College of Southern Nevada

August Chronicle

Greetings colleagues!  The month of August typically is a transition from summer to another academic year.  This Chronicle provides you with initial information about CSN’s activities this summer in advance of our Convocation on August 21st.

Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Margo Martin

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Margo Martin as CSN’s new Vice President for Academic Affairs.  Dr. Martin began her CSN service on July 1.  She has already visited most CSN campuses and learning sites, meeting faculty and staff while preparing for fall semester.

Important correspondence

Attached to this Chronicle are three items of correspondence received in July.  Two relate to CSN’s accreditation.  CSN is in good standing with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), but there is much work to do on program and institutional assessment.  There is also a requirement that CSN’s governing board, the Nevada Board of Regents, evaluate its performance on a regular basis.  CSN is accountable for that evaluation.

The third item of correspondence relates to salary adjustments and legislative action regarding salaries this biennium.  Should you have questions on any of these items, please let me know.

Personnel Changes in Advancement

Similar to such functions at all colleges and universities, the advancement function at CSN is critical to the mission of the College.  Over the years, the College has benefitted from the service of very capable professionals.  For about three years, Alan Diskin led the CSN Foundation.  He has stepped down after success in preparing the Foundation for its future with new trustees and a renewed direction.  I am pleased to announce that Dr. K. C. Brekken will assume new duties as executive director of the Foundation effective immediately.  K.C has served CSN for the past nine years, most recently as the executive director of public affairs, overseeing public and media relations as well as government affairs and as the staff liaison to the Institutional Advisory Council.  At the Foundation, Dan Morris and Millie Vuksanovic will continue their service and will aid K.C.

Additionally, CSN’s Alumni Relations program, led by Jamille Walton, will align with the Foundation.

Going forward, public relations activities will transition to Dave Morgan who will be CSN’s new director of Marketing and Media, an area that will continue to include Media Relations Senior Specialist Richard Lake and Coordinator Suzan Workman in their assignments.  Michael Flores will continue to direct our government relations efforts, including local, state and federal public relations and continue to play an important role in communications.

Maria Marinch, executive director of Community Relations, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, will now work with the Institutional Advisory Council as well as the community service and mentoring requirements of the Nevada Promise program.

Please welcome these individuals into their new roles.

New Chancellor Thom Reilly

On August 7, Dr. Thom Reilly will begin his assignment as the Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Dr. Reilly has an outstanding record of service in southern Nevada, and most recently served as Director of the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University.  He will join us on August 21^st at Convocation.

Greetings faculty and staff! I hope your spring semester wrapped up well and those that are here for the summer term are excited for a new group of students and classes. This Chronicle includes a summary of the legislative session and important information about what’s to come as we get closer to the fall semester.

Cost of Living Increases

We are grateful to the Governor for including a 2 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in each year of the next biennium’s budget, effective July 1, 2017. In the 11^th hour, legislators were able to pass another 1 percent increase for each year, which the Governor has not yet signed. Therefore, state employees could see a 2 or 3 percent increase in each year of the biennium. Classified employees should see the increase on their July 25 pay (which covers the period from July 1-15) and professional (academic and administrative) should see the increases reflected on their August 1 pay (which covers the period from July 1 – 31).

Legislative Summary

CSN faculty, staff and students who attended CSN Day in April in Carson City.

Thank you to all faculty, staff and students who spent their time and effort advocating on behalf of CSN students this legislative session. Whether you went to Carson City and took part in CSN Day or wrote a letter from your home computer, you are part of the reason CSN experienced such a warm welcome and support from lawmakers this session. Our main needs were met, including an increase in the funding formula for certain Career & Technical Education programs; the Silver State Opportunity Grant was made permanent and the funding was doubled; and our capacity initiatives were funded for the second year of the biennium, including support for the multi-campus district transition and an expansion of advanced manufacturing. In addition, CSN and Nevada State’s joint Health and Science building also received funding for planning, which means we will go back to legislators in 2019 for construction funds for this important project. Additional bills involving CSN are mentioned below. I would like to thank Michael Flores, our director of communications and government affairs, for his tireless work to orchestrate a clear path for these initiatives.

Promise Passes

We are also incredibly grateful to Sen. Mo Denis for authoring the Nevada Promise Scholarship, which passed unanimously through both houses. The Governor signed the bill yesterday. This bill creates a statewide workforce development and K-14 pipeline that incites high school students to attend community college upon graduating and helps them succeed by offering a college degree with no college fees if they complete requirements. Only graduating high school seniors can apply. They must meet mentor and community service requirements, apply for financial aid and attend two meetings about scholarship requirements and the college-going process prior to matriculation.  The scholarship then covers all mandatory registration fees minus any federal or state aid they receive. If high school seniors do not apply for the scholarship in the fall of their senior year and meet entry requirements, they are no longer eligible. The bill allows for community colleges to opt into the program, meaning they can choose whether or not to offer the scholarship. High school seniors will begin applying for this scholarship this fall with the first class of Promise students entering in fall 2018.

Prison Education Passes

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford’s bill to create a pilot prison education program between the Nevada Department of Corrections and CSN also passed through both houses. It awaits the Governor’s signature. This bill would allow for 50 men and 50 women nearing release from high security facilities to enroll in designated courses offered onsite. Before the Great Recession, CSN taught students in the prisons, but the program was cut when funding dried up. The bill allows for inmates to use specialized and highly secure tablets to participate in the coursework. It is estimated this pilot project alone could save the state millions of dollars by reducing the percentage of those who re-offend and ameliorating over-crowding. I would like to thank Apprenticeship Director Craig von Collenberg and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs James McCoy for their efforts to launch this program.

Nevada Grow

AB 94, also known as the Nevada Grow Act, was also passed. It too was signed by the Governor yesterday and will make permanent the pilot program established through the 2015 Legislature under the leadership of Assemblywoman Dina Neal. This legislation provides funding to create an economic gardening program to provide local businesses with the tools they needed to use data-driven strategies to grow and expand. A variety of stakeholders are involved, including CSN, the Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Urban Chamber, the Latin Chamber, Clark County Business Licensing and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. I’d like to thank CSN Business Professor Kevin Raiford and the Division of Workforce & Economic Development for their assistance with this pilot program and the legislation.

CSN Alumni Business Competition Finalists

Speaking of Professor Raiford, one of the local start-up businesses that has its roots in CSN’s business incubator program is a finalist in the 2017 Southern Nevada Business Plan Competition.

Revive Brand, which makes and sells backpacks, hats and other “streetwear,” is one of five finalists in the competition, which is jointly run by the UNLV Center for Entrepreneurship and the Las Vegas Business Press. Several years ago, Raiford started the business incubator program at the college to help students start their own businesses. So far, Revive Brand is one of 41 local start-up businesses that the program has helped students develop with support from the CSN Foundation. For more, visit www.snbpc.com.

 Go Coyotes!

The CSN Coyotes baseball team had a phenomenal year, taking the Region 18 Championship and earning a trip to the Junior College World Series for the first time since 2010!

The CSN Coyotes baseball team had a phenomenal year, taking the Region 18 Championship and earning a trip to the Junior College World Series for the first time since 2010!

The CSN Coyotes baseball team had a phenomenal year, taking the Region 18 Championship and earning a trip to the Junior College World Series for the first time since 2010! Although the team did not ultimately win the series, the drive and determination they showed along the way can be an example to us all. Congratulations, CSN Coyotes, on another great year!

Commencement

CSN’s Class of 2017 saw a record number of students graduate this year.

CSN graduated a record number of students at our 45th Commencement Ceremony. There were 3,440 students are eligible to receive 3,569 degrees and certificates, according to preliminary data. Official numbers for the spring 2017 will be available soon. I’d like to thank everyone who helped put the wonderful event together, as well as our guest speakers, including Congressman Ruben Kihuen and Board of Regents Vice Chair Allison Stephens and our student commencement speaker Larissa Marcum.

Emmy Award Nominations

Please join me in congratulating students in our Videography and Film program, who earned 26 Student Production Emmy Award nominations from the Pacific Southwest National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. What an incredible accomplishment. CSN students won eight of the awards last year. Award winners will be announced at a ceremony June 24 in San Diego, Calif.

Unmanned Aviation Systems

A large UAV purchased through a recent OSIT grant that will help launch a new UAV discipline in engineering technology.

I am also delighted to announce that CSN is developing a new discipline in unmanned aviation systems, thanks to a grant from the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT). The grant, which totals almost $200,000, will help fund the new focus, which will be housed in our existing engineering technology department . We expect to launch the full degree discipline in the fall of 2018. It will combine coursework from aviation, computer information technology and engineering technology. It is being developed in close consultation with industry leaders and experts to ensure that our graduates are ready for the workforce from day one.

Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT) Grants

CSN also received an OSIT grant of approximately $37,000 for the college’s aviation training simulation laboratory on the Henderson Campus, which will allow us to expand this program with eight new state-of-the-art simulators. In addition, CSN and UMC received a $148,000 grant to allow participating nurse residents to gain nationally recognized, specialty-specific credentials, such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) or Electronic Maternal-Fetal certifications, leading to improved marketability for the new nurse and a more highly-skilled healthcare workforce. Nevada’s acute care hospitals have difficulty finding registered nurses with necessary certifications and hands-on experience needed for specialized care. The pilot program will train 30 nursing residents per year.

WINN Grants

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development approved a $1.1 million Workforce Innovation for the New Nevada (WINN) grant to CSN to provide additional assessment and training for southern Nevada’s growing manufacturing industry in collaboration with the Department of Training, Employment and Rehabilitation and the Clark County School District. Approximately a year ago, CSN was the recipient of the first $500,000 WINN Grant, which has helped to train approximately 90 high school students in advanced manufacturing, each of whom received about 10 college credits this school year through dual enrollment.

PTK Honors

Our chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society received designation once again as a five-star chapter, the highest designation possible. We have one of the largest community college honors societies in the nation.

Silver Trowel Award

Congratulations to Kevin Rafferty, who recently received the Silver Trowel Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nevada Archaeological Association. Rafferty is retiring this semester after almost 30 years with CSN.

Faculty & Staff Question

“Will classified employees be allowed to work four, 10-hour days this summer?”

To provide continuity of services and ensure adequate coverage during the summer months, the college will not be moving to a four-day, 10-hour work week during the summer for its employees.

May Chronicle

As we head into the final weeks of the semester and prepare for summer and fall semesters, please take the time to read the following updates on a number of issues, including accreditation, the new internal website and more.

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Commencement Events

• May 4 — Outstanding Student Awards, 5:30 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Telecommunications Auditorium
• May 5 – Latino Commencement Celebration, 6 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Nicholas J. Horn Theatre
• May 6 – African American Commencement Celebration, 6 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, June Whitley Student Lounge
• May 12 – Associate Degree in Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 5 p.m., Cashman Center
• May 12 – Cardiorespiratory Sciences Pinning Ceremony, 5:30 p.m., Charleston Campus, Rm. K101
• May 12 – Radiation Therapy Pinning Ceremony, 1 p.m., Charleston Campus, Rm. K101
• May 13 – Health Information Technology Pinning Ceremony, 10 a.m., Charleston Campus, Rm. K101
• May 13 – Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic Pinning Ceremony, 4 p.m., Charleston Campus, Room to be determined
• May 13 – Practical Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 12 p.m., Charleston Campus, K101
• May 13 – Vet Tech Pinning Ceremony, 3 p.m., Charleston Campus, D101
• May 15 – Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony, 10 a.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Nicholas J. Horn Theatre
• May 15 – CSN’s Annual Commencement Ceremony, 6 p.m., UNLV Thomas & Mack
• May 17 – Certified Nursing Assistant Pinning Ceremony, 7 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Nicholas J. Horn Theater

Accreditation

Thank you to all who participated in the ad hoc accreditation visit this past week. All faculty were invited to meet with evaluators as part of the process. This visit afforded CSN an opportunity for follow up on our response to the recommendations coming out of our last seven-year cycle (2009-2016). As you will recall, the recommendations included a review on assessment and how it is utilized in planning and resource allocation.

