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Southeast Community College broke ground on three major facilities this spring on its Beatrice, Lincoln, and Milford campuses. These facilities reflect SCC’s commitment to preparing Nebraska’s workforce demand while keeping up with extraordinary enrollment growth. In two years, SCC had added nearly 1,800 students, a growth that demands investment and these facilities are the answer.

“Over the past decade, SCC has been on a transformational journey to expand its capacity to produce a skilled workforce and to ensure everyone has access to higher education in southeast Nebraska,” said Dr. Paul Illich, SCC president. “What happens inside a community college classroom, laboratory, simulation space, or clinic has the power to transform a person’s future.”

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on the Beatrice Campus for the Ag Technology Center on April 8, on April 28 on the Lincoln Campus for the Life Sciences Center, and on May 1 on the Milford Campus for the Construction Technology Center. These facilities are a direct response to what Nebraska employers are asking for, which is proof that a community college can deliver an educational experience that goes far beyond what anyone might expect.

“Eighty-seven percent of SCC graduates stay and work in Nebraska,” Illich said. “That means when we invest in our campuses with new buildings, we are investing in Nebraska. We are investing in every community these students will call home and in every employer who hires them.”

The new facilities include:

• Ag Technology Center – Beatrice Campus

Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska's economy, accounting for one in four jobs statewide. But today's farms, feedlots, and ag operations run on precision technology — and employers are struggling to find workers who know how to use it.

SCC's 20,000-square-foot Ag Technology Center is designed to close that gap. The state-of-the-art facility will house all of SCC's agricultural programs and give students hands-on access to drone technology, precision agriculture labs, advanced simulation systems, and flexible lab environments built for year-round, real-world instruction. With 75% of SCC ag graduates staying in Nebraska to work, the impact of this investment will be felt across the state for generations.

• Life Sciences Center – Lincoln Campus

Enrollment in health sciences and physical sciences transfer programs has reached an all-time high, and the Life Sciences Center will give those students the space and resources they need to succeed.

The 45,000-square-foot, three-story facility will bring biology, anatomy, physiology, organismal biology, BSL biology, and microbiology programs together under one roof for the first time. Expected to open for the Fall 2028 semester, the center will be a landmark destination for students entering Nebraska's health care workforce.

• Construction Technology Center – Milford Campus

Construction, HVAC, and plumbing professionals are in high demand across Nebraska and all three programs are experiencing record enrollment. The Construction Technology Center will give students the industry-grade environment they need to train like the professionals they're becoming.

The 52,000-square-foot facility will feature dedicated concrete labs, multiple house build sites, and a three-story "playhouse" designed to simulate real-world HVAC and plumbing scenarios. The groundbreaking will be held in conjunction with an open house celebrating 85 years of technical education in Milford — a tradition SCC is proud to build on. The facility is expected to open for the Fall 2028 semester.

“We are not just breaking ground,” said Illich. “We are building something that will serve our communities for generations, ensuring everyone has access to the life-changing benefits of higher education.”

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