March 2019
We are just over a month into the new semester and already we have experienced a snowstorm that caused us to briefly close our campuses, earned national laurels for CSN’s student success efforts, launched our new Areas of Study, witnessed the grand opening of our first Center of Excellence, and so much more. This edition of the Chronicle contains much important news and information, so please read through it when you have a moment.
You should know that CSN received some great news at last week’s Board of Regents meeting, including the approval of our new Associate of Science degree in Dental Science, which will prepare students to apply to the Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene limited-entry program at CSN, or prepare them for a general transfer to another institution. Our outstanding faculty, staff and students were recognized, too, with 21 individuals being awarded tenure, a faculty member Diane Hardgrave given the Regents’ Teaching Award and student Narée Asherian given the Regents’ Scholar Award.
Be sure to read about our national recognition by Achieving the Dream as a “Leader College of Distinction.” We should all be proud of the hard-working faculty and staff at CSN that put Students First so they can graduate, complete, transfer and prosper!
–Federico
In this issue:
• Goettl Air Conditioning CEO Announces $250,000 Donation
• City of Henderson Pledges $500,000 for Health & Science Building
• Grants Available for Student-Centered Projects
• CSN Achieves National Recognition
• CSN Student Wins Regents’ Scholar Award
• CSN Professor Wins Regents’ Teaching Award
• Areas of Study Pages Are Live
• CSN Faculty & Staff Earn Tenure
• Coyote Howl
• Women’s History Month Events
• Commencement Speaker Contest Deadline
• CSN Day at the Legislature
• Distinguished & Excellence Awards Nominations
• Spring 2019 Enrollment Report
CSN Foundation
Goettl Air Conditioning CEO Announces $250,000 Donation
I am thrilled to tell you that Goettl Air Conditioning CEO Ken Goodrich, his wife Wendy and their son Duncan have established a $250,000 endowment fund through the Goodrich Family Trust intended to help low-income students become world class air conditioning and climate control technicians at CSN’s new state-of-the-art Air Conditioning Technology Center of Excellence.
The scholarship fund will support dual enrollment students, who attend Western High School and CSN’s air conditioning program simultaneously. Those students finish high school with college credits or a certificate of achievement at no cost to them. The endowment will pay for qualified students to complete their associate degree after high school, enabling them to thrive in an industry critical to the southern Nevada economy.
This endowment will mean that students who might not have been able to afford a college degree can now become the next generation of world class technicians. As CSN and CCSD continue to develop dual enrollment academies like this one at Western High School we will see the school-to-career pipelines for juniors and seniors grow and lay a foundation for tomorrow’s world class technical and professional workforce for the region.
Mr. Goodrich unveiled the donation at the grand opening of CSN’s remodeled Air Conditioning Technology Center of Excellence and Dual Enrollment Academy. Please join me in sending sincere thanks to Mr. Goodrich for all his support of our program over the years.
City of Henderson Pledges $500,000 for Health & Science Building
The Henderson City Council unanimously approved pledging $500,000 to the CSN Foundation in support of our new Health & Science Building campaign!
As you know, there is a shortage of health care workers in southern Nevada, and it is our intention to help train more workers to fill that gap. This building, which we will operate on our Henderson Campus in partnership with Nevada State College, will allow us to nearly double our nursing program enrollments and graduates.
The project is ranked as the number one priority not only by CSN, but also by the Southern Nevada Forum, an important group of legislative and business leaders that can have significant impact in Carson City.
We are requesting $70,763,741 from the legislature for this building. It will include classrooms, laboratories, a simulation center, a library and expanded office space for both CSN and NSC.See the City of Henderson’s Resolution
Inside CSN
Grants Available for Student-Centered Projects
The Office of Sponsored Projects and the CSN Foundation are seeking applications for two different grants that would help impact the lives of our students. CSN faculty, staff and student groups are encouraged to collaborate to submit proposals by the March 29 deadline. Grants as high as $25,000 are available. See the links below for full details.
