I am pleased to report that the budgeted increase in the adjunct and overload pay rate from $875 to $925 per instructional unit for the fall 2020 semester will be moving forward as planned.
This higher pay rate will be reflected on employees’ upcoming employment contracts for the fall semester. Human Resources will contact affected departments to work out the details.
I know you are all as excited about this historic semester at CSN as I am. Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support.
Stay safe and God bless.
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
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During these difficult economic times, we at CSN know that every dollar counts. That’s why we have decided to waive the $1 per credit Student Union Operations and Maintenance fee for the fall 2020 semester. The majority of our classes will be online this semester, so we do not expect the student unions to be heavily used.
Those students who have not paid their fall 2020 bill yet will not get charged the fee. Those who have paid already will be issued refunds.
As a reminder, for those faculty, staff and students who will be on campus this semester, CSN is strictly following health and safety guidelines set by federal, state and local officials. Masks will be required at all times, social distancing protocols will be in effect, and gatherings will be strictly limited. We want our entire family to remain safe.
I want to thank our faculty, staff and students for your continued support as we navigate an unprecedented situation.
Stay safe and God bless.
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
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It seems hard to believe but we are weeks away from the start of the fall 2020 semester. While I am excited for the start of a new semester, please know that deliberate care and caution will rule the day. Our Return to Campus plan is designed to be flexible. We have been planning for a mix of online and on-campus classes, but we will be able to shift to an almost entirely online operation should that be necessary to ensure our safety and well-being. That’s why when we do return to campus, there will be strict safety protocols in place. These will include mandatory masks, social distancing on campus — including in classrooms — plexiglass in some areas, hand sanitizer stations located throughout campus, and many more measures. I hope to see you all at our virtual 2020 Convocation.
Federico
In This Issue:
Return to Campus Budget Reductions Convocation Diversity summit Leadership Academy Campus Commuter DWED stuff Schneider Electric Enrollment and Institutional Data
Return to Campus
Based on your feedback and input, we have made some adjustments regarding the notification process for those who will return to campus. As you know, many of you will continue telecommuting if your work can be done effectively away from campus. For those who will return, you can expect to receive notice from your supervisor 10 work days before your return. We’ve also created two temporary return to work categories: Ad Hoc and Urgent.
Those asked to return to campus on an Ad Hoc basis should expect to be on campus for a short period, typically less than four weeks, to complete a project or other work assignment that requires in-person work. These employees will still telecommute once the short-term, on-campus assignment is over. Employees will be given five working days’ notice if they are to return for one of these short-term assignments. A member of my Executive Council must give approval for an Ad Hoc return.
Those asked to return for an Urgent need will be called in only for unexpected situations where their services are necessary. Urgent returns require approval from a member of the Executive Council, the Chief Human Resources Officer and the affected Campus Vice President & Provost. These will be extremely limited in nature.
All employees must complete online safety training and complete a daily self-check before returning to campus. You will receive information on the safety training beginning this week, and all employees are expected to complete it this month.
Budget Reductions
Let me start by saying this: If the Board of Regents approves submitted budget reduction plans as expected, there will be no layoffs at CSN. Our budget reduction plan to deal with more than $19 million in cuts includes but is not limited to:
Freezing approximately 50 positions indefinitely;
Reducing operational costs by approximately 50 percent for travel, hosting, printing, supplies, and FFE;
Limiting personnel in facilities, administrative, academic, and student service areas;
Reducing service and possibly closing CSN Hi-Tech and Community Centers, such as those at Nellis Air Force Base, Summerlin, Green Valley and Mesquite;
And limiting the number of accelerated short-term workforce training programs in Health Professions, Information Technology, Logistics and Manufacturing, and Skill Trades (automotive, diesel tech, dental hygiene and dental assisting, veterinary nursing) being designed for long-term unemployed and displaced workers.
