Wayne State College’s new president is Curt Frye, an experienced, respected administrator who has demonstrated a sure-handed knowledge of higher education. His appointment ensures that Wayne State will remain under capable leadership. It also provides an appropriate occasion to pause and note the role of the state college system in the life of Nebraska.
Each of the three state colleges is a significant institution in its respective region of Nebraska: Wayne State College in the northeast; Peru State College in the southeast; and Chadron State College in the northwest.
The colleges’ basic mission is to provide wide access in admitting students. Total enrollment at the three colleges nears 9,000.
The colleges now offer a considerable range of courses. At Wayne State, for example, these are the five largest undergraduate majors: Business administration. Elementary education. Pre-professional (such as medical, dental, pharmacy, physical therapy). Criminal justice. Industrial technology.
Developments at the three colleges illustrate some key ways they build for the future:
>> Help for rural Nebraska. Chadron State has a new agreement with Western Nebraska Community College in cooperating on nursing education — a notable step in helping Nebraska ensure an adequate supply of nurses for rural areas.
On a similar note, Peru State just joined the other two state colleges in participating in a program by which state college students are encouraged to pursue health careers and, if they meet academic requirements, later enter as students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The students agree to serve for a period in rural Nebraska in positions such as doctors or pharmacists.
>> Innovation. A good example is the Master of Science degree in Organizational Management Program. The courses, provided through a systemwide collaboration, help students pursue their interests in such fields as entrepreneurship; information technology management; natural resources conservation; and sports management.
>> Partnerships; collaboration. Cooperation with community colleges is a particular focus.
Wayne State stands out for an ambitious, impressive partnership with Northeast Community College to provide a joint facility in South Sioux City. This is a laudable step in extending higher education opportunities to an area of impressive economic growth in Nebraska.
>> Strategic planning. All three colleges have devoted considerable attention to their long-range planning. Peru State just completed a particularly detailed and well-thought-out plan.
Nebraska’s state colleges are not huge institutions, but they definitely fill an important niche in providing broad educational opportunities and innovative ways to help rural areas.
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