CSN Faculty & Staff Earn Tenure

Posted on February 28, 2019 by CSN

Congratulations to the following individuals, who were awarded tenure today 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

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CSN Looking For Qualified Campus Vice President Candidates

Posted on February 19, 2019 by CSN
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February 2019 Chronicle

Posted on February 5, 2019 by CSN

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January 2019 Chronicle

Posted on January 16, 2019 by CSN

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December 2018 Chronicle

Posted on December 4, 2018 by CSN

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November 2018 Chronicle

Posted on November 2, 2018 by CSN

Greetings, Colleagues. We’ve reached the halfway point of the semester, and there is much news to share. Enrollment is up, we had a positive accreditation visit, the Nevada Promise Scholarship remains a success, we’ve received grant money that will help us continue to put students first, and we are maintaining our laser focus on safety and security.

I also want this edition of the Chronicle to serve as a reminder that safety and security is not only about our physical well-being. Our mental health is just as important. Please know that at CSN, we take this issue very seriously. Free and confidential counseling is available to all faculty, staff and students.

– Federico

In this issue:

  • Mid-Cycle Accreditation Visit Update
  • Roundtables Summary
  • Know When to Call in an Expert
  • Behavior Intervention Team
  • Public Safety Update
  • Nevada Promise • Workday Anniversary
  • CAPE Professional Development Platform
  • CSN Events
  • Mental Health Grant
  • STEM Grant
  • Fall 2018 Enrollment Report

Read the President’s Blog

Inside CSN

Mid-Cycle Accreditation Visit Update

Last month, we had a positive visit from the Northwest Commission Colleges and Universities Mid-Cycle Accreditation team. I hope you got a chance to read Vice President Margo Martin’s email summarizing the visit. If not, the full text of her email is linked below.

As you may know, the commission evaluates colleges and universities on a seven-year cycle to ensure the highest standards are being met. If so, the institution retains its accreditation. Halfway through these seven-year periods, a less formal visit is conducted as a consultation to help institutions get ready for the next accreditation visit. The mid-cycle team was very impressed with the high level of engagement shown by CSN’s faculty and staff. That enthusiasm by everyone here is no surprise to me, of course.

We do have some work to do and some recommendations to follow, which Margo nicely summarized in her note. As I have said from my first day at CSN, our mission will always take a students-first approach. As we consider our accrediting body’s recommendations, I want us to always focus on student persistence, completion and graduation, transferring, and meeting the needs of the local workforce.

Read VP Martin’s Summary

Faculty & Staff Presidential Roundtables Summary

I hope you were able to attend one of the roundtable events we held in late September on each of our campuses. It is very important to me that communication between the administration and the faculty and staff happen in both directions. The roundtables were designed to be conversations, and I was pleased that we had the kind of back and forth I had hoped for. If you were unable to attend, we have posted a summary of the topics discussed and some of the concerns brought up. Please take a moment to read through them, and let me know if there is a topic you wish you had been able to bring up.

See a Detailed Summary

Know When to Call in an Expert

Often, supervisors are called upon to handle sensitive employee issues, but sometimes it is better to pass along some matters to the experts in human resources. Determining which issues to handle yourself and which to bring HR in on can seem difficult, but it is not as complicated as it sounds. When the issue includes FMLA, ADAAA, sexual harassment, discrimination and other, similar topics, it is best to bring in human resources. Please click the link below for a more thorough examination of the topic. And, as always, feel free to call human resources for a consultation any time you need help. HR can be reached at 702.651.5800.

Read More on the Issue

Behavior Intervention Team

As we have noted since Convocation, we are renewing our attention this year on the safety and security of our faculty, staff and students. As I noted earlier, this includes more than just physical safety. And while we can distribute information about CAPS services, students who may be in need do not always seek it out when perhaps they should. As faculty and staff, sometimes we interact with students who we believe may need those services. We should refer them to www.csn.edu/caps in those cases. For faculty and staff, the Employee Assistance Program is our outlet for counseling services and more. See www.csn.edu/employee-assistance-program for full details.

