Students in Southeast
Community College’s 15-county service area will soon benefit from a
half-million-dollar grant to help rural students better connect with learning
resources through technology.
The United States Department
of Agriculture Rural Development grant will benefit an estimated 305,000 rural
Nebraskans through distance learning. Jill Sand, SCC’s dean of health sciences,
said this will make access to healthcare education easier than ever before in southeast
Nebraska.
“This grant makes a path to
possible for students who otherwise have not considered a career in healthcare
as an option in their community,” Sand said. “We are passionate about providing
our rural and urban communities with compassionate, innovative and qualified
workers in a time where healthcare is experiencing workforce shortages.”
The USDA is investing $42.5
million in 133 distance learning and telemedicine projects in 37 states and
U.S. territories. These investments will benefit 5.4 million rural residents.
Most state and local entities were eligible to apply.
“The USDA grant
funds will support the development of a multi-site interdisciplinary center
connecting all SCC locations,” Sand added. “Health Sciences students will
connect with faculty and classmates through interactive technology that allows
for audiovisual collaboration in learning labs, high-fidelity simulation and
interdisciplinary experiences.”
SCC will begin
using the grant money in early 2020. The 15-county service area is comprised of
Cass, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee,
Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, and York counties. For a full
list of the grants, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/USDARD_DLT_CHART112019.pdf