Convocation
This year’s Welcome Back and Convocation Celebration will be an entirely virtual event. Scheduled for August 15-21, we’re combining the activities of Convocation Week with those from the Adjunct Conference this year. It will be available via Microsoft Teams, so please download Teams if you have not yet done so. You will be able to view events such as the awards ceremony and the State of the College speech, attend CAPE sessions, and interact with one another.
Teams will allow for interaction before, during and after conference sessions, and participants will be able to access and review materials within the Teams interface. All sessions will first be broadcast live, then uploaded to the Teams site for easy access to review if participants are unable to attend live, or if they want to see any aspect of it again. Each day will have its own Teams channel to make it easy for participants to find the event or workshop they’re looking for.
Please look for much more information soon.
Diversity summit
The NSHE 2020 Annual Diversity Summit will also be a virtual event, and CSN is thrilled to be hosting this year. This day-long event is scheduled for Friday, October 2, so please mark your calendars. We will have special guest speakers, workshops, an “Equality for All” forum, and a presidents’ panel on how to improve diversity and inclusion in higher education. This year’s theme is Knowledge to Action. We will release more information and a registration link in the coming weeks.
Leadership Academy
Congratulations to the summer participants in the CSN Leadership Academy, our personal development and professional enrichment program. A full 100 percent of the Academy’s second class met all requirements. These individuals are as follows:
Bobbie Barajas
A.B. Bell
Carolina Clavel
Ann Marie Compesi
Racquel Crisp
Jenn Daughtery
Anne Declouette
Nancy Dolhert
Noemi Flores-Sahagun
Eric Garner
Charlene Gibson
Ashley Gonzalez
Jason Green
Rosemary Hall
Maggie Harris
Mary Ann Hughes Butts
Anne Neumann
Deven Matthews
Chantile Mcallister
Iris Melendez
Eileen Metcalfe
Sabrina Nethery
Anne Neumann
Connie Newton
Cinnamon Oliphant
Charlene Reeves
Lawrence Rodis
Vivienne Sario
Michael Schoenberger
Geannina Soto
Flecia Thomas
Mary L. Williams
May Wong-Newberg
Flora Woratschek
To date, 64 individuals from across the campus have completed the CSN Leadership Academy. The initiative is an open-entry program based on the Covey 7 Habits of Principle-Centered leadership model, with supplemental content in the areas of communication competency, operational style, mediation, and time management/prioritization. Further, the Academy encourages interaction between the various cohort classes to build strong networks across the institution. Plans are underway for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 cohorts. For more information, contact Academy director Dr. Gillian Silver at: Gillian.Silver-Rodis@csn.edu
Campus commuter
We have made the difficult decision to suspend the Campus Commuter shuttle service for the fall 2020 semester. We hope we can resume service when it is safe to do so. But given the rapidly evolving pandemic situation we find ourselves in, we can’t say when that might be.
The shuttle, which provides transportation between CSN’s campuses and to Nevada State College, was begun last semester in response to students expressing the need for more transportation options to campus. During its eight weeks in operation, the Campus Commuter provided 825 rides. Ridership showed growth week-to-week, peaking at 217 rides from March 2-6 before its suspension of service on March 18 when campuses shut down.
Like any transportation pilot program, we need to be able to capture accurate ridership data to set goals, plan routes, and determine demand for it to be successful. Over the coming weeks, we will evaluate the program and determine how it might best service students in the future if health conditions permit.
DWED
Our Division of Workforce & Economic Development has been hard at work. As CSN begins to train and retrain the region’s workforce during this economic downturn, DWED will become ever more important to the college and our community.
The division’s Adult Career and Education Services Program was recognized by the state for “Most Improved” in the state and “Top 3 Performer for Measurable Skill Gains.” This new program has classes that start year-round and are provided at no or low cost to qualifying students. The program provides valuable training, certifications, and experience to help students succeed.
I’m also pleased to report that DWED employer partner DaVita donated six dialysis machines for the Dialysis Technician program via retired Program Coordinator Sue Folds.