The STEM Innovation and Impact Grant will help us recruit, retain and graduate more students in STEM fields. The grant is particularly focused on students in underrepresented communities, and carries an award up to $25,000. For more information, please contact Kristen Dwyer, Project Coordinator STEM Innovation and Impact 702-651-7688 or Kristen.Dwyer@csn.edu.
The CSN Foundation Spirit of CSN Award helps support our Students First initiative. If you have an idea for a student-centered project for the 2019-20 academic year, you could be awarded between $5,000 and $10,000. For more information, please contact Barbara Talisman, CFRE, Executive Director, CSN Foundation at 702-651-7535 or Barbara.Talisman@csn.edu.Learn about the Spirit of CSN Grant & the STEM Grant
CSN Achieves National Recognition, Named ‘Leader College of Distinction’
I am proud to announce that Achieving the Dream named CSN one of only 11 Leader Colleges of Distinction nationwide for our work on improving student success and reducing student achievement gaps. This is incredible news and shows how hard our faculty and staff have been working on these issues.
As you know, CSN joined ATD in 2012 with the express purpose of helping our students succeed. The award recognizes colleges that have consistently strived to meet challenging student success goals. ATD cited CSN for gains of 8 percentage points for students completing gateway math, 8 percentage points for gateway English, 8 percentage points for fall-to-fall persistence and a 3-percentage-point increase in completion. In addition, low-income CSN students saw a 10-percentage-point increase in gateway math completion, a 13-percentage-point increase in gateway English completion, and a 10-percentage-point increase in persistence. The college also showed gains for female students as well as black and Latino students across metrics. For example, there was an 11-percentage-point increase in Latino student persistence.
There is nothing more important for CSN than student success, which means ensuring that our students complete their education so they can prosper in the workplace.
Congratulations to all involved in bringing this tremendous national honor to CSN. Read Our Press Release
CSN Student Wins Regents’ Scholar Award
College of Southern Nevada High School student Narée Asherian was named the 2019 Regents’ Scholar for community colleges in Nevada last week. Congratulations!
Asherian will graduate this spring with both a high school diploma and an Associate of Business degree from CSN. While at CSN High School, she has balanced more than nine college credits per semester, as well as juggling her high school workload. She has maintained a 3.8 grade-point average and plans to transfer to UNLV and earn a bachelor’s degree in business within two years. The award includes a $5,000 cash stipend, and is based on academics, leadership, and service contributions and the recipient’s potential for continued success.
Naree said: “I’m very grateful for all the opportunities that both CSN and CSNHS have provided for me — as the daughter of immigrants that worked hard to go to school and get their degrees, it means so much to me to be able to attend a program that provides me with the education and skillset I need to be successful, both inside and out of the classroom. I look forward to using the stipend toward my journey at UNLV, and I would like to thank the NSHE Regents’ Board for making it possible for me to continue my education, and for allowing me to represent the success of CSN and CSNHS.”
What an amazing student. Read the Nomination
CSN Professor Wins Regents’ Teaching Award
Congratulations to anthropology professor Diane Hardgrave, who won the Nevada Regents’ Teaching Award last week! What an incredible honor.
Hardgrave, who joined CSN in 2013, previously won the Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award here and, while a graduate student at UNLV, she earned the Regents’ Scholar award. She is known for her engaging teaching style, bringing mindfulness meditation techniques into the classroom (and CAPE sessions for faculty and staff), and for developing a Forensic Anthropology Certificate of Achievement at CSN.
