Welcome to Curtis, NCTA Aggies!

August 13, 2018                                                                                     

By NCTA Dean Ron Rosati, Ph.D.

This week I take great honor in welcoming our campus community to a new academic year at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

What an exciting time for everyone – from students and their families, to our dedicated staff, administrators, faculty and, most certainly, for the entire community of Curtis and Frontier County.

Welcome, everyone, to the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture!

All of us look forward to meeting the incoming freshmen and transfer students who will make their home in Curtis for the next year or two.

I am confident these new Aggies will enjoy their college atmosphere, hometown hospitality of our small, rural community, and the start of vocations in agriculture and veterinary technology.

When NCTA classes begin on Monday, we anticipate the fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth and greater numbers than we’ve seen on campus since 2011.

Watch for the final tally in early September of students enrolled here at NCTA and also throughout the University of Nebraska system at the four other campuses.

New Student Orientation begins Friday as students move their belongings into the residence halls on campus, and work through a checklist of getting a successful start at college. 

Throughout the weekend students can become acclimated to Curtis and campus with activities such as 6 a.m. running club, a community and campus scavenger hunt, tips from resource folks, picnics and residence hall social times, and much more.  See details at https://go.unl.edu/7yss

Returning students will be coming into Curtis over the weekend, too, in time for Monday morning classes.

The Curtis community sponsors a community picnic at the Student Union (also known as “The Barn”) on Sunday at 5 p.m., to be followed by an open Talent Showcase. Thank you to the community for being so welcoming to our students for this great evening of food, fun and friendships.

News of graduate success

It came as no surprise to learn recently that NCTA has repeated its rank as the top two-year institution in Nebraska for educating successful graduates with earning power in the workforce.

Using federal government data of salaries earned by NCTA alumni 10 years after graduation, third-party evaluator, Zippia.com, ranked NCTA at the top of the list among two-year institutions in the Cornhusker State (or, in our case, the Aggie State).

See the report and map at https://bit.ly/2npOhNn, a shortened link to the Zippia.com web site.

In the Zippia study authored by Heidi Cope, she found NCTA graduates scored well in their professions.

“Using the most recent College Scorecard data, we looked at the junior (two-year) colleges in each state with the highest average earners 10 years after entry,” Cope wrote.

The average annual salary for NCTA graduates is $43,700, with average annual cost of their education at $11,068.

Whether active agricultural producers, agronomists, equine managers, agribusiness leaders, veterinary technicians, educators, or in technical trades such as agricultural welders or irrigation technicians, we know our NCTA graduates will have successful careers.

Our proven track record as a high quality, affordable, well-rounded institution is nationally known. I appreciate the recognition of student achievement, but also for the dedication of our outstanding faculty and staff.

It’s not too late to inquire about taking a class or entire program this fall at NCTA, including a dual credit opportunity while in high school.

Let me know if I can provide you more details at ncta.unl.edu or 1-800-3CURTIS, and welcome you to campus too.  Go Aggies!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

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

Aug. 19 – Curtis Community picnic, NCTA Student Union

Aug. 20 – Fall Semester begins

Aug. 20 – NCTA Shotgun Sports Team meeting, 5:30 Curtis Gun Club

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.