The division is partnering with CCSD to provide an online Diversity Training platform for educators. Training will give an introductory overview of cultural competency and cultural sensitivity as framed by CCSD, to bridge cultural gaps through inclusive practices and more effective communication, and empower teachers to infuse the cultural and linguistically responsive teaching framework into their professional practices.
Finally, we are working with local employers to streamline the difficult process of reopening businesses in this COVID-19 environment. These online courses are designed to help employees return to work safely, and to help employers understand the OSHA and CDC guidelines for preparing and maintaining the workplace.
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric’s work with CSN received a Top Project of the Year Award in the Environment + Energy Leader Awards program. The partnership between Schneider and the CSN Foundation dates back over 20 years, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support. Schneider Electric provides EcoStruxure products to CSN so students can learn on technology that they will encounter in the real world, hires CSN students and graduates to intern and work in the field of intelligent buildings, and recently contributed $100,000 to support the new CSN and Nevada State College Englestad Health Sciences building.
Enrollment and Institutional Data
To review the latest enrollment data, visit the Institutional Research Data Dashboard. The site houses publicly available interactive reports created to support institutional decision making.
I have much to share this week on a wide range of topics, from recently passed budget cuts to our reopening plans, employee furloughs, student fees and our upcoming Convocation celebration. Today, a special Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Regents are expected to formally enact policies regarding employee furloughs and student fees that were previously adopted on an emergency basis to deal with budget cuts.
Special Legislative Session Outcome
As I reported last week, NSHE budget cuts of $25 million passed the Legislature. The impact on CSN will be an additional $1.6 million in cuts. As you will recall, we have already taken cuts of $17.5 million for fiscal year 2021, excluding faculty and staff furloughs. We plan to discuss the budget in more detail at the next Town Hall meeting at 1 p.m. this Friday, July 24.
The Board of Regents will vote on a furlough policy change that will allow institutions to enact state lawmakers’ mandate that all state employees take one unpaid furlough day per month. Similarly, the student fee proposal will formally implement a temporary per-credit surcharge for all NSHE students. At CSN, that will translate to an additional $3 per-credit charge.
Return to Campus
All institutions, including CSN, will also present our formal campus reopening plans. As you will recall, we plan on a combination of in-person, hybrid and online courses this fall. Safety restrictions will be in place, including mandatory masks, social distancing, deep cleaning protocols and plexiglass in some areas, among many other measures. We want to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on our campuses — faculty, staff, students, vendors and visitors alike.
I also want to point out a new memo from the state Division of Human Resource Management regarding mandatory masks and potential exceptions under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Those who may have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask should review this memo carefully. Any questions can be directed to Human Resources.
Convocation
We are also busy planning this year’s Welcome Back and Convocation celebration. Convocation week will be August 15-21, with our celebration scheduled for Monday, August 17. The Adjunct Conference will be combined with the week’s activities. As we’ve noted in our town hall meetings and elsewhere, this year’s events will be entirely virtual. This digital, streamlined experience will be available via Microsoft Teams. You will be able to view events such as the awards ceremony and the State of the College speech, attend CAPE sessions, and interact with one another.
Teams will allow for interaction before, during and after conference sessions, and participants will be able to access and review materials within the Teams interface. All sessions will first be broadcast live, and then uploaded to the Teams site for easy access by the CSN family to review if participants are unable to attend live, or if they want to see any aspect of it again. Each day will have its own Teams channel to make it easy for participants to find the event or workshop they’re looking for.
Please look for much more information on Convocation as the date draws closer.
Town Hall
Finally, I again want to encourage you to attend our town hall scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday. This week’s event will focus primarily on the budget. Government Affairs Director Mariana Kihuen, Vice President of Finance and Administration Mary Kaye Bailey and Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Bill Dial will join me to answer your questions.
Stay safe and God bless.
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
I wanted to let you know about a disturbing incident that occurred on Friday near our Charleston Campus. No one was harmed on our campus, but the incident is a reminder to stay diligent and If you see something, say something.
