Nebraska
CASNR articulation agreements help students, boost workforce development
Luz Schafersman juggles big duties as a farm wife, working mom and part-time student in Hooper, Nebraska. While pursuing a two-year degree at Northeast Community College in 2021, she asked an important question about her career goals.
The natural resources conservation profession she decided to pursue requires a four-year degree. So, she wondered, does the University of Nebraska–Lincoln provide opportunities to pursue a degree using remote instruction and receiving credit for previous two-year studies?
She was relieved to find that the answer is “yes.” After two years of online instruction with Husker faculty, she is set to graduate May 18 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science.
This opportunity was made possible, she said, through innovative academic pathways supported by articulation agreements between the university’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and most Nebraska state colleges, community colleges and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.
Under CASNR’s A to B Program, students can transfer credits and choose an instructional path that aligns with their career aspirations. They complete their degree on a schedule that works best for them. CASNR created the Bachelor of Science in Applied Science degree to increase access and opportunities.
“I truly credit CASNR for the ability to tailor your educational experience to fit your need,” Schafersman said. “It’s really wonderful.
“Not every person is one-size-fits-all. Everyone has different schedules, and I appreciate that CASNR worked with me on that so I could take as many courses as I needed and be able to graduate on time.”
Through the articulation agreements, CASNR and its education partners draw on their collective strengths to boost Nebraska workforce development.
The Northeast Nebraska Ag and Natural Resources Education Compact “leverages the collective efforts of the partners to serve students,” said Charlene Widener, vice president of educational services at Northeast Community College.
The collaborative approach “assists Northeast Community College students with articulation of credit as they transfer to CASNR, leading to reduced time to degree and earlier entry into the workforce.”
This statewide collaboration helps the more than 300,000 Nebraskans who have earned some academic credits but have no postsecondary certificate or degree. Nebraskans in the workforce who have an associate’s degree can boost their career advancement by pursuing a University of Nebraska–Lincoln bachelor’s degree while continuing to work.
“We think a lot about the continuum of learners and helping learners have an opportunity no matter where they are in their journey,” said Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
A partnership being developed between CASNR and NCTA will provide still another opportunity. CASNR students who want to gain practical, hands-on ag experience at NCTA’s facilities will be able to use a reverse-transfer option to include study at the campus in Curtis.
“We are excited about what the reverse transfer will do for not only NCTA students, but also students working toward a bachelor’s degree in CASNR who want to leverage experiential learning opportunities from NCTA,” said Larry Gossen, dean of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.
“NCTA works to build relationships with many industries throughout Nebraska,” said Jennifer McConville, NCTA associate dean. “Through these relationships, these employees value the skills acquired through NCTA programs.”
Heng-Moss said: “We have demonstrated that we put students first, in recognizing that students have these different starting points and how we can leverage the strengths across institutions to meet students’ needs.”
Schafersman said she was helped greatly by the support from multiple CASNR team members, including her academic adviser Katie Forrest. Marybeth Helmink coordinates CASNR’s transfer program.
“They were incredibly helpful,” Schafersman said. “They gave me so much information about what to expect as a full-time student and an online student.”
Another plus was the ease of use of CASNR’s online instruction. Schafersman said it is very interactive.
“The instructors do a really good job trying to connect with their students and having students connect with each other,” she said. “The interaction, the involvement, the communication have been really amazing.”
CASNR has articulation agreements with NCTA, Chadron State College, Wayne State College and these Nebraska community colleges: Central, Metropolitan, Mid-Plains, Nebraska Indian, Northeast, Southeast and Western.
LINCOLN, Neb — Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed Antonio Gomez of Jackson to the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission, adding a longtime Siouxland business leader and public servant to the panel.
Commission members serve four-year terms and are subject to approval by the Nebraska Legislature.
Gomez launched Gomez Pallets in South Sioux City in 1983. He has since retired from daily operations, but last year the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce recognized him with the W. Edwards Deming Business Leadership and Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.
Gomez previously served on the Nebraska Commission on Latino Americans from 1981 to 2002. He also served as a Dakota County commissioner for 12 years and was on the Foundation Board for Northeast Community College.
Gomez’s appointment is effective April 1.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers will face the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. This is the Huskers’ first Sweet 16 in program history, while Iowa is playing in its first Sweet 16 since 1999.
