News

Southeast Community College President Dr. Paul Illich commemorated 10 years at the College with a campus-wide celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at the Lincoln Campus. He was named SCC president on July 1, 2014, after serving as vice president of research, planning and information at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.

“The transformation of Southeast Community College since 2014 is simply amazing,” said Arlyn Uhrmacher, chairman of the SCC Board of Governors. “SCC has experienced tremendous enrollment growth, expansion of state-of-the-art facilities and unprecedented donor support. I cannot think of a person better than Dr. Illich to lead the College at this important time.”

Illich is a visionary leader who believes in data-driven decision making and the value of creating a culture of opportunity, creativity and intellectual, and personal respect. SCC has seen record growth in enrollment during the last two semesters. This growth is due to Illich’s guidance in increasing the capacity of the College to meet employer, community, and student needs in its 15-county service area. Most recently under Illich’s leadership, the Higher Learning Commission granted reaffirmation of accreditation to SCC for a 10-year period expiring in July 2033. A few of his achievements at SCC include:

• Opening six learning centers throughout the 15-county service area.
• Successful conversion from a Quarter to Semester Calendar system in the Fall of 2019.
• Complementation and successful implementation of the College’s 2015-2019 Strategic Plan, which represented SCC’s first institutional level strategic plan.
• Successful institutional accreditation review in 2017.
• Implementation of an enrollment management model that involves the building of course schedules based on course demand.
• Opening of the Lincoln Campus Career Academy that enrolls approximately 600 high school students in dual credit courses.
• Increased staffing levels in key areas of the College.
• Launched a college-wide branding and marketing campaign in 2019.
• Added 26 academic programs and awards from 2015 to 2021.
  
  

In addition, Illich added a capital advancement function to the College. This includes the following capital projects:

• Sandhills Global Technology Center – Lincoln, expected to open Spring 2025
• Welding Technology Center – Lincoln, expected to open Fall 2025
• Nebraska Hall Renovation – Milford, expected to open Spring 2025
• Welding Center – Beatrice, new building
• Residence halls on all three campuses including Woodhaven Hall, the first residence hall on the Lincoln Campus
• Health Sciences Building – Lincoln, new building
• Student and Academic Support Renovation – Lincoln
• Great Plains Culinary Institute – Lincoln
• The Career Academy – Lincoln
• Academic Excellence Center – Beatrice, new building
• Kennedy Center renovation – Beatrice
• Crete Carrier Diesel Technology & Welding Center – Milford, new building
• Professional Truck Driver Training Concourse – Milford
• Welsh Center remodel – Milford
  
  

“I am not a big fan of recognition, but I am a big fan of why we are recognizing today and it has nothing to do with me personally,” said Illich. “When you step onto one of our campuses in Lincoln, Milford or Beatrice, or one of the Learning Centers, it is a completely different experience for the students than it was 10 years ago. It is a destination for our students now. That’s why we are all here.”

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