NCTA experiences first-ever second semester growth

CURTIS -- The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture experienced its first-ever enrollment increase between the fall and spring semesters, multiplying the student population by 7 percent, according to officials.

While normal enrollment increases are experienced in the fall semester, new academic and improved retention programs have yielded additional students for the spring semester. Admissions Director Larry Cooper noted that application numbers for the fall of 2009 are up from last year as well.

These increases can be largely attributed to the hard work that college staff and faculty have put into multiple outreach programs along with maintaining the current student population, he said.

Concurrent enrollment, which allows high school students to simultaneously receive high school and college credits from NCTA, has been one major factor in the enrollment increase, bringing in more than 70 students this semester alone. Several faculty members have put in hours of work creating courses for these students utilizing voiceover technology along with power point slides.

The college instructors then work with high school teachers throughout the semester enabling students to receive ample instruction for each course.

NCTA's work with the Worldwide Farmers Exchange can also be credited with the increase in enrollment. Students from around the world are able to come to NCTA and study for a month on-campus, and if they desire, continue that study while they complete their exchange at various host families throughout the United States.

This academic year alone, NCTA has welcomed students from countries around the globe, including Brazil, the Philippines, Togo and Cameroon.

The online offerings that the college has also add to the enrollment numbers. With multiple online courses being offered by the veterinary technology division, along with an increasing number of general courses, NCTA is keeping pace with the changing style of education in the 21st century. Part-time students from the local community can also be attributed with boosting the enrollment numbers at NCTA.

Recruiters Erik Schwager and Erin Robbins have attended 100 college fairs this fall, along with visiting all the high schools in the state of Nebraska and numerous high schools in neighboring states. While the recruiters have been working away from home, Assistant Admissions Coordinator Kevin Martin has been working on campus, focusing on retention and academic progress with current students at NCTA. His efforts show a 13 percent increase in retention compared to last year, a major accomplishment.

Martin works with students to make sure they graduate -- though stated simply, this task can be difficult. "Students are on their own for the first time. Sometimes they need a little help with accountability and responsibility," Martin notes.

Multiple campus-wide efforts are being installed to continue the increase in student population at NCTA. With the recent feat of raising $1 million for a new education center, the college is proud to also announce that new dorms and a renovated activity center also will soon be found on campus. Admissions Director Cooper comments, "New programs, new facilities, and a new entrepreneurial culture at NCTA have made recruiting a success. We have a strong agricultural foundation here at NCTA, and we have implemented new programs that ensure success and knowledge in our graduates."

In order to help increase this knowledge, NCTA faculty and staff are working on a new project: Adopt-a-High School. This program puts schools across the state in direct contact with faculty at NCTA. People at NCTA know that a wealth of knowledge is available on campus. Their hard work to show this to others is finally paying off.

For more information concerning any of the programs mentioned in this article, contact Larry Cooper at 1.800.3CURTIS.