Panel polishes pitch for college president

Jennifer Knight

Wednesday, May 15, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

Nevada State College at Henderson wants to make a good first impression on candidates to serve as the school's president.

The college's presidential search committee -- made up of educators and Henderson community members -- met Tuesday to discuss the wording on a profile of the school that will go out to all candidates.

The new college is scheduled to open its doors Sept. 3 at its site near U.S. 95 and Wagon Wheel Drive.

The final version of the profile and accompanying information will likely downplay negative aspects of the college -- such as the loss of first-year operating funds in the Legislature, former President Richard Moore's sudden departure and slow progress in recruiting students for the inaugural class.

"This is the primary recruiting piece that I will use to recruit any candidate," said Jean Dowdall, a consultant hired for the search. "Part of marketing to a candidate is being honest about some of the challenges there are."

Information about the Legislature passing the state college over for $1 million in first-year operating funds may not make it into the final draft.

And the target enrollment of 750 students or 500 full-time equivalent students may be changed. So far, the college has about 17 percent of the target numbers.

In addition to polishing the language of the profile, Regent Mark Alden developed a "white paper" that he said would help bolster the image of the college.

The document cites facts and figures on Southern Nevada's growth explosion over the last 10 years, its teaching and nursing shortages and the low amount of state funding the college will demand.

"I think you'll see that by far, it's much cheaper for the state to educate students at the state college," Alden said before the committee meeting.

For 500 full-time spots, Nevada State College at Henderson will cost the state $8,882 per student. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas costs the state $9,107 per student, the document said. Total savings to the state for the 500 students come to about $112,000 a year, the document said.

Committee member Selma Bartlett pointed out that the mission statement in the recruiting materials made no mention of educating nurses.

Former Sen. Richard Bryan, another search committee member, said details like that could foster the impression that the college lacks focus.

"Every time I see a description of what we are doing, it is different," Bryan said.

Despite Bryan's comments, the committee will not change the mission statement's wording. Whether to change it is a decision for the Board of Regents to make.

Dowdall said that some explanation regarding Moore's departure should be included in the material.