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

Academic Enrichment, to provide foundations-level courses in reading, writing, and math. Last
year, 1161 students enrolled in 87 sections of developmental-level sections (RR 18).
Support for the College Service Area
In 1974, the Nebraska Legislature authorized the establishment of a statewide independent system
of locally-governed and locally-supported community college areas with the major educational
emphasis on occupational education. The policies and guidelines for the operations of the
Western Community College Area describe the following geographical boundaries:
Western Nebraska Community College will be the educational institution established
by the Board of Governors to operate within the twelve and one-half counties and five
voting districts. The WNCC Area includes counties of Sioux, Dawes, Sheridan, Box
Butte, Scotts Bluff, Banner, Kimball, Morrill, Cheyenne, Garden, Deuel, Grant, and
voting districts in Merriman, Russell, King, Mother Lake, Cody, Barley, Gillespie,
Lackey, and Calf Creek of Cherry County.
In order to serve this large area, two primarily vehicles are used: outreach efforts and distance
education, discussed below
Outreach Education/Corporate Academies
Since 2000, there has been a significant increase in Outreach Education efforts to better serve
students beyond the three campuses. The increased productivity and emphasis on outreach
education prompted the creation in the summer of 2007 of a new administrative position, the Vice
President of Outreach Education.
The WNCC Outreach Education Summary of Activity 2006-2008 presented to the WCCA Board of
Governors documents recent efforts to provide accessibility to traditionally underserved
populations. The report demonstrates greater utilization of Community Coordinators (who serve as
local contacts for the College within area communities) for 2007-2008 than was the case for any
previous year. The Coordinators serve smaller communities by identifying course interests and
then making sure the courses are offered in the community (RR 19).
The employees of various agencies, medical facilities, and corporations have historically been
underserved by higher education due to conflict with work schedules. The creation of corporate
academies has come about to address this issue. The report also demonstrates significant
expansion of the Regional West Corporate Academy and the Panhandle Partnership for Health
and Human Services (PPHHS) Academy.
The Regional West Academy recently offered 129 courses to 1,817 students, and the PPHHS
Academy offered 169 courses to 1,985 students. Both provide offerings in a variety of modalities
and locations throughout the service area. The first Corporate Academy, the Cabela’s Academy,
provided 869 courses to over 27,000 students for the 2007-2008 academic year. While these
headcounts are duplicated, it is clear that Corporate Academies and Community Coordinators offer
significant educational opportunities throughout the service area and beyond.
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Western Nebraska Community College