In regards to the separate warning we received, CSN submitted its report this week to the Commission. Going forward, CSN has created a new process to ensure we submit all institutional changes and updates to the Commission in accordance with their policies. The Commission will consider the report at its June meeting.

Chancellor Search

You may have read in the newspaper that the Chancellor search has stalled. The search, which began in December, has concluded with no finalists. The search committee authorized its chair, Regent Kevin Page, to work with the search firm to evaluate resuming their options. You can read more about the committee’s latest meeting here.

Summer Enrollment          

Please remember to let your students, neighbors and friends know that open enrollment for summer sessions classes has begun. There are a number of great classes to attend that will help students complete their degrees and certificates more effectively. Open enrollment for fall semester begins May 20.

AtCSN

I am pleased to announce our internal website, which we are calling ‘AtCSN’ (https://at.csn.edu) is now available.

Last spring, we launched our new public-facing website, www.CSN.edu, to remodel CSN’s online gateway for potential students and the community. This site includes all of the public information needed to access CSN services. A large group of faculty and staff have since been working to build an internal site, dedicated to housing the information needed for current students, faculty and staff to thrive at CSN, including our directory, Coyote Q, policies, forms, a calendar of important dates and deadlines and more.

Internal AtCSN integrates with the public-facing www.CSN.edu, enabling CSN faculty, staff and students to seamlessly access public and internal pages. It is also responsive and accessible from your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.

Please remember AtCSN is a work in progress as we continue to expand internal content. We also look forward to the next installment in this project, GoCSN, which will provide a single sign-on application that will further enhance and personalize your website experience. More information will be available as we get closer to the fall semester.

CSN Legislative Priorities

Several deadlines have now passed, eliminating a number of bills, and I am pleased to report that CSN’s legislative priorities continue to remain in play with much support from our legislative representatives. This month, CSN and its community partners, including the Metro Chamber, Dignity Health and the City of Henderson, were able to present information about the proposed CSN & NSC Health & Science Building. We continue to hold out hope that our request for $4.3 million in planning funds will be included in the final budget.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Week

The CSN Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage committee is celebrating AAPI month by showcasing several movies

Although Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is held in May, the CSN Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage committee celebrates in April, prior to the end of the semester. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

This year the committee chose to celebrate Disney characters that represent AAPI by showcasing Kubo & The Two Strings (Japanese), Moana (Polynesian) and Mulan (Chinese). These three films were shown over three weeks and each incorporated a cultural demonstration, including a Kaminari Taiko drummer demonstration, Polynesia style dances and a martial arts demonstration.

Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining negotiations continue between the College and the NFA/AAUP on behalf of the academic faculty. Most recently, the discussions have focused on finalizing various proposals that the parties have exchanged for the past weeks (these include provisions regarding work safety, overload requests, reductions in staffing during a period of financial exigency, etc.) Also, various NFA proposals have been discussed but the College does not see a way to move forward on the proposals (these include the topic of benefits, for example). Lastly, proposals regarding the key topic of salary adjustments have been discussed. The College has posted its proposal (along with NFA/AAUP’s) and a position statement on the collective bargaining webpage (csn.edu/collectivebargaining), and all are encouraged to review those materials. The College’s salary proposal focuses on 1) an equity study with participation by faculty and study outcomes funded by internal resources, and 2) NSHE performing its next salary study with study outcomes funded by the Legislature.  On Friday, April 28, Vice President of Finance Mary Kaye Bailey presented information about the College’s revenue sources and dedicated purposes for most of the fees collected from students. Her presentation is also posted on the collective bargaining webpage. We appreciate everyone’s efforts and thoughts on this important project, and thank those who have attended negotiating sessions. All are welcomed.

CSN Day at the Legislature

CSN Day at the Nevada Legislature was a tremendous success

Thank you to all who participated in making CSN Day at the Nevada Legislature a success. We had more than 50 faculty, staff and students make the journey. They met with their elected representatives, sat on the Assembly and Senate floors during session, attended the Assembly Education Committee and toured the Capitol. In addition, a number of legislators as well as Regents John Moran and Kevin Page, came by the lunch reception, sponsored by Century Link, to speak with our students. It was a beautiful day and CSN was well represented!

Respiratory Therapy Excellence

CSN’s nationally recognized Cardiorespiratory Science Program is being honored in June

I am proud to share that CSN’s nationally recognized Cardiorespiratory Science Program will receive the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care in June! This distinguished honor is awarded to select institutions for high quality programs with continual success in the credentialing and job placement of graduates. Way to go!

Faculty & Staff Questions

“Are the CAPE Guiding Principles for Service Excellence courses required for all faculty, staff and students?”

All employees are strongly encouraged to attend these courses. Regardless of your position at the college, you serve students, faculty or staff and this course series promotes emotional intelligence and core values that we must all exude to successfully carry out the college’s mission. Check with your respective vice president to determine if the course is required for you.

“What’s the latest happening on the multi-campus district transition plan?”

As you may recall, we have identified funds from student fee increases that we may use to add the faculty and student services staff necessary to phase in a transition from a highly centralized multi-campus single unit to a multi-campus district. These funds will create the home campus experience emphasized in our plan and a standard level of services and course menu at each campus. We have requested funding from the Legislature for the administrative component and will know more in June. Meanwhile, we continue to research best practices for structuring and management of these districts.

“When can we anticipate to receive feedback from our ad hoc accreditation evaluation this week on the 2009-16 plan?”

Evaluators visited on April 25-26, and they will prepare a written report for review at NWCCU.  It will probably be mid-fall before final action is announced.

Please join us on May 15 for Commencement at the Thomas and Mack.  Celebrate our students!

Mike

Greetings! We are entering the final stretch of spring semester and there are a number of important dates ahead related to commencement, which I encourage you to attend.

• April 29 – Clinical Laboratory Sciences Pinning Ceremony, 10 a.m., Charleston Campus, Rm. K101
• April 29 – Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Commencement Celebration, 4 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Telecommunications Auditorium
• May 4 — Outstanding Student Awards, 5:30 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Telecommunications Auditorium
• May 5 – Latino Commencement Celebration, 6 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Nicholas J. Horn Theatre
• May 6 – African American Commencement Celebration, 6 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, June Whitley Student Lounge
• May 12 – Associate Degree in Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 5 p.m., Cashman Center
• May 12 – Cardiorespiratory Sciences Pinning Ceremony, 5:30 p.m., Charleston Campus, Rm. K101
• May 12 – Radiation Therapy Pinning Ceremony, 1 p.m., Charleston Campus, Rm. K101
• May 13 – Health Information Technology Pinning Ceremony, 10 a.m., Charleston Campus, Rm. K101
• May 13 – Emergency Medical Services/Paramedic Pinning Ceremony, 4 p.m., Charleston Campus, Room to be determined
• May 13 – Practical Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 12 p.m., Charleston Campus, K101
• May 13 – Vet Tech Pinning Ceremony, 3 p.m., Charleston Campus, D101
• May 15 – Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony, 10 a.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Nicholas J. Horn Theatre
• May 15 – CSN’s Annual Commencement Ceremony, 6 p.m., UNLV Thomas & Mack
• May 17 – Certified Nursing Assistant Pinning Ceremony, 7 p.m., North Las Vegas Campus, Nicholas J. Horn Theater

*Note: The Native American Alliance will partner with UNLV and NSC to host a collaborative Pow Wow. Date/Location TBD.

Accreditation
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is CSN’s regional accrediting agency.  NWCCU has warned CSN that it was not meeting one of the 24 eligibility standards.   The commission has requested remedial steps be taken and reported to them on April 25^th.  CSN changed Accreditation Liaison Officers in 2016.  Patty Charlton now has that assignment, and she is working with NWCCU staff on a report for the commission to show the steps we have taken to comply.  Part of that report will include past programmatic changes at the College.  Once the commission receives the report, it is our expectation that the commission will remove the warning.  Accreditation is paramount at any quality higher education institution. Therefore, we are addressing this with fervor to ensure we maintain our tradition of excellent standing.

Unrelated to the letter, CSN has its regularly scheduled follow up visit on April 25-26 from two representatives of NWCCU who will validate CSN’s implementation of strategies to address recommendations from the Year 7 report regarding assessment.  (See the faculty question below for more information.)

Women’s History Month

CSN Professor Erica Vital-Lazare, CSN Student Alexis Parsha, CSN Professor DeAnna Beachley (left to right), as they attend the closing event of A Room of One’s Own at the Left of Center Art Gallery on Saturday, March 25

I would like to express a special thanks to the CSN Women’s Alliance and the Office of Diversity for hosting so many enriching events this month. The Wikipedia Hack-a-Thon, Status of Women Conference, Suffrage Readings and much more provided a diverse array of engaging and informative opportunities for our community to gather and discuss women’s challenges and the history and future of women’s rights. These are critical touch points at this moment in time and I hope every one of our faculty and staff had an opportunity to engage in this month’s events.

Internal Website Update
The internal CSN website is coming soon! The website has been designed with current faculty, staff, and students in mind. It has a responsive design that is accessible from all devices so that you can find the things you need quicker, easier, and from anywhere. There is a document directory for easy, searchable access to the most up to date PDFs and forms, quick links to frequently accessed pages, and much more.  We expect to launch this internal website at the end of April. More information will be shared as we get closer to launch date.Legislative Update
The legislative session is in full swing.  Three budget hearings have been held, and CSN is responding rapidly to requests for information. I want to thank our faculty and staff who have been involved in engaging legislators and those who are planning to attend CSN Day in Carson City on April 19.

At the March budget hearing, legislators asked a number of great questions about the funding formula and NSHE’s request for $21 million over the biennium to support community college career and technical education. We have heard from many legislators who are supportive of our college and students.

Last week, the Senate Education Committee heard our request for the expansion of our bonding capacity from the currently approved amount of $45 million to $81 million. The expansion will enable CSN to proceed with the construction of the three student unions to be located on each campus, as approved by the Board of Regents last month. The passage of SB 496 is critical to our ability to proceed with this project.

There are several bills related to higher education governance reform, including Assemblyman Ira Hansen’s bill, AB331, which will be heard in Assembly Education on Monday afternoon, which we are watching.

A proposal to create a CSN prison education pilot program for 100 inmates is expected to be heard Tuesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30 p.m. Later that afternoon, the Senate Education Committee will hear legislation to amend the Silver State Opportunity Grant and to create a Nevada Promise Scholarship for recent Nevada high school graduates that would cover any mandatory fees not covered through federal or state financial aid to attend community colleges.

Sen. Mo Denis, who authored the Promise Scholarship legislation, will hold a meeting to discuss the legislation with community leaders on Saturday, April 1 at the Latin Chamber, where he is seeking support for this bill.

If you are interested in testifying or writing letters of support for any of these items (or others), I encourage you to contact our government affairs director, Michael Flores, so that he can assist you.

Grants

One of CSN’s current aviation simulators (2012)

Congratulations to the CSN School of Advanced & Applied Technology and the Ralph & Betty Engelstad School of Health Sciences for winning grant awards from the Nevada Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT) in this year’s STEM Challenge Grant competition. CSN received approximately $37,000 for the college’s aviation training simulation laboratory on the Henderson Campus, which will allow us to expand this program with eight new state-of-the-art simulators. In addition, CSN and UMC received a $148,000 grant to allow participating nurse residents to gain nationally recognized, specialty-specific credentials, such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) or Electronic Maternal-Fetal certifications, leading to improved marketability for the new nurse and a more highly-skilled healthcare workforce. Nevada’s acute care hospitals have difficulty finding registered nurses with necessary certifications and hands-on experience needed for specialized care. The pilot program will train 30 nursing residents per year.

Phi Theta Kappa
CSN’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa had a successful 2016 calendar year. The officer team, along with the student members, embarked on their year-long scholarly research project called Honors-in-Action. The topic, as provided by headquarters, was Global Perspectives: How the World Works. The officers chose the theme Natural and Engineered, and they focused their research on how factory farming affects ground, ocean, and rain water. For the action phase of the project, they designed an awareness campaign, involving a presentation by an instructor of Environmental Science to Phi Theta Kappans. The officers put on classroom presentations to CSN students; and an officer presented her research at a CSN poster fair.

At the Nevada/California Spring Regional Conference held in San Francisco in March, the chapter was recognized with the following awards:

• 5-Star Chapter Award (the highest level)
• Honors-in-Action, Natural and Engineered, 3^rd place
• Website Award, 3^rd place
• Distinguished Chapter Officer Award, Ashley Allison, 3^rd place

Way to go PTK! We are incredibly proud of you.

CSN Dean Recognized for Contributions to Health Care

Dr. Josh Hamilton

Congratulations to CSN Ralph & Betty Engelstad School of Health Sciences Dean Josh Hamilton! The American Association of Nurse Practitioners selected Dr. Hamilton in March as one of its 2017 fellows, in recognition of his contributions to advanced nursing, translational research and education. The association recognizes nurse practitioner leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through clinical practice, research, education or policy.

Faculty & Staff Questions

“What can you tell us about the April accreditation visit?”

Accreditation operates on a seven-year cycle. We concluded our first seven-year cycle with a report and visit in fall 2015, in which we received seven commendations and four recommendations. We issued a report on our progress on those recommendations and the April visit will include two representatives from a NWCCU evaluator who will follow up on CSN’s progress, specifically in the areas of assessment, student learning outcomes, and planning and resource allocation.

Have a great month!

Best,

Mike

Greetings Colleagues!

I have been waiting until now to issue the March Chronicle because the Board of Regents, meeting at CSN’s North Las Vegas campus, took action on a number of key items that I wanted to report to you.  In many ways, the Board’s actions were historic for CSN.

Board of Regents

CSN Student Body President Jill Robinson and fellow student leaders testify in support for the fee structure to build student unions at CSN at the Board of Regents Meeting at the CSN North Las Vegas Campus.

This week, the Board of Regents met at the North Las Vegas Campus on Thursday and Friday for the first time in at least a decade.  Here’s how the actions of the Board affected CSN and you:

• With the enthusiastic endorsement of the students, fee increases were approved to construct student unions on each campus. CSN will also be committing $7 million to get the projects underway and to reduce the indebtedness students will incur. With this action, CSN will offer students better gathering space, a central point for food service, meeting rooms, and a stronger sense of collegiate life. Learn more here.
• The Board approved my recommendations for tenure! Congratulations to these excellent faculty who are dedicating their careers to CSN!
• The Board approved an honorary degree for Dr. Nancy Brune, founding chair of the CSN Institutional Advisory Council and Executive Director of the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. Dr. Brune will be recognized at CSN’s Commencement Ceremony on May 15.
• The Board received a report on CSN’s multi-campus district model and approved amending a budget recommendation to fund the transition. Pending appropriations from the Legislature, this means more advisors, more faculty and campus administrators for CSN’s three campuses. More on the impact of the model below.

Finally, this meeting of our governing board represented a wonderful opportunity to showcase CSN to the public and to sister institutions.  I appreciate Dr. Douglas Sims and Rachel Lily, a CSN student, for their presentations to the Board and all of the staff who worked so hard to facilitate the meeting and make it a wonderful experience for our colleagues throughout the system.

Black History Month

Local artist Lance Smith (left), Antanus Pullman, and CSN Psychology professors Dr. Andrea Brown and Dr. David Roby at #BlackMenDream, which showcased different sides of black masculinity and explored the emotional restrictions often denied through crossroads of race and gender.

I would like to thank the CSN African American Heritage Committee, the Black Student Alliance and the Office of Diversity for their work on a number of great events in February to celebrate Black History Month. These events included a documentary screening of the film #Blackmendream, and the film 13^th, which can be found on Netflix regarding the 13th Amendment and its relation to modern day slavery in the prison system. Also this month guest speaker Yusef Salaam came to the college to discuss his past of being wrongfully accused for a crime he did not commit, and with people he didn’t even know, while sharing his story and his perspective he answered questions related to today’s political climate.

Collective Bargaining

The process of collective bargaining continues. CSN has created a webpage where you can get the latest information about the process and find information about the upcoming meetings, proposals, counter proposals, background and more. The CSN NFA Chapter also has a blog that can be found here. The bargaining sessions are open to the college community. The next meetings will take place as scheduled below. All are encouraged to attend.

March 10, 2017, 9 am, NLV campus-Conf Rm A/B

March 24, 2017, 3 pm, Henderson Campus-C-225

79^th Legislative Session

The legislative session has officially begun and there are a number of bills we are following, including items on dual credit, the Silver State Opportunity Grant, funding for certain CTE programs and more. I was in Carson City on Tuesday to help make our case and discuss the importance of the Silver State Opportunity Grant for our students. You can read more about the hearing here. To receive weekly legislative updates, email publicaffairs@csn.edu.

Multi-Campus District Study

On Feb. 23, I updated the Board of Regents Committee on Community Colleges on the progress of our multi-campus district planning. We’ve identified funds within the previously approved student fee increases taking place this fall to bolster the necessary faculty and staff needed. Revenues for two years will be committed to providing a standard student experience at all three campuses, as well as deliver general education and entry-level courses on each campus. This will allow students to receive a standard level of collegiate experience regardless of which campus students select. When Regents initially approved the student fee increases, they stated that the new dollars must support student services and building out needed faculty and staff on each campus and creating a home campus experience will help accomplish that outcome. We’ve also identified additional dollars needed to support the administrative component to provide a campus leader at each location and have amended CSN’s budget request to the Legislature to fund the positions separate from student fees or other institutional funds.  These administrative positions will provide uniform points of contact in the three municipalities and communities CSN serves. Our community partners want CSN to help support their economic development needs, and we’ll be in a stronger position to do exactly that. The funds will be included in our capacity enhancement request before the Legislature this session.  Taken together, a commitment of $3.8 million could be available beginning July 1 to support the multi-campus district model.