The Facts
About 2 p.m., Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers responded to an attempted robbery at the Lantana Apartments at 6501 West Charleston Boulevard. About two hours later, police were called to Building B on our Charleston Campus to provide an escort. A CSN employee told officers that, earlier, the victim of the crime at the apartment complex had entered campus. When the victim pointed out the suspect fleeing on Torrey Pines Road, the suspect pointed a handgun in their direction. Police were not initially notified of this incident. The suspect did not enter campus and fled the scene.
What CSN is Doing
Because police determined that there was no danger to the campus community by the time the crime was reported, it was determined that there was no need for an emergency alert. A report for aggravated assault was taken.
In keeping with our values of transparency and having an informed CSN community, we will continue to inform you of security related incidents that directly or indirectly may impact CSN students, faculty, and staff.
How You Can Help
If you see something, say something. We all do our part to keep the campus community safe — and that includes reporting crimes and suspicious behavior to the police. Visit University Police Services for more safety tips and to download the CSN Mobile Safety App. For immediate assistance, please contact University Police Services at 702-895-3669 (Emergency) or 702-895-3668 (Non-Emergency).
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
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This afternoon, the Nevada State Senate joined the State Assembly and passed AB3, which cuts an additional $25 million from the Nevada System of Higher Education’s fiscal year 2021 budget. These cuts are on top of cuts already approved, but are half the amount of the cuts originally proposed.
I want to acknowledge the hard work behind the scenes from our finance and government affairs divisions, the numerous written communications to our lawmakers from the higher education community across Southern Nevada, and testimony before the Legislature from CSN Faculty Senate President Maria Schellhase and ASCSN President Karli McFarling-Kelly. Many people stood up for CSN’s students as potentially devastating cuts loomed.
Of the $25 million in additional cuts that were passed, $15 million will be taken from the operating pool, and the remaining $10 million will be split between the NSHE institutions. At CSN, this translates into an additional $1.6 million in cuts. As you will recall, we have already taken cuts of $17.5 million for fiscal year 2021, on top of the faculty and staff furloughs that we will all have to take. We plan to discuss the budget in more detail at our next Town Hall meeting at 1 p.m. this Friday, July 24.
As I noted in my communication to you last week, our budget reduction plan to deal with these additional cuts includes but is not limited to:
Freezing approximately 50 positions indefinitely;
Reducing operational costs by approximately 50 percent for travel, hosting, printing, supplies, and FFE;
Limiting personnel in facilities, administrative, academic, and student service areas;
Limiting the number of sections and classes that are funded to meet student demand;
Reducing service and possibly closing CSN Hi-Tech and Community Centers, such as those at Nellis Air Force Base, Summerlin, Green Valley and Mesquite;
And limiting the number of accelerated short-term workforce training programs in Health Professions, Information Technology, Logistics and Manufacturing, and Skill Trades (automotive, diesel tech, dental hygiene and dental assisting, veterinary nursing) being designed for long-term unemployed and displaced workers.
As most of you know, CSN is no stranger to adversity and I am confident that together we will overcome these financial difficulties and continue to be the pathway to higher education and a beacon of hope for current and future generations of CSN students.
Stay safe and God bless.
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
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As you know, the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases in Nevada has officials across the state concerned. That includes us at CSN. We’re monitoring the situation daily, and closely monitoring recommendations from officials at NSHE, the state of Nevada, and health agencies at the local, state and federal level.
To ensure that our CSN family stays safe, we are pausing to review our Return to Campus plans to assess circumstances and monitor trends. This pause for those scheduled to return is a continued measure to keep health and safety at the forefront. CSN continues to move forward in our planning for the fall 2020 semester, but as always, we remain flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances.
