News

Southeast Community College celebrated the completion of the $37 million Sandhills Global Technology Center on the Lincoln Campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The project was a collaboration between SCC, Sandhills Global and the city of Lincoln to address the skilled workforce gap in high-demand areas in the technology field.

“One of the primary roles of community colleges in Nebraska is to produce a skilled workforce,” said Dr. Paul Illich, SCC president. “We are always looking for new ways to meet the needs of our employers. The Sandhills Global Technology Center will be one of the most advanced, technological training centers in the nation and will help us directly respond to industry needs.”

The 65,000 square-foot building will house programs in Biotechnology, Computer Information Technology, Design & Drafting and Electronic Systems. Funding for the innovative building included a $5 million gift from Sandhills Global, the largest single donation to SCC. The College also received $4.8 million in American Rescue Act funds from the City of Lincoln to designate 5,000 square-feet to industry partner space for work-based learning.  

“The reason this is so monumental is because it goes beyond the beautiful design, the stature and status this provides for the Lincoln Campus and the students who walk through the doors,” said Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “It’s about growing economic opportunity and the quality of life. The Sandhills Global Technology Center is a place for innovation, higher education and career creation for years to come.”

The Sandhills Global Technology Center represents one of the many transformations taking place at SCC. This state-of-the-art facility helps position the College as a leader in the training and development of a skilled workforce which is also important for the state of Nebraska.

“Every community college in Nebraska has to be extraordinarily strong because that is going to be the best interest of all of our state,” said Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen. “We don’t have a clue about what type of jobs are around the corner. I simply give kudos to the people who have invested in this project.”

Scott McKinney, CIO of Sandhills Global, is excited for the students in the tech fields who will be studying in this building. He can’t wait to see where their training will take them, starting with the start of the Spring Semester on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

“With this new, state-of-the-art facility, students will have everything they need to be successful,” McKinney said. “As you walk around the building, you can see the thoughtful design throughout. From the flexible classroom designs that allow for hands-on learning to elaborate spaces to technology available in the classrooms. There’s a lot of demand for their skill set and there are lots of opportunities, right here in Lincoln and across the state.”  

Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu