LOOKING IN ON: HIGHER EDUCATION

Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007 | 7:35 a.m.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Or $12,000.

Chancellor Jim Rogers, a millionaire media mogul, dipped into his own pocket again in December to support his pet project, the academic health science system. This time, it was for 200 poster-sized diagrams detailing how the proposed system will work.

The posters, at $60 a pop, went to state lawmakers and leading donors to help sell the concept. Rogers needs to raise $300 million in public and private money for the first phase alone, which includes expanding the medical school and the state's nursing programs, and adding a school of pharmacy.

"It's very difficult to explain this to people without a picture," Rogers said.

The diagram lists more than 150 degree programs, including every existing one remotely associated with health sciences in the Nevada System of Higher Education. That includes everything from medical school down to physical education to massage therapy. The diagrams also include mental health and programs that go into the business and legalities of health care. A vice chancellor of health sciences, along with a seven-member staff, will coordinate all of these programs through vice presidents at each school.

Speaking of lobbying, UNLV officials have landed themselves a new lobbyist for the 2007 Legislature.

UNLV reopened its initial search in December after its original hire - Dan Musgrove - quit in November only a few months into the job to go to work for University Medical Center.

Taking his place is Nevada Resort Association lobbyist/public affairs director Luis Valera, a UNLV undergraduate and law school alumnus. Valera is the quickest hire in a long list of open positions at the university.

He will make $127,000 a year.

Musgrove was listed at $150,000.

The Community College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College in Henderson will both be expanding their course offerings in local high schools this spring.

Presidents at both colleges signed formal agreements with the Clark County School District late last month.

After debuting this fall at Eldorado and Las Vegas high schools, Nevada State will expand its dual credit courses to the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, Coronado, and Liberty high schools. The dual credit courses allow high school students to take college-level courses on campus, at a reduced cost of $25 for a three-credit class. Eldorado students were offered sociology this fall and will be able to take an enhanced English 101 in the spring.

CCSN's Jumpstart program, which offers college preparatory classes for high school students who need extra help, will expand into Mojave, Palo Verde, Green Valley, Durango and Western high schools in the spring. Rancho High School piloted the program with a psychology class this past semester.

Depending on placement tests, students will be able to take a study skills class, preparatory math and English, and Psychology 101. The classes are taught by high school instructors certified by the college.