“Northeast Community College is moving ahead on multiple fronts and we are positioned to keep the momentum moving forward,” he said.
During his State of the College address, Chipps provided status reports on a number of initiatives Northeast has undertaken that are based on the institution’s five-year Vision 2020 strategic plan. Now entering its fourth year, action plans have been developed by staff and faculty to correspond with the goals and objectives of Vision 2020 - increase student success, increase student access, provide a globally competitive workforce and develop and maximize resources.
“We are here to strategically position Northeast Community College to be one of the best institutions in the country. Vision 2020 was designed and continues to be delivered to strategically position Northeast to achieve the mission of student and regional success,” he said.
The 2017-18 Vision 2020 and Operational Action Plan Annual Report, presented to the Northeast Board of Governors earlier this month, indicated significant success in the completion of action plans, with many more on schedule for completion in the next-and-final two-year cycle.
Chipps expressed his appreciation to the faculty and staff for the work they have done and continue do to educate the next generation of America’s workforce.
“It gets back to who we are and why we do what we do. Northeast is fortunate to employ highly motivated, positive-thinking professionals who foster the core values behind who we are, how we work, and how we treat others. The Northeast family is not only proud of our success in serving students and our region, but also proud of the way it is achieved.”
Chipps’ sentiments were echoed by the head of the Nebraska Community College Association. Executive Director Greg Adams, who was a longtime educator and one-time Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, was invited by president to address the Northeast employees.
Adams said one of the many things he enjoyed about teaching was that instructors have the opportunity to start fresh at the beginning of each academic year.
“That’s what part of today is about. You get to start over. New faces, new mistakes, fix things, do them differently. Just ask yourself, ‘how many jobs do you get to put it down for a few weeks or a couple of months, clean the slate and start all over again?’ Teaching is one of those.”
Chipps concluded the session with reflections on what Northeast has achieved as it begins its 45th year as a community college and how the community as a whole depends on the institution.
He said, “Whether it is a recent high school graduate, a military veteran or a non-traditional student looking for a career change, Northeast Community College stands in the gap to provide each and every student the opportunity to better their lives, the lives of their families and the lives of the people in our over 100 communities. None of that can happen without Northeast' faculty and staff! So tighten your seatbelts for another awesome journey.”
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