NORFOLK, NE – Faculty and staff at Northeast Community College are getting ready to welcome students back to campus on Monday, August 19. This week, they are preparing themselves through a series of planning workshops, meetings and In-Service breakout sessions that featured an all-college gathering that included remarks from Northeast’s interim presidents and the chairperson of the Board of Governors.
Mary Honke and Steve Schram have been serving as co-interim president since May as the college undergoes a search to select its next president. Each have held administrative positions at the college in past years.
Honke told faculty and staff during Tuesday’s In-Service that she and Schram are committed to Northeast and the search process to bring a president who is best suited to lead the college in the years ahead.
“Northeast is a special place, and our next president will be fortunate to be selected to lead an institution committed to excellence in all that we do.”
Honke commended the employees on their dedication in serving their students and constituents across the 20-county service area by noting a number of accomplishments the college has seen over the past year.
“All of these accomplishments – plus many, many others - took place while you were also performing your-day-to-day duties in serving our students and constituents. They reflect the work that goes on in all divisions and areas of the college.”
In addition to the highlights, Northeast Community College also graduated over 900 students during the 2018-19 academic year; the 2018 Graduate Report confirmed that 99-percent of 2018 Northeast graduates either found jobs or continued their education; and the Northeast graduation rate continues to be very strong with 48-percent of first-time, full-time degree seeking students graduating within 150-percent of time to complete their program of study. This compares to the national rate of 32.8-percent.
Honke and Schram will serve in their present capacity through the presidential search process, assist in facilitating actions of the search as well as the operation of the college during the remainder of the transition up until the new president assumes office – tentatively planned in early 2020.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Governors, Chairperson Steve Anderson commended the Northeast employees for their excellent work.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t read or hear about your outstanding work that is taking place not only here in Norfolk, but across the entire 20-county service area,” he said. “We are certainly grateful for your efforts as our college engages with others to meet this region’s workforce development needs and requirements. And it simply would be impossible to do all of this without dedicated faculty and staff like all of you.”
Anderson, of Concord, also provided an update on the presidential search.
“As we begin our 46th year as a community college, we are in a transition as we presently search for our next president. I want to tell you that the board has been engaged over these past two months and has a better awareness as to how crucial it is that our next CEO reflects the ideals that are reflected in our value statement as we continue to move forward as an institution.”
Anderson said the firm Pauly Group, of Springfield, IL, is working with the Board of Governors and a Presidential Search Advisory Committee, which is made up of college administrators, faculty, staff and students, on advertising the position and recruiting candidates to apply. The deadline for applicants is August 26.
Anderson concluded his remarks, saying, “Northeast is a one-of-a-kind college and has earned its stellar reputation because of you. I am confident that the ‘Northeast’ name will lead to a pool of candidates who aspire to work at an outstanding institution like Northeast Community College.”
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PHOTO CUTLINE
Steve Anderson, chairperson of the Northeast Community College Board of Governors, (left) shares a laugh with agriculture faculty member Michael Roeber during an all-college In-Service session in Norfolk Tuesday morning. During remarks to faculty and staff, Anderson took time to recognize Roeber on his recent recognition on being named the recipient of the 2019 Association of Community College Trustees Western Region Faculty Member Award. Anderson also provided employees an update on the search for a new college president.