Announcing the New Assistant Vice President for College Access

Honious_Brad_picCSN welcomes its new Assistant Vice President, College Access Services, Mr. Bradley Honious.  He is an experienced financial aid administrator, an innovator in developing effective delivery services, and a change agent in transforming the student experience.   His experience includes service as Associate VP of Enrollment Management for Onondaga Community College; Managing Director of Financial Aid and Veteran’s Affairs for Valencia College District; Director of Student Financial Assistance for Gateway Community College, part of the Maricopa Community College System; Acting District Director of Student Affairs for the Maricopa Community College District; and, Program Coordinator, Financial Aid Information Services and Counseling, Arizona State University. AVP Honious was selected after a national search conducted by Cizek Associated, Inc.

AVP Honious has two major areas of responsibility: the Office of Student Financial Services, the Office of Veterans’ Affairs.  These major operations are critical in providing access to higher education and in shaping the student experience.  The Office of Student Financial Services disbursed approximately $90 million (grants, loans, scholarships, and student employment) to 21,000 students.  The Office of Student Financial Services administers over 150 programs with a staff of 27.  During 2011-2012, the Office of Veterans’ Affairs serves approximately 1800 veterans per semester providing enrollment, financial assistance, orientation, and support services information.

Mr. Honious holds the Master of Education from Arizona State University (2001), the B.A degree (Political Science) from Northeastern State University, a Graduate Certificate (Enrollment Management) from the University of Florida, and a Graduate Certificate (Institutional Research) from Arizona State University.  Most importantly, he is a Triton Community College graduate (1995).

Mr. Honious has participated in and served in leadership roles in many professional organizations.  The depth of his involvement in these organizations is extensive and impressive.  In addition to the recognition of peers, he has received numerous awards and honors.

Greetings from Marc Morse, Athletic Director

Greetings CSN,

The CSN baseball and softball teams are excited to begin another year of competition after a successful fall semester in the classroom and on the practice field. Academically, the Coyotes had 20 student-athletes achieve over a 3.0 GPA while averaging about 15 credits.  Another reason for celebration is Jack LaMarca’s acceptance of an academic scholarship to Ohio Northern University. Having former CSN baseball star, Bryce Harper, named Rookie of the Year for Major League Baseball was another proud moment for CSN athletics.

A very positive turnout accentuated a successful event as the Coyotes held their first annual Alumni Weekend on December 14-16.  CSN Athletics has received a new online look to our web page (www.csncoyotes.com), providing new resources to current and incoming student-athletes.

This spring the baseball team will be hosted three pre-season tournaments;The Annual Coyote Border Battle (Jan. 25-27), The CSN Coyote Classic (Jan. 31-Feb. 2), and The CSN Coyote Slugout (Feb. 15-17).  The softball team hosted the largest Junior College tournament in the country, the CSN Kickoff Classic (Jan.25-28). On Jan. 15th, the Coyotes signed 15 local recruits who are expected to contribute toward the teams in the classroom and on the field.

Please visit the new website http://www.csncoyotes.com/ and come out to support the Coyotes!

Marc Morse
Athletic Director
College of Southern

Sixteen Local Baseball and Softball Athletes to Sign with CSN

HENDERSON (January 11, 2013) – Sixteen local high school baseball and softball athletes will be making the College of Southern Nevada their official choice on Tuesday, Jan. 15, the first day of the 2013-14 NJCAA signing period.

Eight baseball players and eight softball players will be signing their letters-of-intent with the Coyotes.  The baseball players (with high schools in parentheses) include Josh Nuernberg (Cimarron-Memorial), Josh Yocum (Western), Nate Bennett (Liberty), Brett Bovee (Palo Verde), Logan Hold (Shadow Ridge), David Kuzma (Silverado), Anthony Martine (Durango) and Julian Burrola (Coronado).

The softball players are Gabrielle Canibeyaz and Hanna Russo (Foothill), Lauren and Nicole Lesniak (Chaparral), Mia Acuna (Centennial), Sarina Creswell (Cimarron-Memorial), Vanessa Sanders (Cheyenne) and Christian Wilson (Desert Oasis).

Sports Center – Welcome

Welcome new students and welcome back returning students!