Nebraska defeated Vanderbilt 74-72 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Iowa advanced after beating the defending national champion, the Florida Gators, 73-72.
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CBS Sports reporter Isaac Trotter broke down Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup. Trotter started by looking at the two previous matchups in this series.
These teams have played twice. Iowa won at home in a 57-52 rockfight. Nebraska returned the favor by winning at home, 84-75 in overtime, in another to-the-death brawl.
It’s no secret that Nebraska’s defense caused significant problems for the Iowa offense in the second game, and if the Hawkeyes are going to win the rubber match, Trotter believes that turnovers will be the key.
There are no secrets in the rubber match. Nebraska’s no-middle defense has given Iowa real problems both times. The Hawkeyes turned it over 20% of the time in Game 1 and 26% of the time in Game 2. That can’t happen in the third encounter.
CBS Sports believes that Iowa has the best player on the floor in Bennett Stirtz, but Trotter also believes that Nebraska’s defense is just too much in the end for Iowa.
Iowa has the best player on the floor, Bennett Stirtz, and can hurt Nebraska on the glass, but the Huskers get the nod because of this pick-and-roll defense. You have to be able to guard ball screens effectively to shut down Iowa, and Nebraska has been an elite pick-and-roll defense, rating in the 99th percentile nationally, per Synergy.
In the end, Trotter selected Nebraska as his pick. Should the Huskers advance to the Elite Eight, Nebraska would play the winner of the Illinois-Houston game. Nebraska-Iowa play in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT on TBS.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: CBS Sports predicts Nebraska-Iowa basketball in the Sweet 16
We need to do our homework on Nebraska canal plan
Re: “Colorado’s water war with Nebraska comes to a head,” Sept. 21 news story
Farming in northeastern Colorado has never been easy, and it is getting harder. Markets are tough, input costs are up, and young people are leaving. What keeps communities in Northeastern Colorado going is agriculture, the water, the ground, and the community that ties everything together. The proposed Perkins County Canal — to carry South Platte River water into Nebraska — threatens all of it.
When you take water off farmland, the damage does not stop in crop yields. Equipment dealers, elevators, local banks, and businesses all feel it. Schools and roads will suffer. We have seen what happens to towns that lose their agricultural base, and we cannot let that happen again without a real fight.
That fight needs to be a regional one. I am asking communities across northeastern Colorado to come together and hire an independent economic consultant to assess the true local impact of this project (acres affected, jobs at risk, income lost, tax base eroded).
The Corps of Engineers will do its own analysis, but we need our own numbers. If their conclusions do not match what our communities are actually facing, we need the documentation to say so and demand they take another look.
Rural communities have always figured out how to help each other when it counts. This is one of those times. I urge local officials, water boards, farm bureaus, and civic leaders to set aside any differences and work together on this. The permit process will not wait, and neither can we.
Kimberly L. Kinnison, Ovid
Don’t let our children be ‘policy pawns’
Re: “District accused of violating Title IX,” March 14 news story
The Trump administration seems intent on the persecution of transgender children, excluding them from bathrooms, sports and school activities. Refusing to allow transgender children to participate in school in a manner consistent with their gender identity promotes the exclusion of particularly vulnerable children.
Participation in sports, access to bathrooms in which they feel comfortable, and full inclusion are critical components of healthy development for all children.
Some children are taller, faster, or stronger, have been training with private coaches or attending schools with better facilities, but the requirement of biological uniformity applies only to transgender children.
Exclusion harms children. Is this in dispute? Our children are not political pawns.
Jane Cates, Jefferson County
Don’t forget the Denver Chamber Music Festival
Re: “Classical blast,” March 15 feature story
Thanks to Ray Rinaldi for a terrific article about classical music festivals in the mountains this summer. I’d like to add one, and it’s right here in town: the Denver Chamber Music Festival from June 5 to June 13. World-class musicians, including the amazing classical/bluegrass violinist Tessa Lark, our first composer in residence, and local favorites Stephanie Cheng and Margaret Dyer Harris, and the members of the Colorado Cello Quartet.
All performances are at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts; tickets available at denverchambermusicfestival.org. Avoid Interstate 70 and enjoy phenomenal music in Denver!
Alix Corboy, Denver
Editor’s note: Corboy is executive director of the Denver Chamber Music Festival
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