I bring this up because it occurs to me that while we all intuitively understand the word “safety” to refer to our physical well-being, it also refers to our mental health. The two are equally important. You may not know about the Behavior Intervention Team we have at CSN. It includes experts from across the college, including those from legal, police, human resources, student services and more. This team can supplement the efforts of our student conduct officers, human resources personnel, CAPS office and Employee Assistance program, helping to ensure any concerning behaviors are addressed in a timely and safe manner.

You will hear more about CAPS referrals later in this Chronicle, as well. And please be on the lookout for CAPE sessions on safety and security, as well as more information about the Behavior Intervention Team in the coming weeks.

Public Safety Update

Last month, the NSHE Board of Regents voted to move forward with plans for the Southern Command Police Consolidation. NSHE is in the process of hiring a southern commander to lead the transformation and the development of a collaborative plan that will enhance the safety and security of all our students, faculty and staff. In my presentation to the Board of Regents I emphasized that CSN expects that the consolidation would mean more not less resources and that we would build on the foundation of our current safety model that has worked for the CSN community in the past. To be clear, the plan will not simply replicate the police consolidation that took place in northern Nevada. We will continue to keep you informed of developments as the occur. On a related matter, we are holding an active shooter drill on the North Las Vegas Campus next week. Please remember to be prepared, and go into the drill thinking about what your role would be during such an event.

Read the NSHE Press Release on Police Consolidation

Nevada Promise Scholarship

The Nevada Promise Scholarship is becoming even more popular, with this year’s application total surpassing last year’s. This year we had more than 10,000 high school seniors applying by the October 31 deadline. Current Promise Scholars attending CSN have also reapplied and will be working with the college to renew their eligibility. CSN will now be engaging with mentors and working with students to complete the required trainings.

For more information on the Nevada Promise Scholarship at CSN, how to become a mentor, or next steps for applicants, please visit the link below or contact the Promise Office at 702.651.7546.

Learn More about Nevada Promise

Workday Anniversary

As we mark the first anniversary of going live with Workday at CSN, I want to first offer my sincere appreciation and congratulations to the entire Workday team. There are roundtable discussions scheduled this month where you can learn about the progress that has been made since the last roundtable in June, discuss your experience with Workday and voice your feedback. You are invited to join Vice President Mary Kaye Bailey and the Workday team at one of the following roundtables:

  • Tuesday, November 6, 1-2 p.m., Henderson Campus, C Building, Room 133
  • Tuesday, November 27, 9-10 a.m., Charleston Campus, D Building, Room 101

See the Roundtable Flier

CAPE Professional Development Platform

CAPE will launch the college’s new professional development platform on Monday. This means all employees will be able to use the new features. The old system stopped accepting new registrations this week. Make sure you save your entire training record and certificates in case you need them in the future. CAPE will maintain the old records, but will not have access to your certificates. Trainings are offered November 5, 6, 8, 15, and 20 at various times and locations. If you have questions please contact CAPE at 702.651.5685 or CAPE@csn.edu.

Learn More About the New Platform

CSN Events

October 1 Remembrance

The CSN community came together on the anniversary of the tragedy on the Las Vegas Strip on October 1. The event, held on the Charleston Campus and co-sponsored by student government, saw dozens of faculty, staff, students and members of the community gather and pause for a moment of silent remembrance.

 

 

 

 

 

Diversity Events

October saw a number of events centered around the themes of diversity, and inclusion including the PRIDE Parade, the LGBTQ Student Mixer, the Diversity Festival, Black Student Union Spirt Week, and the International Center Welcome Event. I was able to attend some of these events, and what a great time I had. We’ve gathered some photos, which you can see at the link below.

See More Photos Here

CSN News

Mental Health Grant

We have received wonderful news from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: CSN has received a grant in the amount of $50,000 intended to ensure that our employees have the knowledge base to refer students displaying certain emotional and mental health behaviors to our Counseling and Psychological Services team. The CAPS team will work with Mojave Counseling and external community-based resources to provide services and referrals for students. CSN is the only awardee in the state of Nevada.

