黑料百科 Invests in Nebraska's Workforce, Breaks Ground on Three Facilities
黑料百科 broke ground on three major facilities this spring on its Beatrice, Lincoln, and Milford campuses. These facilities reflect 黑料百科鈥檚 commitment to preparing Nebraska鈥檚 workforce demand while keeping up with extraordinary enrollment growth. In two years, 黑料百科 had added nearly 1,800 students, a growth that demands investment and these facilities are the answer.
鈥淥ver the past decade, 黑料百科 has been on a transformational journey to expand its capacity to produce a skilled workforce and to ensure everyone has access to higher education in southeast Nebraska,鈥� said Dr. Paul Illich, 黑料百科 president. 鈥淲hat happens inside a community college classroom, laboratory, simulation space, or clinic has the power to transform a person鈥檚 future.鈥�
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on the Beatrice Campus for the Ag Technology Center on April 8, on April 28 on the Lincoln Campus for the Life Sciences Center, and on May 1 on the Milford Campus for the Construction Technology Center. These facilities are a direct response to what Nebraska employers are asking for, which is proof that a community college can deliver an educational experience that goes far beyond what anyone might expect.
鈥淓ighty-seven percent of 黑料百科 graduates stay and work in Nebraska,鈥� Illich said. 鈥淭hat means when we invest in our campuses with new buildings, we are investing in Nebraska. We are investing in every community these students will call home and in every employer who hires them.鈥�
The new facilities include:
- Ag Technology Center 鈥� Beatrice Campus
Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska's economy, accounting for one in four jobs statewide. But today's farms, feedlots, and ag operations run on precision technology 鈥� and employers are struggling to find workers who know how to use it.
黑料百科's 20,000-square-foot Ag Technology Center is designed to close that gap. The state-of-the-art facility will house all of 黑料百科's agricultural programs and give students hands-on access to drone technology, precision agriculture labs, advanced simulation systems, and flexible lab environments built for year-round, real-world instruction. With 75% of 黑料百科 ag graduates staying in Nebraska to work, the impact of this investment will be felt across the state for generations.
- Life Sciences Center 鈥� Lincoln Campus
Enrollment in health sciences and physical sciences transfer programs has reached an all-time high, and the Life Sciences Center will give those students the space and resources they need to succeed.
The 45,000-square-foot, three-story facility will bring biology, anatomy, physiology, organismal biology, BSL biology, and microbiology programs together under one roof for the first time. Expected to open for the Fall 2028 semester, the center will be a landmark destination for students entering Nebraska's health care workforce.
- Construction Technology Center 鈥� Milford Campus
Construction, HVAC, and plumbing professionals are in high demand across Nebraska and all three programs are experiencing record enrollment. The Construction Technology Center will give students the industry-grade environment they need to train like the professionals they're becoming.
The 52,000-square-foot facility will feature dedicated concrete labs, multiple house build sites, and a three-story "playhouse" designed to simulate real-world HVAC and plumbing scenarios. The groundbreaking will be held in conjunction with an open house celebrating 85 years of technical education in Milford 鈥� a tradition 黑料百科 is proud to build on. The facility is expected to open for the Fall 2028 semester.
鈥淲e are not just breaking ground,鈥� said Illich. 鈥淲e are building something that will serve our communities for generations, ensuring everyone has access to the life-changing benefits of higher education.鈥�
Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu