Governor’s nod good sign for Henderson college

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 | 11:07 a.m.

Nevada State College at Henderson received Gov. Kenny Guinn's nod during his State of the State address Monday, setting into motion the birth of a new state-run college system that would effectively create a middle layer of education for students.

The governor wants to set aside nearly $23 million for the new college.

But Jane Nichols, chancellor for the University and Community College System of Nevada, noted that Guinn failed to recommend funding several key expansion projects for UNLV. There was no mention, for example, of adding a satellite campus in Summerlin or money for a law clinic that would help with the university's new law school accreditation.

"It was a bold speech that concentrated on new initiatives for the state," Nichols said. "We were disappointed that a number of our enhancement items did not get (recommended) funded, including the Summerlin campus money and dental college school, the pharmacy and the law school."

The state's higher education system received support for $756 million of the $1 billion that was requested.

Additionally, Guinn's support for increased K-12 programs also is expected to bolster the university and college system's long-range plan of having more college-ready students, Nichols said.

Overall the governor's higher education budget appeared to mirror the Legislature's attempt to make Northern and Southern Nevada equal in funding.

The University of Nevada, Reno, gained support for its new $66 million library. And southern higher education institutions received backing for the proposed $25 million health sciences building at the Community College of Southern Nevada, $19 million for UNLV's renovation of Wright Hall and $22.8 million for the Henderson college -- altogether totaling about $66 million.

The much ballyhooed new state school was the most prominent higher education item to receive mention in the governor's speech Monday night. Guinn touted the school as a means to address the state's teacher shortage.

"Tonight, I am pleased to endorse a project that addresses this shortage -- the proposed state college in Henderson," Guinn said. "This new institution will enable us to train more teachers than ever before."

The college also won the bipartisan support of Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who both agreed that the school fits a need for the state.

"I was optimistic that (the college) would make it in the speech," Perkins said to Sun columnist Jon Ralston during a post-speech discussion show on Las Vegas ONE, Cox Cable television channels 1 and 39.

"I'm happy with that. I think it provides a real need. It provides a quality way to produce teachers for the state," Perkins said.

Boasting cheaper enrollment fees -- 35 percent less than UNLV according to a legislative study -- the new school could draw an estimated 1,000 students in its first year.

UNLV President Carol Harter wouldn't say whether the new college is expected to pull students away from the university, but she did express concern over the need for a Summerlin campus to keep pace with growth.

"Planning for the Summerlin campus is very important to us. We will close escrow on that property soon," she said.

Harter said she plans to work through the Legislature in pursuing the $2 million in planning and construction money.

The governor's proposal is just the opening salvo in the fight for legislative dollars. Guinn's budget package will now wend its way through the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, who will then make their recommendations to their respective houses.

"For those things we did not get, we'll continue to make our case now and in the future," Nichols said.