What is NCTA at Curtis?
Feb. 18, 2020
NCTA Dean’s Message
By Interim Dean Kelly Bruns, Ph.D.
Unique. Agricultural. Friendly. Rural. One-rate Tuition.
Open-Enrollment. Community Focused. High Quality. Hands On. Affordable.
These and many other descriptors were heard last week on the campus of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture as we hosted visitors from a regional review team with the Higher Learning Commission.
Alumni, business and community partners greeted the four educator-administrators at a breakfast – and shared the merits of NCTA.
The reviewers, all from two-year colleges in our HLC region, came to our small community of Curtis for a site visit, part of a re-authorizing process for our HLC accreditation.
During the many conversations in which they engaged for two days, the review team heard from NCTA faculty, staff, students, alumni, and educational stakeholders.
The process only occurs every four years, so as one can imagine, the opportunity to share our campus, programs, goals, budgets, academic outcomes, and student stories is quite comprehensive.
Who are the Aggies?
The University of Nebraska institution located at Curtis, in southwest Nebraska, focuses on each individual Aggie student for workforce development.
Careers might range from farming and ranching, to horse training, banking, crops consulting, assisting veterinarians in animal care, welding, irrigation technology, or animal health management.
NCTA features a 580-acre farm, small class sizes, courses taught by professional, “real-life” experienced staff, and many campus life programs and student clubs. Students like the small-town atmosphere of Curtis, a rural, welcoming community.
In 2017, NCTA was ranked by Forbes No. 28 among the nation’s Top 30 Two-Year Trade Schools.
The next year, in 2018, NCTA climbed to No. 16 of 25, and was one of few agriculturally-focused colleges in the elite ranking. See the Forbes article at https://bit.ly/2OEUMHG.
Academic programs
Four academic divisions are: Agribusiness Management, Agronomy and Ag Mechanics, Animal Science and Ag Education, and Veterinary Technology. An increasing number of Aggie students are adding a second major or certificate program to their associate of science (A.S.) or associate of applied science (A.A.S) with a third year of studies.
All students in AAS programs have an 8-week internship during the summer, or springtime for veterinary technicians. These are for 3, 4, or 6 hours of credit, depending on the academic area.
NCTA offers a same-rate of tuition to Nebraska residents and non-residents, alike, at $135.50 per credit hour. Dual credit tuition for high school students is $67.50.
Come to campus!
We kicked off the Chuck Schroeder art show on Monday night as Chuck is our “artist in residence” for three days. His exhibit, “Elders: Character Over Time” is open to the public in the Ed Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday through March 2.
Please stop by and see this great art, or find more on his website at www.SchroederFineArt.com.
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.
Upcoming events
Feb. 17-23: NCTA Booth at Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic, Kearney
Feb. 17 –March 2 - Chuck Schroeder “Elders: Character Over Time”, Ed Center Lobby
Feb. 19-20 – 50th annual NE Poultry Industries Conference, Columbus
Feb. 20-21 – 35th annual Women in Agriculture Conference, Kearney
Feb. 22-23 – NCTA Stock Dog Trials, LTC Indoor Arena, 8 a.m. daily
Feb. 28-29 – Sherman Tegtmeier Horsemanship and Cutting Clinic, Arena
March 2 – NCTA Discovery Day tours and program, 8:30 a.m., Ed Center
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