Each year brings a chance to start new projects, try new things, presents new thoughts or perspectives, and a new way to look at oneself.  Many people set New Year’s resolutions, take up new activities, and deem this time of year to make new changes to serve them in a positive way.  At Campus Recreation we take each New Year as an opportunity to look at our programs and services to determine how what can be done to better serve students and staff.  If you break down the term recreation, you find that it means to re-create.  I challenge our staff and all of us here at CSN to re-create ourselves into something that better helps us reach our goals this year and goals for the future.  Relish in the process of evaluation and setting new goals and please let us know what we can do to help you reach them this semester.

Sincerely,

Andrew Farrar, Intramural Sports and Wellness Coordinator CSN Campus Recreation

Welcome to CSN Campus Recreation:

The CSN Campus Recreation Department offers programs and services that give you an opportunity to enhance your life through several scopes: physically, emotionally, intellectually, culturally, and environmentally.  We invite you to look into our activities, services and events from all the program areas provided at CSN Campus Recreation.

Invest Physically in Yourself:  Wellness

Invest physically in yourself through the CSN Sports Center’s wellness program.  We have two cardio areas with treadmills, elliptical’ s, bikes, and stair steppers.  We also have two weight rooms outfitted with plate loaded equipment, free weights, and circuit training stations.  The CSN Sports Center has racquetball, and basketball courts available, and each Men’s and Women’s locker rooms are fully furnished with lockers, showers, and dry saunas in both.  The CSN Sports Center is opened Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am – 9:00 pm, so take some time, invest in yourself and come see us!

Invest Socially in Yourself:  Intramural Sports

Invest socially in yourself by participating in the Campus Rec Intramural Sports program.  Take advantage of your free time away from studies and enjoy some friendly competition!  Whether it’s a major teams sport, or individual event, the Intramural Sports program has something suited for your interest.  You might even with THE IMS (Intramural Sports) Champion T-Shirt to sport around campus displaying your accomplishment!

CSN Call Center – Employee of the Month – January 2013

Comments Made by

Student Assistant Team Representatives who nominated June

Berry_June_CSN_Employee of the Month_January 2013“I love how June is always so very helpful anytime she is needed. She is kind and does not make me feel like any question is small. Thank you June for your help and kindness to us all.”

“Always finding ways of answering questions and finding a solution. Very reliable, very friendly with co-worker with a positive attitude.”

“I have chosen June, because she demonstrates good customer service skills, and has a great attitude towards co-workers and students. She is also a great team leader, and willing to listen when the people she works with needs her help. She is on time for work and is very reliable.  She is willing to go out of her way to make sure you get the right information for staff and students.”

‘Because she is very helpful. I know we call on her a lot and she never complains.”

“I think June should be EOM because she is such a great worker. She comes in with a positive attitude every single day no matter what, she is extremely helpful, she stretches herself out to make sure everyone is helped and she is just a great employer to work with.”

“June has been very helpful. She is always there to help. Even when she is helping another SATR she still is there to help everyone else. She has a great attitude and is very dependable!”

“June is very special she is always there when you need help she is great keep up the good job…”

Milestone for the College of Southern Nevada Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa Officers
Phi Theta Kappa Officers

The 2012-2013 school year marks a milestone for CSN’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. For the first time ever, CSN students are serving in leadership positions at all three levels in the international honor society. Locally, we have five officers running CSN’s chapter, Alpha Xi Beta. The officers host monthly member meetings, orientations, and induction ceremonies amongst other responsibilities. At the regional level, CSN student Christopher Marshall is serving as the Vice President of the Nevada District. His job is to represent the five chapters in the state of Nevada. Finally, CSN student Gail San Diego was elected International Vice President of Division IV at the international convention held in Nashville, TN. In her position, she represents the 286 chapters that comprise the western region of the United States as well as Alberta, Canada, Guam, the Republic of Palau, American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Gail ran against 5 other students and delivered a campaign speech in front of an audience of over 4,000 Phi Theta Kappans. Congratulations to all of our CSN Phi Theta Kappa officers.

The College of Southern Nevada receives State of Nevada Gear Up Sub-Grant to Reach Out to Middle Schools in the Valley.

The College of Southern Nevada was recently awarded a sub grant from State of Nevada Gear Up to create the Middle School College Access Ambassador position. Working from the Office of Student Recruitment the CSN Gear Up Ambassador will help coordinate early interventions with 7th graders forming the 2012-13 cohort program in three of Clark County’s middle schools: Jerome Mac, Harney and Woodbury.

