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Clarkson College officials tell Regents acquisition language leaves program operations unclear
Summary
Speakers from Clarkson College told the Board of Regents that public materials tied to a resolution approving acquisition of CRHS assets do not clarify which properties would be operated by the board vs. Nebraska Medicine and raised concerns about impacts on Clarkson's clinical placements and statewide program delivery.
Representatives from Clarkson College told the Board of Regents they are concerned about ambiguity in a resolution approving acquisition of certain CRHS assets and about the potential impacts on Clarkson’s academic programs and clinical placements.
Jessica Neiman, director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Clarkson College, said Clarkson — a hospital‑affiliated, private nonprofit institution — is listed among addresses affected by the acquisition. She told regents the college’s PTA program is the largest in the state, serves students in 73 of Nebraska’s 94 counties through more than 250 clinical contracts, and depends on campus sites and clinical placements that could be affected by an unclear property transfer.
Nate Wigan, vice president of college finance and CFO at Clarkson College, echoed those concerns. He said public documents connected to the resolution do not specify which parcels or buildings would remain under Board of Regents control and which would be operated by Nebraska Medicine after the transaction, leaving Clarkson uncertain about future operational and programmatic access. Wigan said the lack of clarity creates a potential institutional risk for Clarkson’s statewide programming and student access.
Why it matters: Clarkson College provides critical health‑care workforce training across Nebraska. Changes to ownership or campus operations for properties tied to Clarkson’s clinical or classroom spaces could affect program delivery, licensure and students’ ability to complete clinical requirements.
What the speakers requested: Clarkson representatives asked the board to consider clarifying which properties and operations will remain with the regents or be transferred, to provide more information publicly before finalizing the transaction, and to protect access that supports Clarkson’s statewide mission.
(Attribution: Jessica Neiman, Director, PTA program, Clarkson College; Nate Wigan, CFO, Clarkson College.)
