LINCOLN – Southeast Community College cut the ribbon on a new $30 million Student and Academic Support Center addition and renovation at the Lincoln Campus….two years to the day since ground was broken.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday for modern, expanded spaces to improve access for students in vital academic support services.

Bev Cummins, Vice President for Program Development and Executive Director of the Lincoln Campus, said, "This project demonstrates our continued progress in addressing our space needs, from improving fire and life safety, evacuation and egress, to confidential spaces and accommodating the growth we've been experiencing on the campus.”

SCC president Dr. Paul Illich said it was important to create welcoming spaces for all students…”to have a sense of place and a destination versus a commuter campus." Illich said., “We want that student to have a sense of place and feel welcome to stay, study and learn, both inside and outside of the classroom."

Dr. James Sherwood, secretary of SCC's Board of Governors, called the addition a critical step toward SCC's vision of 'creating the highest quality learning climates through permanent, innovative, modern, virtually linked, and collaborative spaces.”

The project involved the construction of approximately 26,000 square feet that included a two-story addition and the renovation of about 80,000 square feet of existing spaces.  Areas with renovated space include the Welcome Center, Advising, Adult Education, Instructional Design/Virtual Learning, Information Technology, the Student Activities Center, Student Enrollment and Accounts and several others.  Several private study rooms and wellness rooms for personal use also were added.

The project included fire suppression of the current gymnasium, appropriate firewall separations, and exit areas that meet fire code.

The construction kicked off on April 28th, 2021, with Omaha-based companies Alley Poyner as the architect and Boyd Jones as the General Contractor.