Fall classes on track at NCTA

April 14, 2020

NCTA Dean’s Message

By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.

Now in our third week of remote delivery for spring classes at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture College in Curtis, we continue to receive student applications for the fall semester.

This is a positive sign that graduating high school seniors are on pace in making plans for their college careers in agriculture and animal health.

Many students find an associate of science program appealing, particularly for equipping themselves with a high-demand job in a rural workforce. We also have more interest in students enrolling in our transfer programs, as they would like to start college on a smaller campus where their instructors know them.

Our small campus offers the unique opportunity for students to engage in many of the same opportunities and student activities that they would find on a larger university campus.

The NCTA admissions and enrollment staff members are working off-site during the temporary coronavirus closure but they are readily accessible.

Gaylene Stinman, enrollment associate, is handling dozens of telephone calls and email communications with prospective students and transfer students. She can be reached at gstinman2@unl.edu or leave a message at 308-367-5267.

Like our counterparts at other University of Nebraska campuses, NCTA Student Services team efforts continue in the areas of enrollment, recruiting and financial aid.

We are taking every measure possible to stay connected with our current students, and with high school seniors who are planning to attend NCTA this fall.

The process to become an NCTA student is outlined at our web site, ncta.unl.edu: 

• Prospective first-time or transfer students submit an application online and can find all of the details in six steps at https://ncta.unl.edu/apply-now
• Once a student receives their acceptance letter, they make decisions on housing, financial aid and scholarships, academic programs and more.
• The student (and a parent, guardian or guest) is encouraged to come to campus and attend New Student Enrollment on June 9 or later on July 9. If unable to attend, students should contact Gaylene Stinman or Vicky Luke to discuss advising and class registration.

 Fall classes

Registration for fall classes opened on April 10. Current students have been communicating with their academic advisors. Newly-enrolled and transfer students also are registering for classes.

Vicky Luke, NCTA registration and curriculum specialist, handles each registration. As we work remotely, the best contact for Vicky is through e-mail at vluke1@unl.edu.

Staying Connected

Aggie students are working on their coursework remotely for another two weeks in order to complete the spring semester. It concludes with final projects or online exams due in early May.

Our faculty have been quite flexible, as have the students, in providing unique means of submitting assignments. When one student’s WiFi connectivity was lacking, he completed a worksheet assignment, took a photo on his cell phone and texted it to his instructor.

While that isn’t the preferred method for turning in an assignment, it worked in a pinch -- one benefit of a smaller campus where your instructors know you!

I greatly appreciate the extra effort put forth by everyone – and all of the behind-the-scenes work that is being done to ensure success for each Aggie student.

As we announced last week, graduation will be online on the regularly-scheduled date of May 7. See details about graduation and updates regarding COVID-19 at ncta.unl.edu.

 We will begin face-to-face summer classes on June 15 with the session ending on August 7. These are courses primarily for first-year students in the Veterinary Technology program to gain hands-on experience in our labs and on our farm.  Also, NCTA students will be on their academic internships this summer.

Until next week, stay well and keep in touch with our Student Services team and faculty. All of us are eager to assist as we continue our mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology and related industries.

Go Aggies!

NCTA is devoted to a statewide mission of preparing students for successful careers in agriculture, veterinary technology, and related industries. The college provides open access to innovative technical education resulting in associate degrees, certificates, and other credentials.