Working through the details of the model will take up to two years.  It will change the way CSN committees and councils work, emphasizing more communication and coordination throughout the College.  It will improve our ability to work with the communities we so proudly serve. Most importantly, it will infuse an investment of funding into a uniform student experience both inside and outside the classroom.  Students would not have to hop from campus to campus for services unless they so choose.  Advisors and counselors won’t be spread so thin because of the circuit they ride.  The Henderson campus, particularly, will have the array of services and curriculum of CSN’s other campuses.

We also look forward to designating Centers of Excellence on each campus both for programming and for improved marketing of the campuses. This is an exciting dimension of the multi-campus model.

The Regents’ committee and the full Board itself, received the report enthusiastically with the understanding that we have more details to explore. Regents expressed a desire that a transition to this structure would help us better meet both student and community needs more effectively.

Please know how deeply I appreciate the thoughtful consideration faculty have given this new model. Issues raised, questions about resources, concerns about implementation have been constructive and helpful.  Indeed, they have strengthened CSN’s proposals and budget submissions.  I believe the entire transition will be better for faculty input and review.  Thank you to all involved!

New DWED Leader

Ricardo Villalobos

Following a national search, CSN has hired a new Executive Director of the Division of Workforce & Economic Development Ricardo Villalobos. March 1 was his first day. He is completing his Ph.D. in Workforce Development at UNLV. Mr. Villalobos’ professional experiences include serving as Director of Workforce Development Programs at Workforce Connections, overseeing employment and training services being provided to approximately 5,000 youth and adults. Previously, he worked with at-risk student-athletes at San Diego State University and with welfare-to-work recipients at one of the local community colleges. He also served as an evaluation consultant for the Sweetwater Union High School District assessing college preparatory programs for disadvantaged student populations. He will be a vital asset to help CSN expand workforce readiness in Southern Nevada.

I also want to recognize the work of Dan Gouker and Melissa Schroeder who labored so effectively as leaders of DWED.  Dan built countless relationships in the community.  His efforts created a dynamic and successful operation with business and industry alliances that serve as the model for workforce development. Melissa carried on as interim director, sustaining strong operations for the College.

DWED is no longer exclusively the non-credit and enrichment arm of CSN.  It is a workforce engine for the college and for the greater Las Vegas community.  Its agility and program excellence is ready for the next level of success.

Diversity Day

Diversity Day will take place Friday, March 31, all day at the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre on the North Las Vegas Campus. The program includes morning workshops for Safe Zone 102 and Communicating Across Generations. The afternoon program includes a special presentation of awards that I will present to recognize diversity committee chairs and other diversity champions, and a presentation by Attorney Colin Seale on Safe Spaces and Free Speech. Colin will follow his keynote with a workshop to wrap up the day’s activities. A light lunch will be provided for those who attend the morning sessions and stay for the afternoon program. Please attend and encourage your colleagues to do so as well. The day is not only symbolic of the college’s support of diversity and inclusion but also a good opportunity for training on diversity-related topics that address issues of interest for the CSN community. We developed the program based on feedback from faculty, staff and students. You can register through CAPE or email diversity@csn.edu for more information.

Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day

Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day is coming up on April 27 and CSN will hold special activities at all three main campuses to participate. The national holiday encourages strives to connect children with the working world and to think creatively about their future. Fun and educational activities are being planned for each campus and snacks, lunch, and beverages will be provided throughout the day for the children courtesy of our college administration. Children from ages 8-18 may participate.  To plan for this event, we ask that employees pre-register their children by Monday, April 10. Walk-ins without prior registration will not be able to participate. Registration for this event is on a first come, first served-basis as each campus has limited space. Contact Angel.clemens@csn.edu for more information and to sign up.

March Speed Networking Event

Finally, we are very excited about our upcoming Speed Networking Event to be held Friday, March 17, at the North Las Vegas Campus in the June Whitley Lounge. We have dozens of local and national employers attending to meet with CSN Accounting, Business, CIT, & Engineering Technology students. Prior to attending, all students receive an orientation and assistance preparing their resumes and developing their ‘elevator speeches.’ At the event, students will experience a high-energy, speed networking event over two hours that prepares them to enter their career fields and in some cases lead to jobs and internships.

Faculty & Staff Q&A

“Will CSN still be affordable for students with all the fee increases?”

It is essential to CSN’s future that is remain accessible and affordable.  Nearly every fiscal decision at the College is made with that goal in mind.  As the students proposed three student unions, realizing they had to pay for construction and operation of the new facilities, the question of impact on pricing received careful analysis.  We saved some general improvement revenues and chose to reduce the impact on students by transferring $7 million to the projects.  We elected to charge a lower summer fee–$3 per credit hour.  And we chose to defer collection of the O&M fee ($1 per credit hour) until it was needed in the fall of 2019.  By FY2020 when all fees are in place, CSN will be charging about $1,794 for 15 credits.  This is about a thousand dollars lower than NSC and about $2,200 lower than UNLV.

“Will we be updating the North Las Vegas Campus” sort codes to North Las Vegas (as opposed to NLV)?”

The North Las Vegas Campus sort codes are currently being revised and will be updated soon.

“Is the PageDNA printing system a temporary fix until Workday is completed?”

The PageDNA system is a permanent solution for online ordering of all print requests and is not associated with the implementation of Workday. The design of the PageDNA online store front continues and we very much welcome your feedback. Please contact the Senior Director of Auxiliary Services Judy Ruter to provide specific feedback on how we can improve the look and functionality of the PageDNA system.

