Panel backs CCSN’s foreign student program

Denise Cardinal

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 10:40 a.m.

High marks were given to the international student program at the Community College of Southern Nevada from a citizens task force.

At Wednesday's meeting of the task force, which was assigned to evaluate the program, members voted unanimously to continue the program.

"This is an up and coming program with great potential," said Otto Merida, executive director of the Latin Chamber of Commerce and a member of the task force. "We have certain problems, but they're going to fix them."

The international student program was put in the limelight after it was publicized that the vice president of the program, William Cassell, and his wife, a consultant for the college, traveled around the world recruiting international students to CCSN.

In its investigation, the task force requested a survey of the students, which was conducted by Bill Kelly, vice president for student services. The results showed, overwhelmingly, that the students were happy with the program, with the average score equalling a B+ grade and 80 percent of the students from last year returning this semester.

"When asked what they'd like to improve, their answers weren't any different than what any other student would say," said Kelly. "Better food, transportation, more social events."

The high marks from students convinced the task force that the program should continue, and that the hiatus CCSN President Richard Moore imposed on the recruitment be lifted as soon as possible. The task force's recommendations will be presented at the Dec. 4 Board of Regents meeting.

In addition to continuing the program and lifting the hiatus, the committee asked that several aspects of the program be further studied by another, permanent, advisory committee. Those issues include funding for the program, recruiting procedures, advertising, support services to students, marketing techniques and housing issues.

Housing was the issue the task force was most concerned about. Students complained that they couldn't find affordable housing, or had problems in the homes they stayed with -- once again, as pointed out by the task force members, the same problems all college students have.

"My daughter is in college and wants to live by herself," said Raphael Vega, president of Vegas enterprises and member of the committee. "It's a common problem."

The task force will present its recommendation to the Board of Regents at the Dec. 4 meeting. Further studies will be done by the advisory committee appointed by Moore.