The GEAR-Up Ambassador will provide academic support services and college access information to 7th grade students attending Jerome Mac, Harney and Woodbury, in addition to helping facilitate college going activities and promote Nevada colleges and their programs. Emphasis will be given to local STEM programs. Intervention services will follow the students into their freshman year in college. Long term, these students will become excellent candidates for more support services, such as the TRIO programs, that will help ensure their successful transition to CSN where they can complete an associate’s degree and transition to a four-year institution.

2012-2018 Gear Up is the third cohort of students that receive services from the State of Nevada Gear Up grant. This time around the added component is the adoption of long lasting school systematic changes at the CCSD level that will enhance the educational experience for all students rather than just the Gear Up groups. Opting for implementing more rigorous academic preparation for staff and students based in the Common Core State Standards; building long-term relationships with the community; creating supportive peer groups; offering information on financial literacy and college financial assistance to the entire family; creating opportunities for students and staff to experience and embrace cultural sensitivity; are some of the factors that will ensure the success of the program. The cohort graduates will not receive the customary Gear Up scholarship since the state of Nevada opted for a waiver. The students will receive local grants and scholarships based in merit as well as Federal aid.

The CSN Gear Up Ambassador in partnership with CSN Serves offers service learning opportunities for students and staff to join a group of volunteers that bring to the mix great energy, creativity, multi-cultural experience, and overall the willingness to share their passion for higher education by promoting CSN as the College of First Choice. For more information please contact the CSN Gear Up Ambassador, Carolina Navarrete via email at: GUAmbassador@csn.edu

Message from Dr. Martinez, Vice President for Student Affairs

Student Affairs is changing with a renewed commitment to improving the student experience, providing engaging opportunities for student development, and for collaborating with Academic Affairs in developing an even more challenging and supportive learning environment.  Student Affairs is reorganizing and one of the first steps forward is the promotion of the following individuals to Assistant Vice Presidents:

 Stephanie HillStephanie Hill has assumed her role as Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement.  Her duties include supervision of personnel, operations, resources, budgetary oversight, planning, programmatic implementation, and outcome evaluation over the following major areas: CSN Central, CSN Serves,  Intramurals, CSN Call Center, Sports Center, Student Government, Student Life, and Commencement.  Her responsibilities include: Leading collaborative efforts with academic and student affairs to provide appropriate service delivery and promote understanding of how personal and social development, institutional practices, and academic processes affect student success; Providing leadership to the development of initiatives for promoting the development of a student-centered environment which supports the personal, social, and academic development of all students;  Providing leadership to the development of initiatives which support the development of a college success culture; Helps to educate the campus community on trends related to Student Affairs; and, Leads in the development of Customer Service Training.  The AVP serves as the leader in the development, implementation, and evaluation of an infrastructure designed to engage students in the successful pursuit of higher education.  In addition, she serves as Student Conduct Officer for all disciplinary and academic integrity cases adjudicated on the Henderson and Online campuses.

Ms. Hill began her service at CSN in 1999.  She holds the Associate of Arts degree from CCSN (2000), the Masters in Public Administration degree from UNLV (2007), and is currently pursuing the Doctorate in Education (Organizational Leadership) from NOVA Southeastern University.

Laura Latimer-Professioanl Photo1Laura Latimer has assumed her role as Assistant Vice President for Community Engagement.  Her duties include supervision of personnel, operations, resources, budgetary oversight, strategic planning, programmatic implementation, and outcome evaluation over the following major areas: Admissions, Alumni Services, Gear Up, Student Recruitment, Retention, Orientation Services, Project Graduation, TRiO Student Support Services, Learn and Earn, CSN College Connection, CSN Ambassadors, Success Coaches, and Transfer Centers.  Her responsibilities include: Leading collaborative efforts with  academic and student affairs to provide appropriate service delivery and promote understanding of how personal and social development, institutional practices, and academic processes affect student success; Developing initiatives and strategies for promoting the development of a student-centered environment which supports the personal, social, and academic development of all students;  Providing leadership to the development of community-based initiatives which support the development of a college-going/ college success community culture;  and, serving as the leader in the development, implementation, and evaluation of an infrastructure designed to engage the internal and external communities in supporting students in their pursuit of higher education.   In addition, she serves as Student Conduct Officer for all disciplinary and academic integrity cases adjudicated on the Cheyenne campus.

