CCSN wins new approval, praise

Tuesday, July 11, 2000 | 11:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The fast-growing Community College of Southern Nevada has gained renewal of its accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, which praised the school for serving community needs and providing student access.

The association, however, recommended more staffing, buildings and financial support to keep up with the expanding student population.

The college has 35,000 students taking 75 programs a semester. It is the fastest growing school in the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Robert Silverman, interim president of CCSN, said getting that money will be the top priority in the 2001 Legislature. There was no estimate on how much it would cost to achieve the goals set by the association.

The accreditation, Silverman said, "verifies the exceptional quality and effectiveness of our academic programs and college operations to support Southern Nevada residents, employers and our communities."

The college was last accredited 10 years ago, and the association made an interim visit five years ago to assess the campuses.

John Kuminecz, public affairs director for the college, said the association inspectors will make an interim visit in the spring of 2002 to take another look at the progress made. The association recommends schools undergo accreditation procedures at least once every 10 years.

The association evaluators visited the campuses last March.

The inspectors recommended that publications for students on their rights, conduct, responsibility and grievance procedures be kept up to date, that counseling services be expanded for students and that courses be assessed to make sure they include the topics that students are supposed to learn.

The association said the school should review all certificate programs "to enhance course objectives and instruction" and to organize the administrative structure to support the college's teaching mission. It also said, according to Kuminecz, that attention should be paid to those students in rural areas.

He noted that a $5 million high tech center will start construction this year in Pahrump and that residents of Mesquite have 80 acres to donate for the site of a community college.

The inspectors commended the college for the deep commitment of faculty, for its well-maintained facilities and for the administrative and technical staffs.

They found that a well-trained technical staff with current equipment and software has integrated technologies into instructional programs and support areas.