With shakeup avoided, regents look forward to making progress

Jeffrey Libby

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

The last time elections were held for the state Board of Regents, in 1998, five seats on the 11-member board were up for grabs. Newcomers won all but one.

Regent Dorothy Gallagher, the only incumbent to retain her seat that year, said the influx of new members caused an abrupt, but inevitable upheaval on the board. Two years later, "the board is about to come around."

Linda Howard, who convincingly defeated incumbent David Phillips Tuesday night, will be part of that directional correction. Along with Regent Mark Alden, who successfully defended his seat for a second term, she joins a board that in many ways appears poised to put policy in place that could guide the University and Community College System of Nevada through the next 30 years.

The main challenge regents face is "growth, growth, growth," Regent Howard Rosenburg. "It governs everything we do."

In the next three months regents will outline specific plans to put a tangible face on the so-called "phantom" state college in Henderson, an institution billed as a solution to everything from nursing shortages to a relief valve for other institutions overburdened by trying to be everything for everyone.

They will hear back from the New York-based Rand Corporation with initial recommendations on how to help diversify the roles of state institutions in order to better educate Nevadans with limited resources.

And within the year, they hope to receive a report from the state attorney general answering allegations that the Community College of Southern Nevada engaged in illegal construction contracts during the administration of former college President Richard Moore.

A separate investigation by Chancellor Jane Nichols into allegations of mismanagement at CCSN in the late 1990s concluded last month that policy changes should be made to prevent similar practices in the future, but found no violations of university system policy.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick has expressed criticism of Nichols' report, saying it doesn't go far enough in demanding accountability from CCSN administrators. And a subcommittee is conducting further audits to determine the veracity of reported student enrollment numbers and alleged double-billings for computer equipment, Regent Steve Sisolak said.

But others, like Gallagher, are looking for closure.

"We're doing nothing but hurting the institution (by continuing the investigations)," Gallagher said. "And when we do that, we're harming the students."

The proposed Nevada State College at Henderson has emerged as the regents' brightest hope for the future of education in Nevada. While the institution still has its lingering critics, regents Chairwoman Thalia Dondero said the board is moving forward with plans to open the school. Regents will most likely form subcommittees to plan campus architecture, the kind of faculty wanted, and other concerns at the December meeting, Dondero said.

Regents will also be working to win funding from the Legislature for better pay for faculty, Dondero said. "It's No. 1 on our want list," she said, adding that to attract that additional funding, regents and educators will have to prove they are making efficient use of current funding.

They may find that the newest board member, Howard, has some pointers for them. Howard, who also made better pay for faculty one of her campaign platforms this fall, was able to stage an upset win at the polls with just a $6,000 war chest.