Ms. Latimer first came to CSN in 2001 from UNLV to assume the Director, Millennium Services. She holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Kentucky (1986) and the Masters of Arts in Education from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia (1989).  She completed the Leadership Academy, Clark County & City of Las Vegas (2003) and the Advanced Leadership Academy, College Of Southern Nevada (2011).                                                                   

Gruner_photo (1047x1440)Dr. Bradley Gruner has assumed his role as Assistant Vice President for Student Services.  His duties include supervision of personnel, operations, resources, budgetary oversight, strategic planning, programmatic implementation, and outcome evaluation over the following major areas: Counseling and Psychological Services, Career & Re-Entry, the Disability Resource Center, the International Center, Ombudsman, and Testing.  He is responsible for: Providing leadership and supervision to services designed to support students in the learning environment, the pursuit of higher education, and hence enhance student success.  His duties include: Leading collaborative efforts with academic and student affairs to provide appropriate service delivery of student support services; Promoting the understanding of how personal and social development, institutional practices, and academic processes affect student success; and, Developing initiatives and strategies for promoting the development of a student-centered environment which supports the personal, social, and academic development of all students.  In this role, he will develop staffing recommendations, division specific policies, and determine type of professional development needed for the emerging structure to be effective.  Additional responsibility includes service as Student Conduct Officer for all disciplinary and academic integrity cases adjudicated on the Charleston campus.

Dr. Gruner began his experience with CSN in 2005 as a Clinical Psychologist with  Counseling and Psychological Service.  He is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of Nevada, holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Marist College (1991), the Master of Arts degree from Marist College in Counseling / Community Psychology (1992) and the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver (2001).  Dr. Gruner completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at the Neurodevelopmental Center, North Shore Medical Center/North Shore Children’s Hospital in MA (2001-2002).

Archive Spring 2012 Student Affairs Newsletter

Growing Pains by Dr. Brad Gruner

Growing Pains

Growing pains are sharp, throbbing, intermittent pains that affect 25-40% of people during their developmental years.  These pains often occur in the legs.  Similarly, in Student Affairs, we are in a developmental period and are experiencing sharp, throbbing and intermittent pains.  Our pains may sometimes occur in the neck or in the area just above the legs.

When we expect that growth and development should be smooth, easy and trouble-free, we set ourselves up for very painful growing pains.  Negative emotional responses like frustration, anger and resentment are born from unmet unrealistic expectations.  More realistic expectations, those which anticipate some intermittent pain and plan to cope with it, typically lead to more successful growth and change.

Realistic expectations for Student Affairs can include the following:

  • MyCSN will get better and better.  Like a new baseball or softball glove, it started out stiff and difficult to use, but we are “breaking it in” with every problem solved and training attended.
  • New MyCSN features are coming online.  Recently, the Counseling department had their module turned on.  DRC is on the way.
  • We have “done more with less.”  A lot of it worked, some of it did not.  Having learned this, we are now better informed to do what we have to do.
  • Better communication takes effort and innovation.  When the phone lines overloaded, SFS staff adopted a chat program to communicate quickly and efficiently.  Counseling, SFS, the Office of the Registrar and the campus deans kept each other informed about urgent issues through email notifications.  KC Brekken has helped many Student Affairs departments to better communicate with students via social media.  Continuing in these efforts and innovations, we will soon have an Intranet that will add a new dimension to inter and intradepartmental communication.
  • Customer service is getting better.  Associate Dean Stephanie Hill continues to facilitate training for our employees, including our student employees.

It is realistic to appreciate that we are not done improving yet…and to beware of any department or employee who says they are!  We do most of what we do quite well and the proof of that is in our results:  our Division got over 40,000 students successfully enrolled!  Think about your role in that accomplishment.  What did you do very well?  What was “good enough?”  What could be improved?  Are there processes in your area that create bottlenecks or barriers for students?  Think about the common frustrations that are communicated to you and what can be done about them.  Please, pass these thoughts on to your supervisors, managers, directors and deans.

Growing pains can be treated with stretching and exercising.  Acknowledge the successes of your staff and co-workers, growing pains can be treated with massage.  And don’t forget, a lot of times growing pains are gone the next morning.