The goal is to train a wide array of students, faculty and staff, including deans, department chairs, directors, student leaders and members of the Behavior Intervention Team. This three-year grant will help us help students who may need and be unaware of the incredibly valuable services that CAPS offers.

Learn More about CAPS

STEM Grant

We have more great news regarding grants: CSN has received a grant of $1 million from the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology to help strengthen STEM education in critically underrepresented student populations. The four-year grant funds the development of initiatives and strategies that seek to increase the number of underrepresented and low-income students studying and completing degrees or certificates in high-demand science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Underrepresented groups in STEM include women, students of color, and students with disabilities.

This is incredibly important news at this time. The demand for workers skilled in STEM fields is growing 41 percent faster in Nevada than in non-STEM industries. These are high-paying jobs that require the kind of credentials and degrees that CSN specializes in. Please look for more news on this exciting grant as we develop the strategies we will use to overcome the barriers these students face.

Read CSN’s Press Release

Enrollment

Fall 2018 Enrollment

Please review the latest enrollment report at the link below. This updated report reflects our fall enrollment through the Fall Census date, October 15. All NSHE institutions must report enrollment numbers to the system office by their designated census date. As I mentioned last month, our enrollment numbers remain at levels not seen in many years and I know we will continue to see those numbers rise year after year. Here’s an interesting note: If you add up our unique student headcount from the spring, summer and fall semesters, as well as those from our non-credit workforce division, we touch the lives of over 50,000 students each and every year. That’s tremendous. And it’s all because of our dedicated faculty and staff.

See the Enrollment Report

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October 2018 Chronicle

Posted on October 3, 2018 by CSN

In this Issue
  • Presidential Roundtables
  • Accreditation Visit
  • Legislative Priorities
  • Work Climate Survey
  • Police Consolidation & Campus Safety
  • New CAPE Platform
  • New AAS Degree
  • Hungry Games & Holiday Party
  • Short Film Showcase
  • Hispanic Heritage Month
  • Fall Enrollment
  • AT&T Jumpstart Donation
  • MGM College Opportunity
  • Employee Giving Campaign
Read the President’s Blog
Inside CSN
Presidential Roundtables 
I was so pleased at the robust turnout at my first three presidential roundtable events last month. These informal conversations are critical to me. No one governs an institution alone, and getting feedback and questions from the people who really make CSN go is so important to understanding where we are, what we are doing well, and where we could improve. I heard a lot about all three areas. While I will have a more comprehensive summary of the roundtables available soon, I wanted to use this space to cover a few of the issues that were brought up.

Several topics were addressed at all three roundtables, including campus safety and our police department, communications, student success initiatives, and a perceived disconnect between the administration and our students, the very people we are here to serve.

While campus safety is addressed later in this newsletter, please know that communications and student services will be priorities for me. I am grateful for the feedback and suggestions in both areas. Communications permeates everything we do, and it’s vital that we remain accessible and transparent. Equally critical are student services and our front-line interactions. The staff members in both areas are extremely dedicated individuals who welcome any opportunity to improve.

Regarding student success initiatives, we have much on the horizon, including the ongoing restructuring around our Multi-Campus District model, and new grants that will help us accelerate changes already underway and implement some new ones, including guided pathways and student support services. These will be ongoing programs, so I will continue to keep you informed as implementation occurs.

Because the roundtable events are designed for faculty and staff, we also have scheduled several Pizza with the President events for our students. Please help us spread the word.