All planning throughout the institution incorporates contingencies that address the health and safety of all faculty, staff, students, and our community. CSN continues to monitor Gov. Steve Sisolak’s directives, work with the NSHE and the Southern Nevada Health District, and monitor developments from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CSN does have a limited number of classes that cannot be delivered in a remote environment on our campus during the summer, as well as critical support services for our community, such as the Dental Faculty Practice.
Despite this pause, the readiness of our campuses, centers, and sites continues to be a priority in preparation for the fall 2020 semester and the start of the academic year. We are deploying signage regarding face coverings and social distancing (6-feet distancing and capacity limitations), and installing plexiglass and floor markings throughout service areas.
If after our review we determine that changes to our Return to Campus plans are necessary, we will communicate this to the entire CSN family via the Chronicle, our Town Halls and updates to the President’s Blog.
Stay safe and God bless.
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
Tomorrow, the State Legislature is expected to propose additional reductions to the Nevada System of Higher Education budget. The additional cut will add to CSN’s budget cuts for fiscal year 2021, which has already been cut by 16 percent, or $17.5 million, excluding the cuts to professional and classified staff salaries. Taken together, these cuts will adversely impact our ability to sustain the recent academic success momentum that has seen our graduation and transfer rates almost double in the past three years.
As a result of these cuts, CSN will be required to:
Freeze approximately 50 positions indefinitely;
Reduce operational costs by approximately 50 percent for travel, hosting, printing, supplies, and FFE;
Limit personnel in facilities, administrative, academic, and student service areas;
Limit the number of sections/classes that can be funded to meet student demand;
Reduce service and possibly close CSN Hi-Tech and Community Centers, such as those at Nellis Air Force Base, Summerlin, Green Valley and Mesquite.
Limit the number of accelerated short-term workforce training programs in Health Professions, Information Technology, Logistics and Manufacturing, and Skill Trades (automotive, diesel tech, dental hygiene and dental assisting, veterinary nursing) being designed for long-term unemployed and displaced.
No matter what occurs, we will make every effort possible at CSN to reduce the impact on student services and academic instruction. At CSN, we understand the need for significant budget reductions. But we are concerned that any further financial cuts will cause negative long-term damage to CSN, our students, and to our community.
Stay safe and God bless.
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
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NSHE Chancellor Thom Reilly, along with the Board of Regents, has approved the satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade change option for summer 2020 courses. Students will be permitted to request an S/U grade rather than a traditional letter grade. Instructors will still assign letter grades at the end of the semester, but students have the option to ask that the letter grade be changed to an S/U grade.
We have prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document to help students, faculty and staff understand the process. Students who want to change their grades are required to discuss the pros and cons with a CSN counselor prior to submitting the official grade change request. The steps of the grade change process are included in the FAQs.
Following are the deadlines to submit a grade change request after communicating with a counselor:
Friday, August 7, 2020 by 11:59 p.m. – summer 2020 sessions ending July 26, 2020 and earlier
Monday, August 17, 2020 by 11:59 p.m. – summer 2020 session ending August 9, 2020
If you interact with students who are interested in this option, please let them know about the FAQ.
Thank you,
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
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On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced its final guidance that the agency intends to implement in a few weeks that would ban international students from enrolling in online-only courses this fall. Specifically, this rule would prohibit our nonimmigrant F-1 students from returning to CSN this fall or remaining in the United States if CSN is forced to adopt an online-only model due to COVID-19.
At this point, CSN intends to offer a combination of courses this fall, including both online and in-person instruction. However, we have serious concerns about this new rule because it would prohibit our F-1 students from finishing their semester if our institution must transition to a fully remote learning environment again this fall.
At CSN, we value diversity and believe we are stronger because of that diversity. We are proud to stand with and support our international students. In the spring 2020 semester, we had approximately 345 students enrolled at CSN with a nonimmigrant F-1 visa. We value their contributions and oppose any rule that would discourage them from attending CSN or any of our sister NSHE institutions in the future.
Thank you.
Federico Zaragoza President College of Southern Nevada
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