Monday, July 29, 2002 | 10:55 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- The Nevada State College in Henderson, scheduled to open in September, has gained "provisional approval" from the state for its teacher-training program.
The state Board of Education granted the approval Friday, subject to the school fulfilling specific conditions.
Two of the main functions of the new school will be to train schoolteachers and nurses.
Education Board member Merv Iverson of Las Vegas said he has "heard people say 'This will be the biggest white elephant in the history of the state.' " But given the right assistance, he said, the school will succeed.
Board member John Gwaltney is concerned about the qualifying high school grade point average of 2.5, instead of the 2.75 required at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but Keith Rheault, deputy director of the state Education Department, said the college feels it can make a "good teacher" out of those students.
Board member John Hawke said the incoming students would have to pass the same entrance examinations with the same passing grades as at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Hawke, who said he has been offered a position at the college, abstained from the vote on provisional approval.
Iverson, a member of the review committee on the education program, said Henderson could have "stronger (educational) courses than UNLV."
He said there's a chance the new college could emerge as a model program for training teachers.
Rheault said the state college cannot move forward with its efforts to get accreditation unless it had secured the approval of its teacher educational program from the state board.
The review team, which visited the college in May, said it wanted more information on the names and qualifications of the faculty, the listing of the courses to be offered, the status of the classrooms and an update on securing science laboratories and library facilities during the first school year.
The review team plans a followup visit Oct. 23.
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