  • 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 22, Charleston Campus, Building I, Room 108
  • 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 24, Henderson Campus, Building C, Room 215
  • 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. October 25, North Las Vegas Campus, Building S, Room 144
Accreditation Visit 
Please be aware that CSN is due for the mid-cycle evaluation required by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. An evaluation team will visit campus next week, on Monday October 8 and Tuesday October 9. This routine evaluation is conducted in the third year of the seven-year accreditation cycle. It is intended to ascertain an institution’s readiness to provide evidence of mission fulfillment and sustainability. Essentially, these evaluations tend to point out what is going well and what needs improvements, while following up on previous findings. Because of the hard work by Clarissa Cota, Margo Martin and their team, we are confident the visit will go well. As always, I will keep you informed as events develop.
Learn More About CSN’s Accreditation
Legislative Priorities
The proposed Health & Sciences Building on the Henderson Campus remains our top legislative priority as we prepare for the 2019 session, which opens February 4. This building, in which we will partner with Nevada State College on numerous programs, is NSHE’s second highest priority for the entire system, and the third highest priority for the Southern Nevada Forum, an important group of legislative and business leaders that can have significant impact in Carson City. Needless to say, we are excited by the possibilities. Among the proposals for the building would be expanded training for nurses, EMTs and other healthcare professionals needed to alleviate a critical healthcare workforce shortage.

Our next highest priority will be to finally plan for the development of the 44 acres of land slated for our Northwest Campus. We will request $4 million in planning funds. This future campus is sorely needed. The northwest portion of the metro area is drastically underserved when it comes to higher education. Indeed, all of Southern Nevada needs easier access to our facilities. Planning and eventually building out the Northwest Campus is a necessary step toward planning out the region’s future, of which CSN will be an integral component.

Our other top priorities will be legislation concerning the Nevada Promise Scholarship and the Prison Education Program.
Work Climate Survey
It is time again for CSN to conduct our work climate survey, done every three years to ensure we know what issues are important to you all. Next month, all employees, including student workers and part-time faculty and staff, will be contacted via email to complete a Personal Assessment of the College Environment, or PACE, survey. It is very important that you fill this confidential form out. It is completely anonymous. Please plan to spend 15-20 minutes completing the PACE survey – you cannot save an incomplete survey and return to it. Your answers will allow members of the CSN Work Climate Committee to identify key issues and collect feedback to inform recommendations that they bring to the administration.
Police Consolidation & Campus Safety
As you know, a report on potential police consolidation at the Southern Nevada higher education institutions commissioned by the Board of Regents was released this past spring. While no definitive action has yet been taken, it is important to note that whatever the model that is recommended down here will not look like the model followed in northern Nevada. We are assured that any new structure will make us more safe, not less. What is being considered is combining some operations and sharing some resources. Folding one police department into another is not among the options, nor is having one institution responsible for the safety and security of the others. As of yet, there is no formal proposal being discussed, but rather simply a range of possibilities, one of which would involve creating an integrated Southern Command structure of some kind. While saving money is important to me, as it should be to all of us, my bottom line is and always will be a safe, secure campus, including potentially improved response times and more robust training for our officers. It is important to know that the three institutions will continue having input in this process. Rest assured our voice will be heard.

We must be vigilant about campus safety. To that end, we deployed Campus Safety Information Teams on all three campuses last month. We were pleased with the turnout. Faculty, staff and students took advantage of the opportunity to learn about our emergency plan, how to sign up for alerts, where to get training and more. In the interest of safety, please know that we will also be holding active shooter drills later this semester and in the spring. Please be prepared, and go into the events thinking about what your role would be during such an event. The first drill is scheduled for the week of November 5 on the North Las Vegas Campus.

Please remain alert. Remember, if you see something, say something.
Learn about CSN’s Emergency Plan
New CAPE Platform
As we’ve noted, CAPE is upgrading its registration system to a more robust professional development platform. CAPE will demo the exciting new platform on all three campuses this month. Please attend one to get a better idea of what the upgrades will look like and how they will function. It will include new features and tools for e-learning and increasing department engagements, and will also allow department heads and chairs to initiate training and view their team’s progress. The sessions are scheduled for:

