A new kind of scholarship for Southern Nevada high school students taking community college courses at their schools was unveiled today.
The College of Southern Nevada and the AT&T were at Las Vegas Academy this morning to showcase a first-of-its kind scholarship for low-income high school students enrolled in CSN Jumpstart concurrent-enrollment courses.

The AT&T Aspire Foundation awarded $10,000 to CSN this summer to help 135 low-income high school students obtain college credit. The student recipients are taking a total of 476 college credits this semester through CSN’s Jumpstart program at their high schools.

“Recent education policy research has shown that students who take dual enrollment courses are more likely to graduate high school and complete college. In fact, Nevada lawmakers passed historic legislation this spring to help promote access to these types of courses statewide,” said AT&T Director of External Affairs Sandra Douglass Morgan, who presented the check to CSN officials at Las Vegas Academy. “AT&T recognizes the importance of CSN’s Jumpstart Program and the difference this opportunity can make in these students’ lives.”

A half dozen Las Vegas Academy scholarship recipients took part in the check presentation today, along with their principal Scott Walker, where they expressed their support for the program. CSN Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Margo Martin officially accepted the check on behalf of CSN along with Associate Vice President James McCoy, Assistant Director of Jumpstart Nora Mirabal, External Affairs Director Michael Flores and CSN Foundation Executive Director Dr. K.C. Brekken.

The CSN Jumpstart Program, which began in 2007, works with high school instructors to provide college courses at the high school campus, allowing juniors and seniors to obtain high school and college credit. CCSD instructors with collegiate-level credentials are certified through the program to teach CSN curricula so high school students are receiving the same course they would at a CSN campus. A typical three-credit CSN Jumpstart class costs students’ families $69.50 to enroll.

“Although the price is far lower than a similar course at CSN, it is still a large obstacle for many low-income families,” said James McCoy, CSN associate vice president of academic affairs. “AT&T’s generous support has created an exciting opportunity to remove a significant barrier for many of our valley’s students.”

To award the scholarships, CSN worked with CCSD officials at the 22 high schools where CSN Jumpstart courses are offered. Officials urged students, who had to be high school juniors or seniors and eligible for free or reduced lunch programs, to apply. The scholarships were then awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to funding one course per applicant. The 135 recipients are take a variety of 3-, 4- or 5-credit courses in an array of subjects from English 101 to manufacturing.

About the CSN Foundation:
At the College of Southern Nevada Foundation, we help build a critical foundation for growth in Nevada – growth of amazing individuals, our college and our community as a whole. We do this by providing support for students, workforce programs and higher-learning facilities.

The public is invited to showcase job skills to dozens of recruiters at the Sept. 13 event

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 6, 2017 – The College of Southern Nevada will host its Fall 2017 Career Fair, connecting students and other job seekers with local employers. The public event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13 in the June Whitley Student Lounge on CSN’s North Las Vegas campus.

The open forum gives job applicants the opportunity to meet recruiters, learn about job openings and gather detailed employment information. Applicants should dress in interview attire, bring resumes and be prepared for immediate interviews.

“The Fall Career Fair is a great opportunity for students to connect with employers on the spot,” said Bradford Glover, director of Career Services & Reentry at CSN. “Many job seekers use it as a way to learn more about potential employers. Recruiters will also be on hand to provide detailed information about their organizations and the jobs available.”

The wide array of organizations planning to attend include: Allegiant Air, Ameriprise Financial, Apple, Boyd Gaming Corporation, the Clark County School District, FedEx Ground, Lowes, MGM Resorts International, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Station Casinos, Wolfgang Puck and many more.

For more information or to host an employer booth, contact CSN Career Services, 702-651-4700.

What: CSN Fall 2017 Career Fair

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13

Where: June Whitley Student Lounge on CSN’s North Las Vegas Campus

New data related to the college’s role in regional economic development reveals CSN’s impact

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 23, 2017 – The College of Southern Nevada has a nearly $1 billion impact annually on the local business community, according to a new independently produced economic impact report.

CSN President Michael Richards presented the report and discussed the college’s outlook in a town hall meeting today.

“The College of Southern Nevada is as vital to the regional economy as it is to each student who attends,” Richards said. “Higher education impacts individual lives, and the cumulative effect touches nearly everyone in Southern Nevada.”

The economic report, produced by Economic Modeling Specialists International, discovered that CSN’s overall impact on the community amounted to $988 million in added income in fiscal year 2014-15, the year analyzed. The impact, nearly as large as the entire utilities industry, includes operations spending, student spending and the impact of alumni.

The report shows that for every dollar students invest in CSN in the form of out-of-pocket expenses and forgone time and money, they receive a cumulative of $2.10 in higher future earnings. This amounts to an average of $352,000 in extra earnings over a lifetime. Taxpayers also see a healthy return on their investment. For every dollar of public money invested in CSN, taxpayers receive a cumulative value of $3.10 over the course of the students’ working lives.

CSN, the state’s largest higher education institution, is the only college in Nevada to have three campuses in three separate, robust, dynamic urban cities and serve a large rural contingency as well. President Richards also provided information Monday on a plan to restructure the way CSN operates to better align with local workforce needs. Under the direction of the Nevada System of Higher Education’s Board of Regents, the plan – if funded – would restructure CSN from a multi-campus single unit college to a multi-campus district college.

“Most large community colleges our size evolve into a district so that each campus has more autonomy to better meet the needs of its local communities. What this will mean for CSN students is an enhanced level of service and a home-campus experience where they can get everything they need at one campus for their general education coursework,” Richards said.

In addition, the CSN President outlined student-driven plans for new student union buildings on each of its three campuses to be funded through student fees.

The Department’s support for our military goes ‘above and beyond’

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 12, 2017 – College of Southern Nevada Police Chief Darryl Caraballo will be honored on Friday for his department’s steadfast support of the U.S. military.  Chief Caraballo is also a veteran himself of the United States Marine Corps.

“They’re going above and beyond in making sure their service members get the support they need,” said Rex Miller, southern area chair of Nevada’s chapter of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program. The group will honor the chief with its Patriot Award during a ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday.

CSN’s Police Department currently has four members of the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

The Department operates under a community policing philosophy, often becoming involved in community events such as Toys for Tots toy drives, attending meet and greet functions, and alerting the CSN community of important events in the neighborhood.

In addition to Caraballo, the CSN Police Department has 16 other sworn officers, which include four other veterans, and operates offices on each of the college’s three campuses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, the chief is responsible for supervising several dozen contract security officers. The department also enjoys numerous working relationships with other local law enforcement authorities.