In 1996, the Board of Regents established of the annual Regents’ Teaching Award. This award honors outstanding instructional contributions to the Nevada System of Higher Education. Awardees receive a $5,000 stipend and a medal. Read Hardgrave’s Award Nomination
Areas of Study Pages and Student Applications Pages Are Live
Please visit our new Pathways for Student Success page, linked below. Start at our home page and go through the new web pages as a new student would do so you understand the experience. Also take a look at our new student animated video. We we want your feedback on the new pages. If you have ideas for new features that can help take new students from career exploration through application, please let us know. If you find something that is not working right, please let us know that too. Email the communications and marketing team at marketingservices@csn.edu. And as always, please keep checking the Pathways for Student Success page linked below for new materials and new information on our continuing Guided Pathways efforts. Visit the New Pathways for Student Success Page & Watch the Video
CSN Faculty & Staff Earn Tenure
Congratulations to the following individuals, who were granted tenure last week by the Board of Regents:
• Anthony Adamo, World Languages
• Brad Kevin Brady, Advising/Counseling and First Year Experience
• Kaylee Baucom, English
• Janelle Benedetti, Advising/Counseling and First Year Experience
• Dr. Francis Joseph Carleton III, Social Sciences
• Shawn Claxton, Advising/Counseling and First Year Experience
• Jessica L. Dycus, Health Related Professions
• Joseph Gormley, Hospitality Management
• Braiden W. Green, Criminal Justice and Emergency Services
• Dr. William Kwon, Social Sciences
• Michael McDonald, Accounting, Finance & Computer Office Technology
• Dr. Robert L. MacDonald, Social Sciences
• Dr. John B. Min, Social Sciences
• Luis Ortega, Advising/Counseling and First Year Experience
• Emily Rafael, Advising/Counseling and First Year Experience
• Joseph Ryan, Computing and Information Technology
• Dr. James Theoret, Biological Sciences
• Staci Walters, Fine Arts
• Walker Weimer, English
• Erin Windsor, Biological Sciences
• Dr. Diana Woodhouse, Communication
Coyote Howl
Thank you to the Office of Alumni Relations and student government for creating an exciting and engaging event with last month’s Coyote Howl for our upcoming graduates. More than 300 students attended the event on our North Las Vegas campus, half of whom will graduate this year. Students were able to purchase caps and gowns and learn about resources beyond CSN, and were treated to free food and music. As a reminder, our commencement ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. May 20 in the Thomas & Mack Center.Learn More about CSN’s Graduation
Upcoming Events
Women’s History Month Events
In honor of Women’s History Month, CSN will hold a variety of events geared toward exploring important contributions that women have made to America and the world. Please attend one or more of the events if you can, and spread the word. The more the merrier.
• March 9: Status of Women Conference
• March 13: Women of Strength and Valor
• March 21: Women’s History Month Event
• March 21: Nevada Women’s Film Fest
• March 25: Reproductive Justice & Roe v. Wade
• March 26: Spotlight on Women
Get Details on all the Events
Commencement Speaker Contest Deadline
The Class of 2019 Commencement Speaker Contest committee is accepting speaker applications through March 10. The selected speaker may be eligible to receive the Nevada Institution Transfer Scholarship. Those who have attended commencement ceremonies in the past know that the student speaker is a highlight of the night. I am very much looking forward to my first commencement as CSN’s president, and to hearing the winner of the contest deliver their speech.Learn More Here, Including How to Apply
CSN Day at the Legislature
CSN Day at the Legislature is almost here! On Monday, March 25, CSN students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in our state’s legislative process in Carson City.
Be sure to see the links below to learn about our legislative priorities and CSN’s lobbying policy.
If you have any questions about CSN Day at the Legislature, please contact Interim Director of Government Affairs Mariana Kihuen at mariana.kihuen@csn.edu or 702-326-6561.Learn More About our Legislative Priorities & Lobbying Policy
Distinguished & Excellence Awards Nominations
It’s time once again to nominate a colleague for a Distinguished or Excellence award. As you know, these awards are given each year at Convocation to faculty and staff members who have consistently demonstrated outstanding dedication and hard work on behalf of our students. Don’t wait, the deadline is March 25. See the link below for more information.
Nominate a Colleague
Enrollment
Spring 2019 Enrollment Report
Please review the latest enrollment report at the link below. This updated report reflects our spring enrollment through March 5. Visit the Institutional Research web page to see additional enrollment and institutional data.
See the Enrollment Report