  • 3 p.m. October 10 on the North Las Vegas Campus
  • 3 p.m. October 11 on the Charleston Campus
  • 3 p.m. October 24 on the Henderson Campus
Register for the Demos Here
New AAS Degree
Next fall, we anticipate launching our new AAS degree in Environmental Management. The degree was approved by the Board of Regents last month. In an effort to meet the high demand for experts in the field, we have plans to expand the degree into a bachelor’s degree the following year. Local industry is heavily invested in the program. Graduates and students will be able to meet and interact with potential employers before completing the program. Bureau of Labor Statistics data suggest that environmental related jobs in Nevada could grow at a rate of 11 percent in the coming years.
Read About the New Degree
CSN Events
Hungry Games & Holiday Party
The beloved Hungry Games will return next month! The faculty and staff softball tournament is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, November 17 on the Henderson Campus. Be sure to come watch, grab a hot dog, and cheer your team on. Contact your respective employee group leadership to sign up for your team.

 

Another favorite is returning: The CSN Holiday Party will take place from 6-9 p.m. December 13 at the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel. Look for more details as the date approaches.
See the Hungry Games Flier and the Party Flier
Short Film Showcase
I want to remind you that CSN’s award-winning Film & Videography Program will present the Seventh Annual Short Film Showcase at 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 12 in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre on CSN’s North Las Vegas Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Films from CSN students, including several that took home Student Production Emmy Awards this summer, will be on display. This popular event has grown every year since its inception, and it’s not suprising. I look forward to seeing the films myself.
Find Out More About the Showcase
Hispanic Heritage
I hope everybody had a chance to visit one of the Coffee With Culture events held as part of Hispanic Heritage Month on each of our campuses. The gatherings gave participants a chance to sample beverages from cultures around the world, including coffees from Italy, Cuba, Hawaii and the Caribbean. They also offered the opportunity to meet members of the CSN Latino Alliance and the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Committee. I look forward to more heritage events, and hope to see you there.
Find Out More About Diversity Committees
By the Numbers
Look for this section each month to learn about the data that drive discussion and decisions at CSN.
Fall 2018 Enrollment
Please review the latest enrollment report at the link below. This updated report reflects our fall enrollment through October 1. I am tremendously excited about the current enrollment numbers…and you should be too! For the first time since spring 2015, we are up over 35,000 students in terms of headcount and are currently sitting at 19,154 full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment. You have to go back to the fall of 2012 to see an FTE number that high. Thank you all for your hard work and let’s keep the momentum going for the spring semester!

Visit the Institutional Research web page to see additional enrollment and institutional data.
See the Enrollment Report
Good News
AT&T Jumpstart Donation
I want to thank the Aspire Foundation so much for their continued support of the CSN Jumpstart program. A generous donation of $10,000 last month from AT&T will help 142 low-income high school students earn college credit through the program. Jumpstart works with high school instructors to provide college courses at the high school campus. Teacher with collegiate-level credentials are certified to teach CSN curricula so high school students are receiving the same course they would at CSN. CSN and AT&T officials gathered last month at Las Vegas High School to celebrate the donation and the program. “AT&T recognizes the importance of CSN’s Jumpstart Program and is proud to continue supporting this program,” said AT&T Director of External Affairs Sandra Douglass Morgan. “The Jumpstart program gives our southern Nevada students the necessary tools to have a seamless transition to college while giving them the ability to complete their college degree faster.”
Read Our Press Release
MGM College Opportunity Program
MGM Resorts International and the Nevada System of Higher Education are now partners in an effort make higher education affordable and accessible to the company’s more than 70,000 employees. The MGM College Opportunity Program, approved last month by the Board of Regents, marks the first time a Fortune 300 company is partnering with an entire system of higher education. MGM employees can receive online education through NSHE schools, including CSN, free of charge for all credit hours. The program, which will will emphasize degree completion, is set to begin next fall. We welcome this opportunity to help diversify and strengthen Nevada’s economy by ensuring even more of our residents have access to higher education.

