Students are the NCTA mission

Students are the NCTA mission

Veterinary technicians are well prepared for careers in animal care. They are tested on more than 130 skills during the 2-year program for their associate of applied science degree. (Craig Chandler / NCTA News)
Veterinary technicians are well prepared for careers in animal care. They are tested on more than 130 skills during the 2-year program for their associate of applied science degree. (Craig Chandler / NCTA News)

July 16, 2018

By NCTA Dean Ron Rosati

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is making a difference in people’s lives by providing programs for food security and workforce education.

We appreciate our educational role and responsibility in rural development. And, we are grateful to those within the University of Nebraska system who assist us in carrying out our mission.

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

 

Our outreach and recruiting initiatives at NCTA are guided by an outstanding Student Services team in admissions, recruiting, financial aid, academic advising, administration and career services. Leading our recruitment efforts are two new employees to the NCTA team, Emily Griffiths and Juliana Krotz.

As the only two-year institution within the University of Nebraska system, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture is unique. Currently, the majority of our NCTA students are from Nebraska and surrounding states.

After graduation, about 90 percent of our students stay to live and work in Nebraska.

Employers have strong demand for NCTA graduates – in all academic areas:  agribusiness, agricultural education, agronomy, agricultural mechanics, animal science, equine management, veterinary technology and animal health, and more recently welding and irrigation technology.

Additionally, in response to Nebraska’s growing industries in dairy and poultry production, NCTA now offers programs in dairy and poultry through partnerships with four-year institutions at South Dakota State University and Mississippi State University.

We also are educating associate degree graduates who choose to transfer to our partner programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Most earn bachelor’s degrees and some continue on to graduate school. We now have NCTA graduates in the process of completing Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees in our partnership program with Iowa State University.

An increasing number of NCTA graduates are involved in careers as high school agriculture teachers. This year, Nebraska high schools have hired 33 agriculture education instructors. Some hires are due to retirements in their systems, but others have launched new Ag Ed and FFA programs. NCTA students start their 2-year agricultural education courses at NCTA and complete their next 2 years at UNL. Several are currently employed at one of Nebraska’s high school programs. More Aggie alumni will be doing their student teaching next spring under the guidance of their UNL faculty.

We are proud of the accomplishments of these students, and of all our graduates who go into agribusiness, veterinary technology, education, or production agriculture on farms and ranches throughout the state and elsewhere.

This fall we are beginning the second year of a one-tuition cost per credit hour for all students, regardless of residency status.  The rate will be $131.50 per credit. NCTA is a low-cost college.  In 2017, 73 percent of our students received generous grant and scholarship financial aid awards that exceeded the cost of tuition. That financial aid certainly also helps with covering room, board, and textbooks.

Global programs

The college is approved by the federal government to enroll students from around the globe.  NCTA corresponds with prospective students worldwide who may be seeking technical education in agricultural production skills.

One example of our growing international presence may be found in our partnership with the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) which coordinates a bachelor’s degree program entitled CUSP – CASNR Undergraduate Scholars Program with students from Rwanda. In May, 46 UNL CUSP students were immersed in the Curtis community for three weeks of in-depth agricultural coursework at NCTA.

We hope that this initiative is one of many with UNL CUSP.  We are grateful to the residents of Curtis and surrounding areas for enhancing this cultural experience for students with such outstanding hospitality.

COMING EVENTS:

Aug. 3 – Summer Session ends

Aug. 8 – Agronomy Youth Field Day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., NCTA

Aug. 17-19 – New Student Orientation, Welcome Weekend

Aug. 20 – Fall Semester begins

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