Horticulture Certificate Program Offered for Working Adults

Curtis, NE, May 4, 2007: - In response to the exponential growth in environmental agriculture, NCTA is launching a new horticulture certificate program in the fall of 2007 at various locations along I-80 between Ogallala and Kearney.

Jay Turnbull and Alan Zuk, Horticulture Instructors at NCTA, are excited about the possibilities this program provides to an untapped student base.  Turnbull states, "Horticulture is one of the fastest growing segments in agriculture.  This diverse industry covers a wide variety of areas, from landscape design and retail nursery management to floral design and golf course turf management and is responsible for almost 2 million jobs." 

The idea for the program was modeled after a similar program launched by Dr. Weldon Sleight, current dean of NCTA, on the Wasatch Range in Utah.  The curriculum will cover landscape design, horticulture science, and grounds maintenance.  According to Zuk, "We will offer the same horticulture classes that are taught on the NCTA campus." 

In order to gauge interest, Turnbull decided to conduct a landscape design class this spring.  "Through some basic word-of-mouth, I was able to get nine students enrolled," Turnbull points out.  "It's also one of the first times we've been able to utilize the West Central Research and Extension Center in North Platte, which allows us to take a class to where the students are." 

NCTA is currently working on the accreditation to offer a horticulture degree for working adults as well.

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, in cooperation with its sister institution, the West Central Research and Extension Center, have a long tradition of serving the Nebraska agriculture industry.  NCTA is dedicated to providing its students with a dynamic education in agriculture and an understanding of important economic factors that are important to rural Nebraska's future.

For more information about the Horticulture Certificate Program for working adults, please contact Alan Zuk, Horticulture Department Chairperson, at azuk2@unl.edu or NCTA at 1-800-3CURTIS.