We currently serve a 15 county area.
The College has been operating in its current structure since
July 1, 1973, when a statewide community college system was
implemented by the Legislature. However, the campus in Milford
existed long before 1973. The first postsecondary technical
institution, exclusively offering two-year postsecondary degrees in
vocational/technical programs, was established by the Nebraska
Unicameral in 1941 at Milford. Operated by the Nebraska Department
of Education, the school was originally established to meet the
occupational education needs of the entire state. In 1971, the
Legislature passed a bill which combined junior colleges (Fairbury,
established in 1941, in SCC's area), state vocational/technical
colleges, and the area technical schools into one system of
two-year institutions. The consolidation originally established
eight technical community college areas. The number was reduced to
six when Lincoln merged with Southeast in 1973. As conceived in
1971, Nebraska community college areas were to be governed locally
by elected boards. Southeast derives its operating revenue from
three major sources: local property taxes, state aid (a combination
of sales and income tax funds apportioned by the Legislature), and
tuition.