Henderson council approves plan for laying groundwork for new college

Valerie Miller

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000 | 10:19 a.m.

The Henderson City Council Tuesday approved $75,000 to develop a plan to open a state college in the city.

The move is significant because it broadens the support for the college by officially adding the city's backing to that of the state Board of Regents.

The plan will look at creating a mission statement for the college and possible sites in Henderson.

It also will look at the types of classes that should be offered as well as gathering public opinion from across the state about the college to give to the legislative advisory committee that recommended development of the college.

In leading the unanimous vote for approval Tuesday, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson said the agreement couldn't have come at a better time, especially now that the regents have named Community College of Southern Nevada President Richard Moore to be the founding president of the Henderson college. Gibson served on the advisory committee that recommended the college to the regents.

"This will give Dr. Moore the opportunity to guide the efforts of the city of Henderson, and the efforts of the university and community college system to make this something we can all be proud of."

Moore is scheduled to become the state college's founding president on Jan. 15.

After the meeting, Gibson said that the city's support was a major step in developing a state college in Henderson.

"This is one of the most significant things that has happened in the context of the state college to this point," he said. "While we have had some supportive votes by the Board of Regents, this agreement was adopted to really reinforce the nature of the agreement between the city of Henderson and the university system."

Gibson said the agreement would have a wide-reaching impact.

"It gives us an opportunity to really move this (state college) along in the right direction," Gibson added. "It will offer an opportunity for all of us to comment. Not just those from city of Henderson, but people from across the valley and across the state will have an opportunity to participate in an outreach program that will come from the opportunities provided by the contract."

Gibson disputed the criticism that the college is not needed and that it has been developed too fast.

"There has never been any attempt on our part to cram this down anyone's throat. The people who are detractors are looking at anything they can find to talk about," he said.

"I challenge anybody to find facts that are different from what we have found in researching the issue. The universities are going to be full. The only real question now is the site for it."

The plan calls for the city to provide a preliminary report on possible sites to the advisory committee by March 1.

Gibson said he hopes to have the college open as early as the fall of 2001.