BELLEVUE, NE – Workforce development strategies in place at Northeast Community College have been recognized by one of the nation’s leaders in preparing students for lifelong success with career-relevant knowledge and skills.
Bellevue University recently presented its Innovation@Work award to Northeast Community College during the university’s Real Learning Summit. The award annually recognizes one organization that shares Bellevue University’s mission of preparing America’s workforce with career-relevant skills and knowledge – while also helping them develop the agility to adapt rapid changes occurring in both education and careers.
“Northeast was selected based on its innovative and student-focused efforts and its success at breaking new ground in workforce development – sometimes against very steep odds,” said Dr. Mary Hawkins, Bellevue University president. “Specifically, Northeast was recognized for its efforts in 2012, where it deemed community stabilization and rural revitalization a priority and create the Center for Enterprise. The center is specifically noted for concentrating on training tailored to meet the needs of local and regional employers, such as technical skills and customer service.”
The Center for Enterprise (CFE), which was established at Northeast Community College in 2013, has been designed to expand the college's rural revitalization efforts by providing advanced education and training opportunities for employers, employees, entrepreneurs, and communities. The Center has been opening doors to new opportunities for business and industry and entrepreneurs through one-stop premium services.
Dr. Michael Chipps, president of Northeast, said it was timely in 2013 to establish the CFE and it is such an honor to be recognized for its advancements by an innovative institution like Bellevue University.
“Bellevue University has worked with Northeast to provide partnered training opportunities that have been offered through the Northeast CFE. Dr. Hawkins and her staff have been laser-focused with community colleges across America. You can depend on BU to fulfill its part of any agreement. We are proud to accept Bellevue’s Innovation@Work award
SunTrust Bank was the recipient of the 2018 award for innovative custom degree programming in Professional Banking Operations and Leadership.
Northeast Community College and Bellevue University have been working together since 2014. Chipps and Hawkins signed a memorandum of understanding that has particularly focused on non-traditional working adults who, according to Chipps, “deserve the opportunity to take additional college-level courses through the articulation agreement.”
The agreement was renewed in 2018.
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PHOTO CUTLINE
Representatives of Bellevue University present Northeast Community College representatives with its Innovation@Work award. Northeast was selected based on its innovative and student-focused efforts and its success at breaking new ground in workforce development. Pictured (from left) are Jim Grotrian, executive vice president, operations at Bellevue University; Eric Johnson, associate vice president of the center for enterprise at Northeast Community College; John Blaylock, executive vice president at Northeast; Dr. Mary Hawkins, president of Bellevue University; Dr. Michael Chipps, president of Northeast; and Craig Garrett, associate vice president of human resources at Northeast Community College. (Courtesy Bellevue University)