NORFOLK, Neb. – Northeast Community College faculty and staff were in a celebratory mood on Tuesday.
It’s not unusual for there to be lots of excitement on a college campus when students return for the start of the academic year in August, especially when it is warm and sunny. Such a celebration in January, especially when there is snow on the ground and the wind is blowing, is more unusual.
But during the Spring Semester In-Service on Tuesday, Jan. 7, President Leah Barrett shared that 2025 is going to be a year of celebration for her. This is her fifth year as Northeast president, it will be her 55th birthday year and her 25th wedding anniversary.
Being a parent and marriage is hard, but Barrett said she owes a lot to her husband, Doug, and sons, Sean and Finn. Sean is a Northeast graduate.
“As I reflect on the past five years, those three people in my life are the people I thank the most and I appreciate the most,” she said.
The next group of people Barrett said she appreciates is her Northeast family. When she arrived on campus and walked around five years ago, she felt at home.
“You welcomed me to this institution. We had no idea what was facing us in March of 2020,” Barrett said.
The celebratory atmosphere continued during in-service at the Lifelong Learning Center as Barrett listed at least 10 highlights of the institution and faculty. Some were well known, such as the Northeast men’s soccer team winning the college’s first national championship in athletics and Coach Adam Potter being named the coach of the year.
Others aren’t as well known or don’t get as much publicity, such as the TRIO-College Success Program exceeding all its objectives and setting a record for the highest graduation percentage it had at the institution. TRIO is a program designed to inspire and assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Barrett said education has changed over the years, especially with the advancements in technology. As an example, she noted that the computers used to land astronauts on the moon have less power than a cell phone any employee had on them.
“We are inundated with information. Our young people say to us, ‘Why do I need to go to school when I can just find the answer on my phone?’”
These changes impact everything from politics to the workforce, including agriculture. Education also is more regulated than in past years, with more expectations. The regulations help faculty become better teachers and the students to learn, Barrett said.
In the afternoon, one of the “Popcorn Sessions” covered Accessibility and UDL (Universal Design for Leaning) – another change that will be coming. Northeast also had a speaker in the morning, Lillian Nave, an educational consultant from Appalachian State University, who presented information on how Universal Design works for everyone.
For institutions like Northeast, Universal Design includes that all digital content will need to be accessible by April 2026, including information on the website. It is a continuation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Other highlights of the in-service included honoring new employees, along with those whose longevity ended in a year marking the fifth or 10th year. A total of 51 employees with 840 years of service between them were recognized.
Northeast also honored four employees with the US Bank Awards and conducted a volunteer fair where employees could learn more about organizations in which they can get involved. Fourteen organizations from the community participated.
In the afternoon, there were educational services division and academic division meetings, along with the Popcorn Sessions. There were 16 topics at the sessions, covering such topics as Perkins grant requirements, best teaching tips, marketing for today’s students and account codes.
Selfie cutline
Mason Zimmerer, Northeast Community College Development officer, gets a selfie with Jazzy, the Hawk mascot, during breakfast at the Lifelong Learning Center to kick off the in-service for the second semester on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Students return to campus next week. (Northeast Community College)
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