Tuition battle gets personal for Cloobeck

Heather Rawlyk

Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 | 11:18 a.m.

When Las Vegas businessman Stephen Cloobeck opened his mail Thursday evening, he couldn't believe his eyes.

In his hands Cloobeck held his stepson's tuition bill for the upcoming spring semester at the Community College of Southern Nevada. The school had charged his stepson for nonresident tuition, even though Cloobeck, the legal guardian who pays the tuition, has been a Nevada resident for years.

Cloobeck's stepson has been a resident since June.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," he said. "And it couldn't be more ironic."

Cloobeck had announced Wednesday he was offering to fund any lawsuits against the university system by students who want to recover the difference between out-of-state tuition and in-state tuition if they were wrongly charged the higher rate.

"Now, I'm part of it," he said.

The conflict arose after student Sara Renteria informed Regent Steve Sisolak that the University and Community College System of Nevada was breaking state law by charging residents the out-of-state tuition rate if they had been living in Nevada less than 12 months.

The Nevada law declares a student "in-state" after residing in the state for six months. Regents set a policy in 1995 that defined residency for tuition purposes as 12 months.

Renteria, like Cloobeck's stepson, moved to Nevada in June.

"Oh, this is personal now and it fuels the fire," Cloobeck said. "You bet I am absolutely going to fight this for my stepson."

Cloobeck said his stepson was being charged the out-of-state rate because he moved from Montreal in June and had not been a student for 12 months.

At the community college that comes to a difference of more than $2,000 for a full-time student.

"Even if this didn't come up, it doesn't make a difference," Cloobeck said. "I'm the one paying the bills. I'm his guardian. I've lived in Nevada for years and I don't get it."

Cloobeck spent Thursday afternoon meeting with several people including university system Chancellor Jane Nichols.

Cloobeck said the chancellor did not have an immediate solution. "She knows she has a huge mess on her hands," he said.

Nichols did not return calls for comment this morning.

Cloobeck also met with Renteria.

"She is a lovely young lady and a very courageous woman," he said. "I'm very impressed with her and absolutely wants to go forward with this."

The system is going to have a tough time figuring out the situation, Cloobeck added.

"My gut tells me they're going to have a massive tidal wave," he said. "That Board of Regents, some heads are going to roll, I'm telling you."