NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Mid-Plains Community College is entering the new academic year with a stronger-than-expected financial outlook, continued enrollment growth and several major workforce development initiatives aimed at serving communities across western Nebraska.
During an interview following Wednesday night's Board of Governors meeting, MPCC President Ryan Purdy said the college had anticipated finishing the 2025-26 fiscal year with a deficit, but increased enrollment and lower-than-expected expenditures have changed that outlook.
"We had planned for a deficit," Purdy said. "However, things are trending the right way."
Purdy said tuition revenue came in about 2% higher than anticipated while expenditures were approximately 4% lower than expected, putting the college about $600,000 ahead of projections as it begins preparing next year's budget. He noted that MPCC is also watching potential changes to state funding as the college develops its budget for board approval later this year.
Among the board's actions Wednesday was authorizing Purdy to approve bids for a mobile skilled trades construction training and recruitment trailer if funding is awarded through an ARPA Workforce Development Grant administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
The customized trailer would feature training simulators for careers such as HVAC, electrical work, welding, plumbing and building construction. Purdy said the mobile unit would allow MPCC to bring workforce training and recruitment directly to area high schools while also offering some for-credit instruction throughout the college's service area.
"We can expose people, we can actually do some actual training with some of the simulators," Purdy said. "Lots of opportunities to really help boost the workforce throughout our service area."
Because the remaining ARPA funding must be spent by the end of September, the board granted Purdy authority to move quickly if the grant is approved. If the grant is not awarded, the college will not move forward with the purchase.
Purdy also shared updates on several summer construction projects across MPCC campuses, including renovations at McMillen Hall, improvements to welding classrooms in North Platte, office renovations in McCook and planning for a new CDL training pad funded through a $2 million federal grant. Most of the work is expected to be completed before students return for the fall semester.
Enrollment continues to trend upward following nearly a 10% increase in full-time equivalent students during the previous academic year. Purdy said one of the largest areas of growth this fall is nursing, with the college expecting approximately 80 LPN and RN students, an increase of roughly 45 to 50 students compared with recent years.
"We're really excited about the opportunity to increase our health occupations programs," Purdy said, adding that growth in nursing also increases enrollment in science, humanities and other supporting courses.
The board also approved implementation of the Jenzabar ERP Advancement Module, which Purdy said will strengthen MPCC's alumni database, improve donor management and support future fundraising efforts by tracking relationships with alumni, donors and grant partners.
Looking ahead, McCook Community College will celebrate its 100th anniversary Sept. 18-19 with alumni gatherings, an art exhibition featuring former students, campus tours, participation in the Heritage Days Parade and a banquet.
Purdy said the coming weeks will be busy as faculty prepare to welcome students back for the fall semester, but he is looking forward to the renewed energy students bring to campus each year.