Best,

Mike

Greetings! I hope your spring semester is off to a great start! There is a lot to update you upon, including the upcoming legislative session and the multi-campus district transition.

Governor’s Budget

Thank you to all who attended the town hall on Jan. 23 or watched online. You can watch the video here. Gov. Brian Sandoval outlined his budget priorities in the State of the State on Jan. 17 and the news is great for CSN and higher education in general. The Governor proposed a 2 percent increase in state employee salaries each year of the biennium for cost of living or 4 percent total for the biennium. He also advocated for a $21 million infusion of funds into certain career and technical programs at community colleges from which CSN would gain about $10 million. His budget also doubles the amount of state funding for the Silver State Opportunity Grant and makes this community college, need-based scholarship permanent. I am very appreciative of the Governor’s vision and commitment to higher education.

CSN & NSC Health & Sciences Building

An artist’s rendering of the proposed new Health Sciences building.

The joint health and sciences building was not included in the Governor’s budget. However, it is our hope that through the legislative process, we can work with lawmakers to include the $5 million in planning funds we need to get this project started. If this money is not allocated this session, it will considerably delay this project, which is critical to meet the growing need for healthcare professionals in Nevada.

Multi-Campus District Transition

On Feb. 23, I will present additional information to the Board of Regents on plans to transition into a multi-campus district. Tuition and fees dedicated to support student services and reduce bottlenecks in degree programs will fund the needed increase in faculty and staff to build out services on each of our three campuses and ensure all of our students, regardless of which campus they attend, receive a standard level of service. We will need to seek alternative funding for administrative increases necessary to support this plan.

Strategic Planning—New Day

For the past year, a taskforce of faculty and staff have been updating CSN’s Strategic Plan in compliance with expectations from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and in anticipation of a new, integrated planning policy of the College.  The plan is now in draft form as is the new policy. The plan is predicated on revised mission, vision, values statements and new core themes, also generated from the taskforce and approved in the fall of 2016 by the Nevada Board of Regents. Although, the plan will be reviewed, reported on and revise annually, much more is expected and more accountability is required. Hence, I will be creating from the Task Force members a Strategic Planning committee comprised of faculty and staff. The committee’s primary tasks include monitoring the implementation of the strategic plan and implementing the integrated planning policy of the College.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Public Forums

You will have the opportunity to meet and hear from the candidates for the Vice President of Academic Affairs. More information will be forthcoming, but for now, please mark your calendars with the following public meetings with each candidate:

• Feb. 21, 1:30-3 p.m., Charleston Campus, K 101
• Feb. 22, 1:30-3 p.m., Charleston Campus, K101
• Feb. 27, 1:30-3 p.m., Charleston Campus, K 101

*Video conferencing locations will be at the North Las Vegas Campus (Conference Rm. A – C 2638) and the Henderson Campus (C-224).

 If you have any questions, please contact Jason Parker, director of HR Operations, at jason.parker@csn.edu.

CSN Event Office

CSN will launch new event procedures within the coming month. Over the course of a year, CSN coordinates and supports approximately 1,000 internal and external event requests. The new event process has been created in an effort to:

• Ensure that all events meet the mission of the college;
• Consistency of the use and support of CSN facilities;
• Streamline and coordinate our efforts; and
• Help reduce the stress put on our support services.

These procedures will apply to all internal (CSN staff and faculty) and external (companies, governmental agencies, etc.) event requestors.

In addition, a new Events Manager position has been created to help with the organization and coordination of events. This position will be working hand-in-hand with Facilities to ensure that each event is successful. Michelle Word will serve as the Event Manager, and is ready and available to help faculty and staff with their event needs.

New Student Life & Leadership Director

Brian Akins, CSN’s new director of Student Life and Leadership Development.

Please join me in welcoming Brian Akins as the new director of Student Life and Leadership Development. Akins will also serve as the advisor to the Associated Students of the College of Southern Nevada. He began his service on Dec. 5. A graduate of the University of Arizona, he brings more than 12 years of experience in campus and student life to CSN.

Upcoming Alliance of Hispanic Institution Educators Conference

The Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) is holding its annual Best Practices Conference April 9-12 at UNLV. NSHE employees benefit from a special discounted rate of $285 to attend.  In order to receive this discounted registration, you must use the registration link here. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn best practices and network with educators from HSI institutions across the country. If you have any questions, you may contact Hispanic Serving Institution Task Force Chair Clarissa Cota at Clarissa.Cota@csn.edu.

CSN was well represented at the 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in downtown Las Vegas, billed as one of the largest such parades in the west. The African American Heritage Committee participated in the parade, whose theme this year was Living the Dream: The Movement Continues.

HVAC Special Accreditation

Dennis Soukup, chair of Applied Technologies, shows off the HVAC program’s 6,000-square-foot facility.

Our Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program recently received accreditation from HVAC Excellence, I am happy to report. The group sent a team to CSN for an intensive review of the program. Congratulations to everyone involved in the program!

Congratulations CSN Police

CSN Police Chief Darryl Caraballo, who was recently honored with the Patriot Award by the Nevada chapter of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

CSN Police Chief Darryl Caraballo was honored in January for his department’s steadfast support of the U.S. military. Chief Caraballo is also a veteran himself of the United States Marine Corps. Nevada’s chapter of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, presented the chief with its Patriot Award during a ceremony for going “above and beyond” in his efforts to support our military. CSN’s Police Department currently has four members of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Congratulations, Chief!

TMCC Partnership with CSN

CSN and Truckee Meadows Community College are partnering to expand our surgical technician associate of applied science program to Northern Nevada students. Our expert CSN instructors will provide instruction at TMCC in person and through interactive video conferencing. Students will do clinical rotations at local sites. This represents an excellent partnership among NSHE institutions to maximize resources to meet the needs of all of Nevada.

