April 2018 CSN Chronicle


April 2018
Greetings, Coyote nation! I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your spring break. It’s always nice to have a little time off before the big push at the end of the semester. Before we know it, students will be taking final exams and we will all be celebrating another CSN Commencement ceremony. But first, I have lots of news to share this month about what’s been going on at CSN and some things to come. Please read on. – Margo

In this issue:
Roundtables Roundup Convocation Kickoff HSI & MSI Eligibility Financial Aid Excellence & Distinguished Awards Science & Tech Expo Commencement	Tax Prep Workshops By the Numbers Regent Moran First Pitch Student Athlete Awards VIP Baseball Experience CSN Foundation Diversity Awards

Read the President’s Blog

Roundtables, Pizza Events
We had good crowds at the three roundtables held for faculty and staff and the pizza with the president events for students in March. We talked about everything from new programs, textbook prices and police services to how Britney Spears figured into my behind-the-scenes introduction to Nevada. You had to be there. I was pleased with the turnout at these events because one of the first things I wanted to accomplish when I was asked to step in as acting president was to ensure that I was accessible to you all. I want every faculty and staff member to feel comfortable talking about what’s going on at CSN or asking whatever questions he or she might have. The same goes for students. I am here to serve you, and them. If you missed the roundtables and you have questions or ideas you wish you could have shared, please do so. Email me at president@csn.edu.
Email the President

Convocation Committee
We are just getting started on planning the 2018 Convocation Kickoff event for this year, and we’d love your help. We are looking for volunteers to join the Convocation Planning Committee. This will be a small group designed to brainstorm ideas for the event, scheduled for Aug. 20. Please contact Annette Lord by April 13 if interested, and please check in with your supervisor first.
Join the Committee

Inside CSN
CSN Retains HSI & MSI Status
Linked below is a letter from the U.S. Department of Education notifying us that we will continue to be considered both a Hispanic Serving Institution and a Minority Serving Institution. This is wonderful news, and not just because the label is accurate. Such designations by the Department of Education enable CSN to apply for Title III and Title V grants. These grants, while awarded because of MSI or HSI status, benefit all of CSN.
Read the Department of Ed’s HSI/MSI Letter

Financial Aid
The Department of Education recently notified CSN that the college is on provisional status regarding financial aid programs. Typically colleges are recertified to award financial aid every six years. We are currently on provisional status through March 2019 because of a missed deadline in 2015. Despite this misstep, we have made the necessary corrections and have had very positive communications with the Department of Education. CSN continues to be authorized to award financial aid to students who qualify. We are also continuing to submit our new degrees to the DOE for financial aid qualification. This provisional status will not affect our students, nor will it prevent CSN from developing and offering new degrees.
Read the Letter

Upcoming Events

Excellence and Distinguished Awards
One of the highlights of the year is recognizing those who have made extraordinary contributions to CSN and the success of our students. We celebrate these superstars each year at Convocation in August, but now is the time to nominate an outstanding colleague for one of these awards. The deadline is 5 p.m. today. Please see the link below for details. I look forward to congratulating the winners this summer.
Nominate Someone Here

Science & Tech Expo
For the 15th year in a row, CSN will be hosting and the Science & Technology Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 27. This will take place on the North Las Vegas Campus in and around the A and C buildings. These events are a thrill to attend with upwards of 2,000 students from participating Clark County School District schools, as well as members of the public. They’ll get to see exotic animals, courtesy of CSN’s Veterinary Technology program, flight simulators from our Aviation Technology program, a magic show, thanks to our chemistry department, shows in our wonderful planetarium and so much more. The goal here is to ensure the students enjoy their day at CSN, of course, but also to help them become excited about science and technology. As our economy becomes ever more dependent on tech-related fields, it is imperative that the next generation of college students embraces the STEM disciplines. Thanks to CCSD, the CSN Foundation and the Las Vegas Science & Technology Festival for co-sponsoring this great, fun event.
Learn More About the Expo

CSN’s 46th Commencement Ceremony
Commencement is why we do what we do. We will gather at 6 p.m. May 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center with a couple thousand CSN students for the most exciting event of the year. There will be plenty of pomp and circumstance! There will be speeches, too, though I promise to keep mine as short and to-the-point as possible. But what we will all really be there for is to celebrate what is likely to be another record-sized graduating class. Upwards of 3,000 degrees and certificates will be awarded. That’s 3,000 new college graduates, the vast majority of whom will stay in southern Nevada. It’s a special time for them, for us, for our entire community. Please join me at the event. I promise you’ll enjoy yourself.
Learn More About the Commencement Ceremony