“This partnership will change the lives of these employees and their families, many of who are first-generation students,” said NSHE Chancellor Thom Reilly. “And the partnership will push NSHE institutions to offer more on-line degrees, an area in which we need to improve.”
Read the NSHE Press Release
CSN Foundation
Employee Giving Campaign
Please take a moment to pledge your support for the Employee Giving Campaign by making your Coyote Commitment to the CSN Foundation. Support our students and to make a difference in our community! Join businesses, community leaders, philanthropists, and alumni to support scholarship programs and our capital campaign. We can’t do it without you.
Make Your Coyote Commitment Here

 

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Remembering October 1

Posted on September 19, 2018 by CSN

CSN joins our Southern Nevada community on the anniversary of that tragic night to remember the victims and their families. We will hold a vigil at 7 p.m. Monday October 1 , encourage a moment of silence, offer message boards on each campus, and sponsor blood drives throughout the month.

Consider Observing a Moment of Silence

Whether you are teaching a class, leading a meeting or just walking across campus, take a moment on October 1 to reflect on the events of one year ago. If you or someone you know at CSN needs to talk with someone, we have Counseling and Psychological Services available to students and the Employee Assistance Program available for employees.

Remember With a Message

There are occasions in our life when we can express our feelings more adequately by writing them down. If you would like to express your thoughts as a written message on this solemn day, visit one of our remembrance message boards set up near student government on each main campus. These message boards will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 1  and will be transported to the vigil on the Charleston campus at 7 p.m.

You will find student government offices at:

  • Charleston Campus, Building B
  • Henderson Campus, Building B
  • North Las Vegas Campus, Main Building (East Wing)

Attend a Candlelight Vigil

Our campus community and the Southern Nevada community will come together at 7 p.m. October 1 on the Charleston Campus for a candlelight vigil.

Help Our Community Be Better Prepared

Give the gift of life. Donate blood at one of our on-campus blood drives.

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September 2018 Chronicle

Posted on September 7, 2018 by CSN

September 2018

Greetings Colleagues,

I could not have been more excited to kick off convocation activities and start classes over the last two weeks. I’m sure you all felt the same. As we start a new academic year, I want to reiterate what was said on stage at Convocation: This institution will focus on students first and student success so students graduate, transfer, or earn certificates. Every action we take, everything we do, will be with that focus in mind.

– Federico
In this issue:
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Convocation
  • Congratulations
  • Email and Acceptable Use
  • Financial Aid
  • Student Union Construction
  • CSN Connections
  • Presidential Roundtables
  • Student Short Film Showcase
  • Culinary Excellence
  • Top CIO
  • By the Numbers
  • Campus Safety
Read the President’s Blog

Inside CSN

Emergency Preparedness

Safety and emergency preparedness were a major theme at this year’s Convocation. The safety and security of our faculty, staff and students will always be a top priority at CSN.

At convocation, we eluded to active shooter drills on all of our main campuses this semester. The first of these was to take place on the Charleston Campus the week of September 17.

We have decided to postpone that in favor of sharing information about emergency preparedness first. We will deploy Campus Safety Information Teams on each campus on Wednesday, September 19. We encourage you to come learn about our emergency plan, how to sign up for alerts, where to get training and more. Please visit the link below to view the flier with locations and times.
Learn More About the Safety Team Events

Convocation

My first Convocation Kickoff event last month was both memorable and informative. Thank you all for coming. We have uploaded video and photos of the day’s activities at the links below. This year’s Champions theme could not have been more appropriate as we work to take CSN from good to great.
See Photos Here and a link to the Video at the Bottom of This Page

Congratulations!

We have a fantastic team of faculty and staff here at CSN, so what an honor it was to stand with the winners of the Excellence and Distinguished Awards at Convocation. Each year, the Internal Recongition Committee chooses honorees from among dozens of nominations. Please join me in congratulating all the winners, and be sure to nominate a colleague next year.
Excellence in Assessment Theodore Chodock & Steve Herro
Excellence in Online Teaching Eric Hutchinson
Excellence in Research Kenneth Fernandez & Amanda Hudson
Excellence in Community Service Jet Mitchell & Jennifer Basquiat
Distinguished Administrative Faculty Pat Zozaya
Distinguished Classified Employee Sarah Renkes
Distinguished Full-Time Faculty Charlene Gibson
Distinguished Part-Time Faculty Voltaire Verzosa
Learn More About the Internal Recognition Committee

Email and Acceptable Use
Beginning October 21, all official CSN communications will be sent to students’ CSN email. This email address is available to students as long as they are enrolled at CSN. Faculty and staff will be required to communicate only to these addresses, and email forwarding will no longer be allowed. We need your help to make sure students know about this new policy. Please encourage them to check their CSN email daily.

