- Nevada State College
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Nevada State College 
Established 2002 Type Public President Dr. Lesley DiMare Provost Dr. Erika Beck Academic staff 66[1] Admin. staff 74 Students 2,964[2] Undergraduates 2,964 Location Henderson, NV, USA Campus Suburban Colors Black and Gold Mascot Scorpion Website www.nsc.nevada.edu Nevada State College (NSC) is a four-year public college located in Henderson, Nevada, and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). The college opened on September 3, 2002, and is located on a 509 acres (206 ha) site in the southern foothills of Henderson, Nevada.[3] The site of the college raised environmental concerns as it was located next to a toxic waste dump.[4]
In the past, some of Nevada State College's programs suffered from lower than expected enrollments.[5] The university has recently laid off an undisclosed number of staff as a cost saving measure.[6] However, enrollment for 2010 increased by 23.3% compared to the year before.[7][8]
As of 2008, the university's six-year graduation rate is 16%.[9] This graduation rate is less than one-third the national graduation level of 57%.
Since 2004, 861 students have graduated, 437 of them earning nursing degrees.[10] Approximately 45% of Nevada State College's students are first-generation college students. An equivalent percentage are members of racial or ethnic minorities.[11]
Due to state budget cuts, there have been proposals to close down Nevada State College.[12] However, in March 2010 members of the Board of Regents expressed their continued support of Nevada State College despite budget cuts.[13]
Nevada State College does not currently have any athletic programs. The school's colors are black and gold and its mascot is a scorpion.
Contents
Campus
In 2002, as part of the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002, the US Congress conveyed 509 acres (206 ha) to the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and the City of Henderson for the express purpose of creating a new four-year institution of higher education.[14]
Under the leadership and guidance of its late President, Dr. Fred Maryanski, Nevada State College acquired accreditation, moved with its master plan for a 509-acre (2.06 km2) campus, saw rising enrollment, and the opening of its first permanent building, the Liberal Arts and Sciences building in August 2008.[15] The 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m2) building has faculty offices, labs and seven classrooms. The building includes SMART classroom technologies which allow professors to use a wide array of audio and visual teaching techniques, and scientific equipment for educational use.[16]
Programs
Nevada State College offers regular and accelerated nursing degrees, education degrees, and liberal arts majors including psychology, biology, history, English, and criminal justice.
Proposals to close down NSC
The Nevada System of Higher Education, faces a $900 million budget deficit. Due to budget cuts, there have been proposals to close down Nevada State College along with other NHSE programs and schools.[12]
Faculty and programs
As of the latest IPEDS Diversity Report, Nevada State College’s full-time faculty is 34.2% ethnic/racial minorities which is the highest percentage of all of the Nevada System of Higher Education institutions.[17]
On May 10, 2008, Nevada State College held its fifth graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, officials referred to NSC as a small but growing college of roughly 2,000 students. Graduating students recognized the role that the faculty played throughout their college careers and the connection they felt to Nevada State College.[18]
In the Fall of 2008, Nevada State College launched Nevada’s first bachelor of science degree in the education of the deaf and hard of hearing. The program addresses the deaf culture and its integration of deaf students into specific subject areas.[19]
Nevada State College also partners with Touro University to accommodate students in Occupational Therapy. Through the partnership, students complete three years of their bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy Science at Nevada State College, then transfer to Touro University for the final two years.[20]
Low graduation rate
As of the end of spring 2008, Nevada State College has graduated 16% of the full-time students who registered as freshmen in fall 2002, and 11% of 2003's incoming freshmen. A graduation rate of 16% is one-third that of California’s public state colleges. School officials characterize the rate as low, and are launching programs to increase student retention.[9] The average six-year graduation rate for colleges in the United States is 57%.[21]
Low enrollments
Nevada State College was once troubled by low enrollments in majors like business administration. In 2008, the management program at Nevada State College expected to have 40 students in its third year but had only two.[5] This has led the provost DiMare to acknowledge that programs will be ended, saying "When we’re talking about a program with two students, there’s no viable reason for maintaining that".[22]
In 2008 Nevada State College launched a campus-wide recruitment and retention initiative. Between the Spring 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters, Nevada State College increased enrollment by over 20%, to over 2,600 students.[23]
Budget cuts and student protests
Among the different educational institutions of the NHSE, the largest 2009 budget cuts by the state legislature were for Nevada State College at 24.1%. Neighboring College of Southern Nevada had its budget cut by only 4.9%.[24]
Nevada State College budget cuts could have resulted in larger class sizes, fewer available classes and construction project delays. This has led to student protests.[25] According to NSC officials, budget cuts have left student services understaffed,[26] and about 25% of the university's teaching and administrative positions will be left vacant in 2008.[27] The university has laid off an undisclosed number of staff in 2008 as a cost saving measure. These layoffs could hurt student services such as counseling and financial aid.[6] According to Nevada State College's late President Dr. Fred Maryanski (1947–2010), budget cuts were implemented in a way that avoids reducing class offerings.[28]
In August 2008, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported "Officials there are considering more drastic reductions as the newbie in Nevada's higher education system faces the prospect of more state-mandated budget cuts. The school's president warned Tuesday that the cuts will probably mean fewer classes available, which could mean some students will lose financial aid or take longer to graduate... Gov. Jim Gibbons has proposed cutting next year's budgets by another 14 percent." NSC officials have also formed a committee to consider whether to hold back a part of each unit's operating budget for a mid-year review and impose a credit surcharge on student tuition.[29]
In January 2010, students initiated the "myNSCstory" campaign as a response to proposed budget cuts and tuition increases. The campaign involves handwritten notes from students, accompanied by photos, sent to state officials. Over 10% of the entire student body participated.[30]
Tuition, fees and financial aid
For the 2010-2011 academic year, Nevada residents will pay $103.25 per credit for tuition, plus student fees.[31]
Nevada State College offers financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans.
References
- ^ http://nsc.nevada.edu/2069.asp Nevada State College - NSC at a Glance
- ^ Review-Journal http://www.lvrj.com/news/budgets-shrinking--but-enrollment-s-up-88893972.html Accessed March 24, 2010
- ^ Nevada State College - About Nevada State College
- ^ [1] New Nevada college site planned next to toxic waste dump
- ^ a b University cuts, Las Vegas Sun, Feb 13, 2008
- ^ a b Colleges keeping layoffs secret
- ^ Nevada State College Faces Possible Closures, CBS Channel 8 website. http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=12008480&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lasvegasnow%2Fiteam+%28LasVegasNow+-+I-Team+Reports%29 Accessed February 19, 2010.
- ^ Review-Journal http://www.lvrj.com/news/budgets-shrinking--but-enrollment-s-up-88893972.html Accessed March 24, 2010.
- ^ a b Henderson college’s grad rate disappoints
- ^ Nevada State Braces for Budget Cuts, Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/nevada-state-college-braces-for-budget-cuts-or-worse-84371777.html Accessed February 19, 2010.
- ^ Nevada State Braces for Budget Cuts, Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/nevada-state-college-braces-for-budget-cuts-or-worse-84371777.html
- ^ a b [2]
- ^ Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/20/regents-umbrella-will-help-shield-system/ Accessed March 24, 2010.
- ^ Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 (PL 107-282, November 6, 2002).
- ^ http://www.ktvn.com/Global/story.asp?S=8858497 Nevada State College Moves to New Building
- ^ Hsu, C. (2008, March 15). College’s first permanent building to meet many needs. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved June 20, 2008 from http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/mar/15/colleges-first-permanent-building-meet-many-needs/#
- ^ 2007 Nevada Education Data Book. Retrieved from http://www.leg.state.nv.us/lcb/research/EducationDataBook/2007EducationDataBook.pdf
- ^ Clark, D. (2008, May 21). Nevada State grads celebrate. South Valley Home News, p. 11A.
- ^ Clark, D. (2008, June 4). Nevada State College to train teachers of deaf. Henderson Home News, pp. 6A.
- ^ Master’s degree now required for therapists. Green Valley Henderson View. (2007, September 4). Retrieved from http://www.viewnews.com/2007/VIEW-Sep-04-Tue-2007/Henderson/16370559.html
- ^ "Placing College Graduation Rates in Context". National Center for Educational Statistics. pp. 15. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/2007161.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ New programs, few students Las Vegas Sun, Feb 9, 2008
- ^ Las Vegas Review-Journal http://www.lvrj.com/news/budgets-shrinking--but-enrollment-s-up-88893972.html Accessed March 24, 2010.
- ^ Faculty, professional staff shielded from furloughs
- ^ Nevada State College students rally against cuts Las Vegas Review Journal, Dec 6, 2007
- ^ Rogers calls off fishing trip, but keeps up the discussion
- ^ Budget cut talks turn into reality
- ^ Las Vegas Sun http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/20/regents-umbrella-will-help-shield-system/ Accessed March 24, 2010.
- ^ http://www.lvrj.com/news/26330404.html STATE-MANDATED BUDGET CUTS: College looks at more savings
- ^ Fox5 News. http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/22482643/detail.html
- ^ Nevada State College website. http://nsc.nevada.edu/1136.asp
External links
Coordinates: 35°59′14″N 114°56′20″W / 35.987248°N 114.938847°W
Nevada colleges and universities Nevada System of Higher Education Four-year Two-year Post-graduate Private institutionsNon-profit For-profit Career College of Northern Nevada · DeVry University · International Academy of Design and Technology · ITT Technical Institute · Kaplan College · Las Vegas College · Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas · Morrison University · Pima Medical Institute · The Art Institute of Las Vegas · University of PhoenixCategories:- Nevada System of Higher Education
- American Association of State Colleges and Universities
- Buildings and structures in Henderson, Nevada
- Education in Henderson, Nevada
- Universities and colleges in Nevada
- Educational institutions established in 2002
- Universities and colleges accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Universities and colleges in Clark County, Nevada
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