Rogers names Mason to head programs

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 | 9:47 a.m.

Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Jim Rogers on Tuesday named a Community College of Southern Nevada dean to head up statewide programs aimed at preparing K-12 students for higher education.

Rogers named Larry Mason, the dean of student affairs and community outreach, to lead activities related to its "seamless education" plans, he said. Mason is the dean of student affairs and community outreach at CCSN and he's the president of the Clark County School Board.

"We need somebody who understands what's going on in both systems," Rogers said.

Mason could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Walt Rulffes, deputy superintendent at the Clark County School District, said the seamless education programs are still in the planning stages.

He said the programs aim to reduce the number students in the Nevada school system who take remedial courses once they reach higher education.

Between 35 and 40 percent of Nevada high school students take some remedial classes once they reach higher education, Rulffes said. The national average is about 30 percent, he said.

Some of the ideas floated would also help prepare high school and college-level students for careers by teaching them trades such as construction management.

He said universities such as UNLV could offer these trade programs, and the district could offer appropriate preparatory classes.

Rogers said that the ideas are also still in the preliminary stages. He said that while K-12 and higher education may have their own programs, they have no combined plans yet.

"We need to sit down and develop some concrete plans," he said.