Design contest may be held for college

Jeffrey Libby

Friday, Dec. 1, 2000 | 11 a.m.

The look of the proposed Nevada State College at Henderson may be decided through a national design contest.

Richard Moore, founding president of the college, told the Board of Regents Thursday that the style of the campus architecture will be decided through a national contest.

Preliminary architectural plans had shown an early 20th century Georgian campus modeled loosely after Oxford University in England, but Moore said, "I am happy to surrender my modest control."

A private donor will supply the funding for the contest and prize money, Moore said.

The proposed state college has been billed as a long-term solution to the critical shortage of teachers and health care professionals in the Las Vegas Valley. It also promises to address growth concerns.

Moore also told the regents that four task committees will address executive, architectural, academic and financial planning concerns, Moore told the regents. The committees will research the latest thinking in those areas.

"There is a criticism in national education that the good progress doesn't spread," Moore said. "This is a good chance to identify some of the best practices available."

Thalia Dondero, chairwoman of the Board of Regents, is coordinating appointments for the committees. The hope is to include representatives from University of Nevada, Reno, UNLV, and the community.

Dondero emphasized that none of the committee members will be paid. She expressed a desire to organize the committees quickly "so when we're before the Legislature we can say, 'Yes, we have had some fun.' "

The 2001 Legislature is expected to approve a $9 million operating budget to carry the college through 2003. But $36 million in funding for initial buildings received a low priority from the state Public Works Board in September and will require strong lobbying to win this spring. A study to determine the feasibility of the college has yet to be presented to legislators.

Patricia Miltenberger, a professor of educational leadership at UNR, made her first official remarks before regents in her new capacity as the liaison between UNR and the state college during the accreditation process.

As Miltenberger explained it, UNR will lend its accreditation to the state college for a "one-year window." In that period, UNR will determine criteria for courses and sign off on financial aid contracts and any credit transfers.

UNR will also help recruit faculty and provide guidance for the four task forces headed by Dondero.

As with the task committees, Miltenberger echoed Moore's wish to include faculty from UNR and UNLV.