Metropolitan Community College (Nebraska)

Metropolitan Community College
Other name
 MCC
Former name
 MetroTech
Type Community college
Location Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Website mccneb.edu

Metropolitan Community College, also known as Metro and formerly known as Metro Tech, is an American institution of higher learning based in Omaha, Nebraska. The public college is located on multiple campuses throughout the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area.[1][2]

Background

Metropolitan Community College ("MCC") serves residents of Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties in Nebraska. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, MCC is the largest post-secondary institution in Nebraska. MCC's mission is to provide quality learning experiences for a diverse community of lifelong learners in its four-county service area.[3]

MCC offers more than 100 one- and two-year career programs in business administration, computer and office technologies, culinary arts, industrial and construction technologies, nursing and allied health, social sciences and services, and visual and electronic technologies, as well as academic transfer programs. General support courses, classes for business and industry and continuing education courses also are important parts of the college´s service to the community.[4]

History

The college began in 1971,[5] when the Nebraska State Legislature consolidated eight technical community college areas into six for about 2000 employees all across . Metropolitan Technical Community College's first campus, a former warehouse at 132nd and I streets, offered 46 programs and had a total student population of 1,059. Within four years, the Fort Omaha, South Omaha and Elkhorn Valley campuses were established. In the 1980s, the college began offering credit courses at Offutt Air Force Base and the Omaha Correctional Center, and services to Dodge County residents increased with the opening of the Fremont Center in a leased location. By fall 1988, college enrollment had grown to 6,630 students.

In 1992, the Nebraska Legislature changed the college's name to Metropolitan Community College. The following year, the Sarpy County Center opened in Brentwood Crossing Center in La Vista; the new Sarpy Center and public library opened in 1999.

By 2003, credit enrollment at the college totaled 23,623 students, making it the second largest post-secondary institution in Nebraska. As enrollment continued to grow at a record level, expanded physical facilities followed. Four new or renovated sites opened in 2007: the Applied Technology Center, the renovated Elkhorn Valley Campus, the new Fremont Area Center location and the South Omaha Connector Building.[6]

In 2009, the Institute for the Culinary Arts and the Merle and Joy Swanson Conference Center opened adding 35,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classroom and meeting space and creating a new main entrance off Sorensen Parkway. A year later, the renovated historic Mule Barn opened to provide meeting space for the MCC board of governors, classrooms and outreach offices.

In 2012, MCC Express-Vinton opened offering educational services to the community, with an emphasis on adult education services including GED prep and English-as-a-Second language, community literacy services including Read-Right tutoring and individualized reading programs and career exploration.

In 2011-12, enrollment was 32,765 credit students and 17,374 noncredit students.[4]

In 2014, MCC announced the Fort Omaha Campus expansion project.[7] Three new buildings—The Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology, Construction Education Center and Academic Skills Center—will focus on training students for today and tomorrow and provide them with the tools for lifelong learning. MCC is considering offering student housing at this location.[8]

MCC has campuses in North Omaha at Fort Omaha, in South Omaha, and in Elkhorn, as well as centers in Bellevue, La Vista and Fremont, the Applied Technology Center and classes at Offutt Air Force Base, and multiple area high schools and offsite locations.

Governance

The college is governed by an 11-member board of governors. The members represent five districts with one member at large. Members serve four-year terms.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Johnston, Thomas S.; Simpson, Mary Margaret (January 1986). Evolution of the Nebraska Technical Community College System (PDF). Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Technical Community College Association. OCLC 425147676. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  2. ↑ Simpson, Mary Margaret (May 1990). A Profile of Nebraska's Community College System (PDF) (Second ed.). Lincoln, NE: Nebraska Technical Community College Association. OCLC 425431020. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  3. ↑ http://www.mccneb.edu/businessandcommunity/mission.asp
  4. 1 2 3 http://www.mccneb.edu/businessandcommunity/metrofacts.asp
  5. ↑ http://www.mccneb.edu/history/
  6. ↑ "New Active-Learning Classroom Awarded to Metropolitan Community College". WOWT NBC Omaha. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Howard Perry, Kate (24 June 2014). "Metropolitan Community College's $90M expansion to improve job training in technology, trades". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Metropolitan Community College Considering On-Site Student Housing". WOWT NBC Omaha. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2016.

Further reading

External links

Coordinates: 41°18′28″N 95°57′32″W / 41.30778°N 95.95889°W / 41.30778; -95.95889 (Metropolitan Community College)

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