 

October 21 is also the day that enforcement of the Information Systems & Electronic Resources Acceptable Use Policy begins. You can read the entire policy here. It focuses on digital safety and security. Key items you should be aware of is that email seven years or older will be deleted on a rolling basis and your personal network drive (H:) will be limited to 10 GBs. Additionally, a new password tool will be added to GoCSN that will simplify password resets. During your first login on or after October 21, you will be prompted to update your security questions to allow for the ability to self-reset passwords.

 

Again, please spread the word.
Read the FAQs

Financial Aid
The Department of Education Office of Inspector General has notified CSN that it does not anticipate recommending corrective action regarding audit results from the Compliance and Federal Verification and Reporting Requirements Audit conducted in June covering the award year that began July 1, 2016, through the June 30, 2017. The office found that CSN completed verification of applicant data in accordance with the federal requirements and accurately reported verification results to the department. CSN will receive a draft of the audit report, to which we will have 30 days for any response. The inspector general expressed that they did not anticipate a need for a response. I want to thank the vice president of student affairs and the financial aid team for their hard work taking care of this matter.

Student Unions
Construction has begun on our student unions! Fencing has been erected at all three campuses and site work has begun. Each Student Union will be approximately 29,000 square feet and will provide areas for student government, Student Affairs, a multicultural center, student study and collaboration space, meeting rooms and food service.

Food service has been one of the main areas of focus. Each union will have a food court, and after formal bidding Culinart was selected for their commitment to fresh food offerings, healthy menu choices, and value, as well as their commitment to sustainability (waste reduction, recycling and composting). In addition to the regular food services, they will also provide catering for the college.

These buildings will be much-needed additions to our campuses and are expected to dramatically improve the student experience. They are scheduled to open for the fall 2019 semester.

Upcoming Events

CSN Connections & Club Rush
We will be holding our annual CSN Connections events on September 11, 12 and 13. Students can enjoy great music and free food and drinks, and more importantly they can find out how to get the most out of their time here at CSN. We’ll have information on advising, tuturing, transferring, using the library, and almost anything else that can help students succeed.

As an added bonus this year, students will be able to attend ASCSN’s Club Rush during CSN Connections. We want our students to be involved in their college, so I welcome the opportunity for them to learn more about the clubs available to them. We expect 20 to 25 clubs to participate. They will be manning tables with information on their activities, how to join and more. Pass the word along to your students.

The Connections events are scheduled as follows:

  • Tuesday, September 11, Henderson Campus, behind the C Building from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 12, North Las Vegas Campus, Main Entrance from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 13, Charleston Campus, D Building from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

We will also have materials available at several Connections table for our MobileSAFETY app and the upcoming Campus Safety Information Team event.

I hope to see you there.

Presidential Roundtables
As I settle in at CSN and learn more about the college, I also want to learn more about you. I have scheduled a faculty and staff presidential roundtable for each campus later this month. Please come with your questions, your concerns, and your thoughts about how we can make CSN an even better place for our students.

Roundtables:

  • Charleston Campus: September 24, 1-2:30 p.m., Building I, Room 108
  • Henderson Campus, September 26, 8:30-10 a.m., Building C, Room 133
  • North Las Vegas Campus, September 27, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Building N, Room 102

We will be annoucing Pizza with the President events in October and we hope you will let your students know about them.

