WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

Cosmetology
The Cosmetology program at Sidney is the only one offered at a public institution in Nebraska.
The program is designed for delivery across 14 consecutive months, with August and January start
dates. Students can earn a Certificate by completing 60 credit hours, a diploma with 63, and an
AAS or AOS degree by successfully completing 72-74 credit hours (requiring 2,100 contact hours).
Students typically obtain the Certificate which is needed to sit for state licensure. Some students
start taking general education classes their second semester so they can acquire an AOS degree.
Graduates often obtain employment as a stylist, colorist, salon owner, product representative, or a
manufacturer’s representative. The following chart shows the enrollments in the Cosmetology:
Table 7-47 Cosmetology Student Enrollments 2005-2009
YEAR 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
AAS 16 4 11 11 7
AOS 3 5 3 4 6
Diploma 14 9 7 9 7
Certificate 2 1 2 8
The program utilizes two classrooms and a lab area that serves up to 31 students. These facilities
include a dispensary, a reception area, and computers used for scheduling, inventory, and photo
imaging. Students are given the opportunity to attend at least two trade shows per year, where
they can earn up to 16 hours of continuing education in the latest products and techniques.
Evidence of the program’s effectiveness can be seen by the fact that the State of Nebraska has
been offering testing via computers for the past seven years. To date, WNCC students have had
100% pass rates. In 30 years, only 2 students have not taken the licensure exams.
Aviation Maintenance
The Aviation Maintenance facility consists of 18,652 feet of rented shop and hanger space located
at the Sidney Airport, about 4 miles south of the main campus building. The facility has two Smart
Classrooms and a computer lab equipped with software from the Federal Aviation Administration,
Check Ride, and Aircraft Technical Publishers. A workroom with equipment and tools is adjacent
to the classrooms, and the storage hangar area for the demonstrator engines and planes are part
of the same large structure.
In the only Aviation Maintenance emphasis area offered in Nebraska, students must complete
several instructional components in broad topic areas such as 400 contact hours in general
aviation, 750 in airframe, and 750 in power plant maintenance to obtain a certificate (for a total of
72 credit hours). An additional 6 hours of general studies earns a student a diploma, and 15 to 17
hours of general education credit qualifies the student for an AOS degree in Aviation Maintenance.
Options for the summer include an internship with one of several aviation companies or working on
general education classes required for the diploma or AOS degree. Students completing WNCC’s
course of study meet eligibility requirements to test for the Mechanics Certificate issued by the FAA
under FAR part 65 subpart D. Enrollment is normally split 50/50 between students seeking only
certification and those pursuing a degree.
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Western Nebraska Community College