Nebraska State College System Month observed

Heineman stated in the proclamation, "I urge all interested students and their families to take note of the observance by personally visiting and learning more about Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges during (October) to discover the quality and variety of educational programs offered at our state colleges and the affordability of earning an education from these institutions."

Nebraska State College System Month is one element of a new brand identity campaign for the system. In 2004, the NSCS Board of Trustees created an Enrollment and Marketing Committee to discuss the recommendations of the LR 174 Higher Education Task Force and determine ways to increase enrollment, retention and graduation rates.

"In order to meet the recommendations of the LR 174 Task Force, the Nebraska State College System needed a plan to lead us in a unified direction," NSCS Chancellor Stan Carpenter said. "The first step though was conducting research that would assist us in this effort."

After months of research, a new brand identity campaign was launched by the system in February 2005. A collaborative plan was developed for the system, along with three distinct plans for Chadron, Peru and Wayne State Colleges.

"The brand identity campaign will allow us to collaborate to increase awareness about the Nebraska State College System. We have incorporated a new logo and tagline that better represents our system and are currently working on new initiatives with select target markets," NSCS Director of Public Relations Sheri Irwin said.

One of the initiatives was to take new information to guidance counselors during the Nebraska State College System Tour 2005 in September.

Irwin and the committee also have completed a series of DVDs, one of which was presented at the Board of Trustees meeting at Chadron last month.

"By increasing the awareness of the Nebraska State College System, we increase enrollment, retention and graduation rates. This will also benefit each college by assisting with alumni development, attracting new faculty and personnel, and fundraising," Carpenter said.

The Nebraska State College System Board members include: Chair Steve Lewis, Lexington; Chair of the Academic, Personnel & Student Affairs Committee Willa Kosman, Scottsbluff; Chair of the Fiscal & Facilities Committee Larry Teahon, Chadron; Chair of the Enrollment & Marketing Committee Bill Roskens, Omaha; Richard Halbert, Falls City; Dr. Doug Christensen, Lincoln; Carter "Cap" Peterson, Wayne; Chadron State student representative Carla Giger, Alliance; Peru State student representative Heath Christiansen, Verdon; and Wayne State student representative Lucas Virgil, Weston.

The Nebraska State College System serves about 8,000 students from Nebraska and surrounding states through three geographically diverse institutions. Combined, the three colleges offer more than 200 degree, certificate, and pre-professional programs that are accessible on the three campuses, via the Internet, and in several satellite locations throughout the state. With more than 250 credentialed faculty members and 45,000 successful graduates, the NSCS provides significant human and intellectual capital that contributes to the current and future economic strength of the State of Nebraska.