes life throws a person a curveball and education gets put on the back burner. Even if school plans have been derailed for several years, one can explore how to return to school as an adult. Adult students are often described as nontraditional students, while traditional students are those who enroll in a college or university or go on to trade school immediately after graduating from high school. Nontraditional students are those who return to get their degrees as adult learners. According to a 2013 National Study of Prospective Adult Students by the higher education marketing group STAMATS, students over the age of 25 are the fastest-growing segment in higher education. For those people resolving to return to school this year, these tips can help them confront any uncertainty they may have about cracking the books after a long layoff. • Recognize you’re never too old. If you have the time and the means to attend school, you can likely find a program that can benefit you regardless of how old you may be. • Remember that education can help you get out of a rut. No matter your age or experience, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Going back to school can help a person get out of
that rut and on a path to something new. A return to school can help professionals earn more money, update their skills or learn a new trade. • Ask for the support of friends and family. Students’ success often depends on a strong support network. Be sure to discuss plans to return to school with a spouse, family members or others who can lend a helping hand. Schooling will take time out of a schedule and certain responsibilities you handled may have to be taken on by family members. • Explore accessibility. Now more than ever schools are adapting to the changing times by offering an abundance of classes online. Remote learning became a necessity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it may be an increasingly popular method of conducting classes in the future. For adult learners who worry about juggling time inside of the actual classroom with work and home responsibilities, virtual programs can be the perfect fit. Goals for the new year may include returning to school. Whether a person is completing a diploma program, finishing a degree or learning new skills, there’s no wrong time to continue your education.
This is where my passion became my major. With more than 80 areas of study, including online and hands-on courses, discovering your career is easy at Iowa Western.
BeYouAtIW.com / 712.325.3277
Zoe, Student
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February, 2021
INVESTING IN YOUR SUCCESS We know that high school GPA is a strong predictor of student success at Peru State College. Students that qualify will be guaranteed a renewable tuition award in their official admissions letter by completing an application for admission, including submission of an official high school transcript.
INVEST IN SUCCESS AWARDS CHANCELLORS
PRESIDENTS
DEANS
T.J. MAJORS
$10,000 ($2,500/yr)
$9,000 ($2,250/yr)
$8,000 ($2,000/yr)
$7,000 ($1,750/yr)
GPA of 3.85 out of 4.0
GPA of 3.50 out of 4.0
GPA of 3.20 out of 4.0
GPA of 2.70 out of 4.0
WITH A NEBRASKA CAREER SCHOLARSHIP
WITH A NEBRASKA CAREER SCHOLARSHIP
WITH A NEBRASKA CAREER SCHOLARSHIP
WITH A NEBRASKA CAREER SCHOLARSHIP
ADDS $13,000 ($3250/yr)
ADDS $12,000 ($3,000/yr)
ADDS $10,000 ($2,500/yr)
ADDS $7000 ($1,750/yr)
NEBRASKA CAREER SCHOLARSHIPS
The State of Nebraska is calling all future Business, Education, Criminal Justice and Computer majors! The Nebraska Career Scholarships have limited availability, so don’t miss the first award deadline, December 1.
AWARD REQUIREMENTS:
◆ Majoring in Business, Education, Criminal Justice or Computer Management Information Systems. ◆ Score of 18 or above on the ACT. ◆ Completed free Peru State College admission application and personal statement.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SCHOLARSHIPS AT:
WWW.PERU.EDU/ADMISSIONS/COST-AID Nebraska’s First College • Established in 1867 • Peru, Nebraska • 1-800-742-4412 | Member Institution of the Nebraska State College System Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915 | Accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)