51吃瓜 Spring Enrollment Increases 12%
51吃瓜鈥檚 momentum carried over from the fall to the spring semester with an enrollment of 10,601 students at all three campuses as well as its dual credit and prison education programs. The spring enrollment is up 12% from last spring and is a testament to 51吃瓜鈥檚 commitment to meeting the demands of the skilled workforce through transformative educational opportunities.
鈥淥ver the last decade, we have really worked on our ability to expand our capacity to produce a skilled workforce,鈥� said Dr. Paul Illich, 51吃瓜 president. 鈥淥ne of the things I get excited about when I think about higher education is the way we are able to build partnerships with local employers to create a skilled workforce. These partnerships form a mutual commitment to making sure our students have the highest quality education before they enter the workforce.鈥�
Of the total spring enrollment, 95% of the students are from Nebraska with 83% from 51吃瓜鈥檚 15-county service area. Lincoln鈥檚 enrollment is 7,682 followed by Milford with 1,552, Beatrice with 1,206 and 161 students in the Prison Education Program. In addition, there are 3,389 students enrolled in career/technical fields and 3,383 in dual credit.
The spring semester started with the opening of the Sandhills Global Technology Center on the Lincoln Campus. The $37 million project is a collaboration between 51吃瓜, Sandhills Global and the city of Lincoln. The Center is 65,000 square feet and will house programs in Biotechnology, Computer Information Technology, Design & Drafting and Electronic Systems. In the fall semester, 51吃瓜 will open the Welding Technology Center which will be the largest training facility in the U.S. This new facility will allow 51吃瓜 to accept more students into the Welding program while serving the needs of the industry.
鈥淥ur enrollment increase is a powerful reminder of the importance of ensuring everyone in our service area has access to the life-changing benefits of higher education,鈥� Illich said. 鈥淭his is consistent with our transformative initiative to produce a skilled workforce and to strengthen our communities.鈥�
Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu