PLATTSMOUTH - Early research on learning centers established by Southeast Community College shows that most people are using the centers for continuing education….not college credit.
The Southeast Community College Board Tuesday heard an early assessment of the centers, holding their meeting at one of the half-dozen sites, on Main Street in Plattsmouth.


Robin Moore, Director of Institutional Research for the college, says the college reports having just over 13-hundred students use the learning centers in 2018 through 2019. In one year, the number of class sections at the centers has grown from 351 in 2017-18…….to 446 sections in 2018-19.
Moore says the Plattsmouth Leaning Center has offered the most class sections. It also ranks high among the centers, for enrollment.
The sixth and final learning center….at Falls City, will be having its grand opening in the coming weeks.


Moore showed the board a map that indicated where students using learning centers, are from. Locations are sprinkled throughout the college's fifteen-county service area, but also from Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.


Even though most students are taking classes at learning centers for continuing education, Learning Center Coordinator, Lyn Belitz says the centers still help those enrolled for credit. That includes assistance in registration, career advising and financial aid
SCC President Dr. Paul Illich says one thing the college has not determined is how many of the learning center attendees are new students, or are students who were attending a campus, but now taking courses at a learning center to cut travel time.


Moore says most of the students taking non-credit courses at the learning centers are 50 years of age, or older.


In addition to the main campuses at Beatrice, Lincoln and Milford, SCC has learning centers established in York, Plattsmouth, Hebron, Wahoo, Nebraska City and Falls City.