Happy holidays to all! I have lots to share with you in this month’s Chronicle. The spring semester is going to kick off with a number of exciting events, including a town hall and roundtables where we will discuss a host of issues, including the safety and protection of our students, the legislative session and the multi-campus district.

Mark Your Calendars

CSN President’s Town Hall

Jan. 23, Charleston Campus, K101, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Student Roundtables

Jan.19, Henderson Campus, C 133, 10 a.m.

Jan. 30, Charleston Campus, I-108, 10 a.m.

Jan. 31, North Las Vegas Campus, Conference Room A, 11 a.m.

Faculty & Staff Roundtables

Feb. 13, Charleston Campus, K101, 10 a.m.

Feb. 14, Henderson Campus, C133, 10 a.m.

Feb. 15, North Las Vegas Campus, Telecommunications Auditorium Rm. 1772, 10 a.m.

The CSN Poster Fair is Jan. 9 and kicks off spring Convocation at the North Las Vegas Campus in the June Whitely Student Lounge from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

CSN Connections will take place Jan. 17-19, from 10:30 a.m. to1 p.m.

Enrollment/Registration

Classes start Jan. 17 but students will be able to register until Jan 22. There is no additional fee for late registration. Students can also check out the spring semester’s short-term classes here.

CSN’s Economic Impact

This month, CSN will launch our new economic impact study. The college’s students, faculty and staff contribute nearly a billion dollars each year to the regional economy. I plan to discuss this along with our legislative agenda and other important issues at my town hall on Jan. 23, mentioned above. You can read more about our role as Southern Nevada’s economic engine here.

DACA & Other Minority Students

We continue to hear student questions and concerns regarding their future at CSN and ability to learn in a safe environment. If you are hearing similar questions, please emphasize the following and refer students for additional information to my office directly or to the diversity office. CSN does not collect immigration information about students, or information related to religious affiliation or sexual orientation. CSN police and staff do not enforce immigration laws or regulations, which are upheld by federal authorities. Finally, as I have previously stated, CSN has implemented a task force to review CSN’s policies and procedures, paying special attention to their abilities to support any and all under-represented groups in this current climate, as well as academic freedom, and ensure all students can learn in an inclusive and safe environment.

CSN Police

CSN Police are very involved in the community. This month, they held a toy drive for Toys for Tots.

As I mentioned in my update to you from the December Board of Regents meeting, the Regents plan to study the consolidation of our police with UNLV’s department to provide services to all the Southern Nevada NSHE sites. A report is expected at the June 2017 board meeting. I think this is an opportune time to highlight how involved CSN’s police and security officers are in our community.

Our police and security officers do much to ensure students, staff and faculty feel safe on campus and engage in the community. This past month, they held a toy drive for Toys for Tots. These gifts will go to those families in the Las Vegas Valley who are less fortunate. The CSN Police asked me to extend their appreciation to you all for your generous donations to this drive. I would like to extend my appreciation to these officers and our security staff for all they do for CSN.

Experimental Site for Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education announced this month that CSN will be among a select number of institutions to participate in a federal experiment on the benefits of additional loan counseling for borrowers. Currently, students are only required to get loan entrance counseling once. Additional loan counseling is expected to help borrowers better understand their obligations and make more informed decisions about their debt. Student loan default rates are a problem nationwide and this represents a chance for CSN to be on the cutting edge of research on best practices in financial aid.

Bump Up Field Trip

Students from the Bump Up minority male mentoring program toured UNLV this semester. Several of them plan on attending the university this fall.

CSN’s minority male mentoring program, known as Bump Up, and its affiliated student group Brother to Brother, is now housed in the Laxalt Center at the North Las Vegas Campus, where the group, along with its corresponding student club Sister-to-Sister, is highly engaged in the campus community. Each semester, members of the Bump Up minority mentoring program travel to a four-year college or university to get a sense of what life will be like after transferring from CSN. The students traveled to UNLV this month where several plan on transferring next fall.

These students, along with student government, have worked with the Bump Up Coordinator Andrew-Bryce Hudson to collect food and winter coats this month for needy CSN students. They plan on distributing these items at the start of the spring semester. For further information, please contact Mr. Hudson at Andrew-Bryce.Hudson@csn.edu.

Holiday Receptions

In lieu of a holiday party this year, we held holiday receptions on each of our three campuses. Everyone involved had a great time.

ICYMI

In case you missed it, CSN received great publicity this month. CSN Deaf Studies Professor Anthony Adams organized Nevada’s first ASL Slam for the hearing impaired. We also received some great coverage of our faculty art showcase at the North Las Vegas Campus. I hope you get a chance to appreciate the exhibit.

Faculty & Staff Questions:

“What changes will occur due to the implementation of the multi-campus district model? In what ways are they expected to impact students and staff at CSN?”

As I reported following the December Board of Regents meeting, the Regents approved the recommendations of the Multi-Campus District Study Committee. I am working with various departments and CSN executive leadership to cost out the plan and will update the Board of Regents at their March meeting at CSN’s North Las Vegas Campus.

Many of the details need to be worked out through shared governance through our committees and councils. But in general, the change to a district model will have a significant impact on students and employees once fully implemented. Students will have access to a standard level of services and general education courses at each campus. This should improve their experience dramatically and create a “home campus” for them, which will be further enhanced by our future student unions. For faculty and staff, it will mean a unique feel to each of our campuses. It will mean that academic and administrative campus leaders will work collaboratively with each other on budgeting and programming and that each campus will have executives who integrate the campus into the community and advance those students’ needs. It also means a centralized district operation that supports the three campuses and sites and centers instead of the current vertical top-down structure. You can read more about the model by reviewing the committee’s final report.

“When is the CSN Intranet going to launch?”

CSN has a committee that has been reviewing and finalizing designs/templates for the Internal website (Intranet) and is currently working with Page Owners throughout the campus to begin migrating content.  There are plans for a soft launch during the spring. The Internal site is being designed to be the go to place for employees and current students and will house our policies and procedures and important information. It will have a different address than our forward-facing marketing site www.csn.edu, which is geared toward potential students.