Student Short Film Showcase
CSN’s award-winning Film & Videography Program will present the Seventh Annual Short Film Showcase at 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 12 in the Nicholas J. Horn Theater on CSN’s North Las Vegas Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

On display will be films from CSN students, including several that took home Student Production Emmy Awards this summer. This event started as a way to show off the incredible work done by CSN students, and it keeps growing every year. I am so pleased to know that our students are receiving the kind of quality education they need to succeed in so many diverse fields of study.

Good News

Exemplary Status
The American Culinary Federation has once again awarded our outstanding Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, and Food and Beverage Management programs exemplary status and a new seven-year accreditation. The ACF awards exemplary status to programs that symbolize the highest educational standards. This status, which runs through 2025, will make it 21 consecutive years that the programs have earned the distinction. Multiple consecutive exemplary ratings like this are an indication of the integrity and quality of the programs, and the hard work of all those involved.

What this means on the ground is that CSN’s students can be assured they are getting the very best education available. Studying in such a top quality program means these students will be comfortable with the rigorous standards that will be expected of them in the job market. The designation gives them a chance to get their Culinarian or Pastry Culinarian certification from ACF after graduation without taking exams. Our students will be one step ahead of the competition – all because they chose to attend CSN.

Congratulations!

Top CIO!
Please join me in congratulating Chief Information Officer Mugunth Vaithylingam for receiving the Most Influential CIO award at 11th annual Global CIO Breakaway Leadership Awards. The honor, which is awarded by peers, is given to those who are identified as breakaway leaders. The Most Influential award is given to a CIO who has an “outsized impact” on their organization.

Congratulations, Mugunth. It is well-deserved honor.

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

Fall 2018 Enrollment
Please review the latest enrollment report at the link below. This updated report reflects our fall enrollment through September 5. Visit the Institutional Research web page to see additional enrollment and institutional data.
See the Enrollment Report

Campus Safety
We have received several inquiries surrounding the shooting incident on the Charleston Campus last week. I want to let everyone know that the CSN Police Department has concluded its investigation. An emeritus professor was treated for a self-inflicted injury in the hospital and subsequently arrested and charged with possessing a weapon on campus and other charges. I appreciate all of the expressions of concern and interest, and I pledge to keep everyone updated should the situation change. Please know that if your department would like an individual safety review with the CSN Police Department, you may email Chief Darryl Caraballo at csnpd@csn.edu.
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CSN Welcomes New President

Posted on August 15, 2018 by CSN

Dr. Federico Zaragoza

Dr. Federico Zaragoza today became the College of Southern Nevada’s ninth president in its 47-year history. A press release announcing his presidency can be found here.

Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Thom Reilly said it was exciting for Zaragoza to join CSN.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Zaragoza to the Las Vegas Valley as he begins his tenure as president of the College of Southern Nevada,” Chancellor Reilly said. “This is an exciting time for CSN, Nevada’s largest institution of higher education. Dr. Zaragoza brings a wealth of experience and a diverse background that will connect well with the students and faculty. And I am confident he will have success improving student graduation rates.”

Dr. Zaragoza sent out the message below to the CSN community this morning.

***

Hello fellow coyotes!

I am both humbled and grateful to greet you today as your president. As we begin this new chapter in the story that is CSN, I wanted to share a few quick thoughts and updates with you.

First, your collective work has positioned CSN to be a national leader in terms of student success. We will have many opportunities to discuss our students first agenda over the next few weeks at our annual adjunct conference, Convocation and welcome back events. You will also hear about upcoming roundtables and student events in the next few weeks.

Second, I want to thank Dr. Margo Martin for her service to the college these last six months as acting president. The direction that she and the executive leadership team have taken the college will benefit us all as we continue to serve our students and begin to lift CSN to national prominence. With this in mind, Dr. Martin will be assisting me as Interim VP of Transition Activities and Clarissa Cota will continue her interim appointment as VP for Academic Affairs through the end of the calendar year.

I hope to see you at Convocation on Monday, August 20, as we begin our new academic year. I too am rolling up my sleeves and getting to work. Please reach out to me as you see me around campus and know how excited I am to finally join the CSN family and the wonderful Southern Nevada community.

 

Federico

 

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