State college to use high school sites

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

State college President Richard Moore doesn't know whether he has enough college students to fill classrooms, but plans to boost opening enrollment by adding high school students to the list.

Moore said he has solidified a deal that partners the new Nevada State College at Henderson with the Clark County School District to offer classes at five high schools throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

The high school sites will serve as feeders to the state college. Aside from high school students attending the classes, incoming freshmen will be able to attend college at the satellite sites.

Limited space for five classrooms also will be available at the college's main campus at 1125 Dawson St. in Henderson. That site will be renovated for $225,000, which will be provided by the city of Henderson in time for the Sept. 3 opening, Moore said.

Carlos Garcia, Clark County's superintendent of schools, said he believes the satellite high school campuses will provide much-needed space to educate teachers in the valley.

"One of the (state college's) goals is to produce teachers," Garcia said. "We're certainly supportive of that because we hire 70 percent of our teachers from out of state. In the long-run, it's a win-win."

In the meantime, other planning for the state college is down to the wire. There are just eight months left to hire five key administrators, plan the second-year curriculum and recruit 500 students. Moore said he has made headway on a number of fronts, but he has no idea if recent recruiting efforts have resulted in student sign-ups.

"I don't know how many students have signed up," Moore said. "I'm not trying to get students admitted. I'm trying to get key (administrative) spots filled so that it will attract students to the college."

But Moore and four recruiters did hand out admissions forms in September. More than 700 applications were given to prospective students during a countywide college fair. Those applications required an essay, references and detailed personal information, as well as a transcript release.

"We just wanted to give them information," Moore said. "Maybe we should have handed out fliers instead."

The first application deadline was Dec. 17, a date that Moore claims was placed on the application because they were patterning the language after the University of Nevada, Reno's form.

Moore said he plans to admit new students up until the day the college opens.

In the meantime, the latest deal with the Clark County School District could serve to boost enrollment numbers, provided the School Board agrees. The Community College of Southern Nevada has a similar arrangement with three schools throughout the county.

High school students will be able take state college courses concurrently with their required high school classes, with permission from their counselors. The arrangement allows the state college to count those numbers toward enrollment, therefore getting more funding from the state. "This isn't about getting more enrollment," Moore said. "This is about trying to help Nevadans get a college education."

CCSN President Ron Remington said that the new arrangement won't infringe on the community college's interests but said it may be the best way for Moore in regard to "generating enrollment numbers."

A planning team of five administrators is being heavily relied upon to bring in new students. Those positions include three deans to head up education, nursing and liberal arts. The college also needs a dean of admissions and a business officer.

Bob Johns, principal of Foothill High School, is widely rumored to be a shoo-in for dean of admissions. Moore's consideration of Johns for the position will be resolved within the month.

Ten faculty positions will also be filled by July 1, the date that second-year state funding kicks in.

Moore said the full-time staff, together with adjunct faculty, will teach 125 classes. He is not sure yet what classes will be offered.

"I don't know if we're going to start with sophomore level classes, freshman level or what," he said.

A key component of the college's success relies on accreditation. The state college is counting on UNR to be its sponsor.

"UNR has not submitted their sponsorship papers to us yet," said Ron Baker, associate executive director of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Nevada's accrediting institution.

UNR's accreditation official was unable to be reached for comment Monday, but the process takes an average of three months to complete.

Without that sponsorship state college students could not transfer courses or receive financial aid.

"There's a risk in that, because until the accreditation commission reviews the substantive changes by UNR, the college is not accredited," Baker said.

Moore faces other deadlines aside from accreditation, the creation of a curriculum and finding students. He also needs to raise $10 million in 14 months to stick to a construction schedule for the first permanent building, said Gus Nunez, deputy manager of Public Works.

Moore was hired in January 2000 to head up the new college. His salary is $182,000 per year plus other benefits.

In the time since he was hired, he says he has raised more than $1 million toward startup costs. His plan is to raise the $10 million in construction money after the college opens. Until then, he said his supporters have every faith that he will get everything finished in time for fall enrollment.

"I don't have anybody expressing concern about the college opening other than reporters," he said.

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