The University of Nebraska—Lincoln College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources (CASNR) and Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) announced plans to expand the Early College and Career STEM program next school year.
Currently, the focus program explores career fields related to Food, Water, Energy, and Societal Systems (FEWSS) and is offered only at Northeast High School as an embedded program. After an extensive review of the program and its benefits for students, a decision was made to move it out of a traditional embedded focus program offering and expand the opportunities across the school district in every high school.
Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Sarah Salem acknowledged that FEWSS careers are in high demand and represent the jobs of the future.
“We are so fortunate to have a partner in our community like UNL who is leading the way nationally in many of these areas of study, and are willing to share their expertise with our students,” said Salem. “This is one more way the collaboration with community partners helps us fulfill our mission to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.”
“In Nebraska, where one in four jobs is related to agriculture and natural resources, a prepared and talented workforce is essential to meet the needs of these important and growing sectors,” said Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. “I am thrilled with the expansion of the LPS-CASNR Early College and Career STEM Program to give students in schools all across the city access to this program and the careers it prepares them for.”
The agriculture industry is rapidly changing, and so are the careers that support it, said Bailey Feit, LPS-CASNR Early STEM program coordinator. “Agriculture is about growing our food and conserving our natural resources,” said Feit, “but it’s also about data science, precision technology and expanding the bioeconomy. There are so many opportunities for students to learn about growing and evolving disciplines that are becoming increasingly important in Nebraska and beyond.”
Discussions and planning are still taking place to determine what the opportunities will look like in LPS. A long-term vision includes dual-credit class opportunities, field trips tied into existing LPS classes, more hands-on experiences for students and professional learning opportunities for staff.
“We are excited for an opportunity where all LPS students, regardless of their school, can benefit from exposure to these vital career pathways,” added Salem.
LPS students who have already applied to the embedded focus program for the 2025-2026 school year can work with their counselor to find opportunities in this area of study within their high school coursework.