Tax Prep Workshops
As springtime become crunch time for taxes, CSN’s Department of Accounting and Finance is here to help. Now through April 17, the department is offering a free tax prep workshop at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday. Anyone can come, and all help is free. This is a great way for our students to get experience working with clients. Last year, this team of volunteers helped complete approximately 300 returns.
More Info Here

By the Numbers

Look for this section each month to learn about the data that drive discussion and decisions at CSN.

First Steps
As we dive deep into our Achieving the Dream numbers, there is evidence that the First Steps student success initiative is making a difference. This initiative, first put in place in 2014, requires new high school graduates to take placement testing, attend orientation, and receive advising. The data show that First Steps seems to be helping close achievement gaps in graduation rates, as evidenced by First Steps Pell and minority students graduating at a higher rate than their non-First Steps counterparts. In addition, First Steps students stay at CSN longer and take more credits than their counterparts. As we further analyze the data, we are expanding our student success efforts by developing adjunct faculty professional development programming, continuing vigorous assessment, focusing on guided pathways for students, and leveraging our ATD Leader College status by attempting to take advantage of special grant and recognition opportunities. Please take a look at the document linked below for more information.
More Information Here

Spring 2018 Census Enrollment Numbers
Please review the latest enrollment report at the link below. This updated report reflects our census date total for Spring 2018. This census date is a system-wide standardized reporting date on which each institution provides a snapshot of student data, including preliminary enrollment counts. Visit the Institutional Research web page to see additional enrollment and institutional data.
See the Spring 2018 Enrollment Data

CSN Coyotes
NSHE Regent John T. Moran Throws Out First Pitch
We were delighted to welcome Nevada System of Higher Education Regent John T. Moran to the CSN Coyotes conference play opening weekend, where he threw out the ceremonial first pitch on March 9. Our Coyotes continued an amazing year so far and won that game. The team’s most recent ranking is fourth in the nation! Wow. Go Coyotes!
See the National Rankings

Student Athlete Awards Banquet
CSN Athletics will honor its finest male and female student athletes at the annual Student Athlete Awards Banquet, to be held at 6 p.m. April 24 at the Eastside Cannery Hotel and Casino. I encourage you to attend for a night to remember. Show your Coyote Spirit as we celebrate the best and brightest.
Get Your Ticket to the Banquet

VIP Baseball Experience Raffle
The CSN Coyotes will also be holding its VIP Baseball Experience raffle this spring. The winner and a guest will fly round trip to Denver for a two-night stay! Included are two seats to watch former CSN Coyote Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals face former CSN Coyote Mike Dunn and the Colorado Rockies on September 28 or 29. This is a great way to support our program.
Get Your Raffle Ticket Here

CSN Foundation

Coyote Howl
The CSN Office of Alumni Relations’ Coyote Howl event was a howling success. Hundreds of students attended the event, designed to provide information about our graduation and life after CSN. In addition to gathering useful information, students purchased caps and gowns, had professional photos taken, sang karaoke, and enjoyed Pepsi, pizza, funnel cake and all the best goodies. One student who attended said: “Thank you again for creating this event for all students. It is a big deal for me since I am the first one in my family to finish college.” Many thanks to Jamille Walton, Michelle Word, Ashton Ridley, Pat Zozaya, Kim Booth, Hieu Le and Lisa Foreman for putting the event together.

Parking Space Raffle Winner
Congratulations to Tina Holcomb, financial aid assistant director, for winning the March parking space raffle!
Visit the Office of Alumni Relations

In Other News
Diversity Awards
This year’s Diversity Week was full of workshops, presentations and events, and was capped off by the annual Diversity Recognition Awards breakfast on Friday, March 12. In addition to honoring CSN faculty and staff who worked hard on diversity-related issues over the last year, the 2018 CSN Diversity Excellence Award was presented to Michael Kagan, director of the UNLV Immigration Clinic, for an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Congratulations to all!
Visit the Office of Inclusive Learning and Engagement

Archives

Meta

Archives