Heineman Approves Nebraska State College System Appropriation

 

Lincoln – Governor Dave Heineman approved the appropriation for the Nebraska State College System today. The appropriation will go a long way toward covering the core needs for Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges. These include items such as health insurance and collective bargaining agreements for personnel.

 

Chancellor Stan Carpenter said, “We appreciate the Governor’s support of higher education generally and the NSCS specifically. We look forward to working with the Governor as we continue to provide educational opportunities for the citizens of Nebraska. We also appreciate the Legislature for recognizing the importance of what we do for the state of Nebraska. Thanks specifically to the Appropriations Committee members and Chair Lavon Heidemann for listening to our needs.”

 

More than 8,300 students took courses at Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges in fall 2006. This reflected a five percent increase over the previous fall.

 

“It is an exciting time to be a part of the Nebraska State College System. We are providing outstanding teaching and learning opportunities; our campus facilities are undergoing much-needed improvements; and we are partnering even more with regional businesses and our colleagues in K-12 and higher education. This is reflected in our growing enrollments,” Carpenter said.

 

In the 2005-07 biennium, the NSCS was able to keep tuition increases at a modest level of 2.9 percent in 2004-05 and 4.9 percent in 2005-06. Much needed renovations were also started at each of the colleges.

 

“For all these reasons, more students are coming to our institutions. We are colleges of opportunity that anchor rural Nebraska. We continue to educate 70 percent of those students who are the first in their family to attend college. Our excellent support services greatly enhance their chances for success. Also, seventy-five percent of our students remain in Nebraska after graduation,” Carpenter added.

 

The 2007-08 tuition rate will be approved in June by the NSCS Board of Trustees.

 

The Nebraska State College System serves close to 8,000 students from Nebraska and surrounding states through three geographically diverse institutions: Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges. Combined, the three colleges offer more than 200 degree, certificate, and pre-professional programs that are accessible on the three campuses, via the Internet, and in several satellite locations throughout the state. With more than 250 credentialed faculty members and 50,000 successful graduates, the NSCS provides significant human and intellectual capital that contributes to the current and future economic strength of the State of Nebraska.