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Wayne State College

Wayne State College has been a vital part of Northeast Nebraska since James M. Pile founded the college as Nebraska Normal College in 1891. From the early days as a private higher education institution with a handful of faculty and students until today, as a strong and proud member of the Nebraska State College System boasting more than 3,600 students and 450 faculty and staff, Wayne State has served as an educational, economic and cultural engine for Northeast Nebraska and beyond. 

While enjoying an excellent reputation for the quality of our educational programs, Wayne State College also plays a strong role in regional economic development through human capital, intellectual capital and good old-fashioned real capital, that is to say, the funds used by the college to complete its mission of teaching and learning excellence, student success and regional service.

Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC)

Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) is a regional center providing technical assistance for small businesses in Northeast and North Central Nebraska. Consultants specialize in market research, marketing plans, loan packaging, business plans, strategic planning, financial planning, cash-flow budgeting and capital budgeting. NBDC helps small- and medium-business owners compete more evenly with larger firms. Any qualifying new or expanding for-profit business in Nebraska may apply for assistance from NBDC. NBDC is a cooperative program with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Wayne State College. Basic consulting is free. Other services are offered on a cost-reimbursement basis. For information, call 402-375-7575.

Specific services provided: 

  • Improving small businesses in its geographical service area
  • Coordinating and mobilizing resources available for the benefit of the business enterprises
  • Spokesperson and advocate for small businesses
  • Counseling and training small business owners and managers dealing with  financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering, technical and other problems
  • Assisting people interested in starting a small business through the development of feasibility studies, business plans and projected cash flows and financial statements
  • Providing one-on-one and group counseling assistance to the client

Quality of Life Enhancements

A strong emphasis is placed on the quality of life for residents of Northeast Nebraska. Activities and events are available for individuals and groups, for spectators and participants. Whether the emphasis is on development of the mind or body, the individual or society, Wayne State College can be of service.

Arts and Cultural Activities

Wayne State College has earned a reputation for outstanding programs in the visual, literary and performing arts. Thousands of patrons attend concerts, plays, art exhibits, readings, musicals and other cultural events each year.

Black and Gold Performing Arts Series

For more than 50 years the Wayne State College Black and Gold performing arts series has presented cultural programming to serve the Northeast Nebraska region. Annually presenting full-scale opera and theatre productions, dance performances, orchestras, Emmy-winning actors and the annual President's Holiday Gala Concert, the series strives to enlighten, educate and entertain. All performances of the series now take place in the renovated 700-seat Ramsey Theatre of the Lied Performing Arts Center. For information, 402-375-7394.

Department of Music

The Wayne State College Department of Music presents a full season of student, ensemble and faculty programs that are open to the public as well as Band Festivals and Choral Festivals for junior high and high school students. For information, call 402-375-3759.

Plains Writers Series

Since its inception the series has brought more than 100 noted poets to Wayne State College to interact with students and faculty, including Pulitzer Prize-winner Rita Dove, Nebraska State Poet William Kloefkorn, Utah Poet Laureate David Lee, William Matthews, Cary Waterman, Lyn DeNayer, William Kittredge, Barbara Schmitz, David Long, Dan Chaon, Ron Block, Carol Ann Russell, Albert Goldbarth and Matt Mason. The series also focuses on the work of promising poets and writers near the beginning of their careers. The readings are open to the public. For information, call 402-375-7395.

The Wayne Stater

Our award-winning student newspaper, The Wayne Stater, is a publication of the Wayne State College journalism program. It is published on Wednesdays during the first and second semesters except examination and recess weeks. It is distributed on campus and at various locations in Wayne. Journalism students are responsible for the newspaper, and a faculty advisor oversees the publication as part of their coursework. Subscriptions are available. For information, call 402-375-7489. 

KWSC-FM / 91.9 The Cat

KWSC-FM is an on-air training ground for students, regularly winning college media awards. The station, known as 91.9 The Cat, offers a college rock format, but also has specialty shows including country, oldies, independent music and news/sports/talk programs. The station broadcasts a full schedule of Wayne State College home athletic events with student play-by-play announcers. KWSC-FM is student managed and operated, with the active involvement of a faculty advisor providing practical experience in working on the air, in audio production, planning of special events and promotions, and in leadership and personnel management.  In addition to the KWSC-FM broadcast transmitter in Wayne, 91.9 The Cat can be heard on the web 365 days per year at: http://thecat.wsc.edu. For information, call 402-375-7421. 

KWSC-TV

KWSC-TV delivers live sports and newscasts to the campus and Wayne community, also serving as the educational access channel for the city of Wayne. Much of its programming is developed by students through classes taught by WSC professors. The station is student managed with support from a faculty advisor, and provides the opportunity for students to acquire real-world experience in television programming, production and engineering. KWSC-TV maintains a fully equipped broadcast studio and digital editing capabilities, and has won numerous regional awards for news, sports and entertainment programming.

Arts and Entertainment Facilities

Ley Theatre, located in Brandenburg Hall, can accommodate audiences up to 220. Ramsey Theater, located in the Peterson Fine Arts Building, can accommodate 680 people on its main floor and balcony. Situated on the first floor of the Conn Library on the WSC campus and adjacent to the Jitters coffee shop, the Nordstrand Visual Arts gallery is open to the public. Open hours coincide with the operating hours of the Conn Library. 

Recreation and Wellness Programs

Health, Human Performance and Sport Department: The Human Performance Laboratory at Wayne State College has been created to help Northeast Nebraskans evaluate their health, physical fitness levels and lifestyles. Through fitness and wellness evaluations at the laboratory, trained professionals will assess diets, physical work capacity, stress levels, body fat and determine cardiovascular risk profiles. Individualized programs are created for participating clients. For information, call 402-375-7301.