SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Siouxlanders continue to seize the opportunity to take courses at either Wayne State College or Northeast Community College at the College Center in South Sioux City.
Judith Scherer Connealy of Wayne State College and Cyndi Hanson of Northeast Community College serve as directors of the College Center, which opened in March 2011 at 1001 College Way.
Scherer Connealy and Hanson said the programs to pick from are plentiful and beneficial to new or non-traditional students who prefer not to travel to Northeast's main campus in Norfolk or Wayne State's campus in Wayne.
“Everyone here at the College Center, both Wayne State staff and Northeast staff, work hard at a solid partnership to provide a quality, most affordable education experience right here in Siouxland," Scherer Connealy said. "Students can complete their first two years through Northeast and then complete the last two years through Wayne State College, all under one roof."
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Wayne State and Northeast partner to offer bachelor’s degree programs in business, education and counseling in a face-to-face format at the College Center. Wayne State also offers eight, all online master’s degrees and seven hybrid master’s degree programs.
There are cost incentives for people to attend colleges at the center.
Wayn State offers a discounted tuition rate for classes taken at the College Center. Residents of Iowa and South Dakota pay the WSC at College Center tuition rate, plus $1 per credit hour.
Northeast also offers residents of Iowa and South Dakota a special rate of the regular tuition rate, plus $1 per credit hour.
Connealy said one new element that appeals to Siouxland teachers is the Master of Science in Education offered in the Community of Learning format. The Community of Learning meets one Saturday per month at the College Center.
"This is a unique format in which the students, who are all professional educator, form a community with the common goal of completing a master’s degree. They share best classroom practices and learn cutting-edge theory, while working in a group that shares the same goals and passion for teaching," Scherer Connealy said.
The first Community of Learning participants will complete their degrees in May, and the next Community of Learning cohort group will begin in August.
"Local teachers love the Community of Learning format and it is getting rave reviews," Scherer Connealy said.
In addition to offering customized workforce development solutions for businesses and continuing education programs, Northeast boasts more than 30 programs leading to an associate degree or industry certification.
Hanson said Northeast will provide new programming opportunities in South Sioux City beginning in fall 2018.
An associate degree program in computer information systems will be offered to meet a growing demand of employers and students. To meet the needs of working adults who may have postponed college earlier in life, Northeast will launch a one-night per week business diploma program.
Hanson, executive director of the South Sioux City Extended Campus, said Northeast is the “college of choice” for many first-generation students.
“These students appreciate being able to continue to live with family, while holding jobs and attending one of the nation’s top 10 community colleges, as recognized in 2017 by the Aspen Institute," Hanson said.
Hanson said 65 percent of the students attending the Northeast Extended Campus are first generation degree-seeking students.
Additionally, she said the student population at the Northeast Extended Campus reflects the diversity of the South Sioux City region, since 57 percent of students identify themselves as a minority, and just over half are traditional college age students.
Hanson said for the 2018 spring semester, Northeast has just over 500 credit students and about 250 adult non-credit students, an amount that has been steady over the last few years.
