Done Different, Done Right: How SCC Is Redefining the Community College
When Dr. Paul Illich arrived at Southeast Community College as the new president in 2014, he didn't come to maintain the status quo. He came to change it. More than a decade later, the transformation is hard to miss with new facilities, enrollment growth, and in the way SCC sees its role in southeast Nebraska.
"We’ve been transforming all aspects of the College. We don't think of ourselves as a commuter college," Illich said. "Commuting is how you might choose to arrive here. But when you arrive, you arrive at a destination."
That shift in thinking has driven everything from the addition of more than 30 new programs in recent years to upgrading the College’s facilities with 11 new buildings and plans to add four more in the near future. At the heart of that growth is a real and pressing need as southeast Nebraska faces a significant skilled workforce gap, and SCC has made closing it a priority. The college works hand-in-hand with local employers through workforce leadership teams that help ensure what students learn in the classroom lines up with what businesses actually need on the job.
Illich is also quick to point out that doing community college differently means making open access more than just a slogan. It is about expanding pathways, removing barriers, and making SCC the kind of place where high school graduates, career changers, or lifelong learners can find a clear and supported path forward.
As Community College Month kicks off this April, Illich wants one message to land above all others: SCC is here for everyone. With three campuses and six learning centers across southeast Nebraska, the college is within reach and ready to be the smartest first step as well as the strongest next step for students and communities alike.
"It's easy to say you're open access," he explains. "What's much more difficult is turning that into a reality. We’re not looking to be only a destination for our students. We also want to be a destination for our communities. I want the community to know that we're here for them and they are part of us."
Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu