Fresh Look at Nevada Community Colleges
Chancellor Dan Klaich has launched a new task force, Fresh Look at Nevada Community Colleges, to examine the mission of Nevada’s four community colleges, and to define and identify required resources to accomplish those missions.
“We have seen student enrollment at our community colleges increase by 22.6 percent over the past 10 years, with record levels of Nevadans returning to college during the current economic crisis,” said Klaich. “This task force will examine how we can continue to meet the increasing student demand while positioning Nevada as a national leader in workforce development and training.”
More than half of the state’s spring 2009 high school graduates who attended NSHE institutions enrolled in one of Nevada’s four community colleges last year. In total, 66,502 students were enrolled in a Nevada community college as of fall semester 2009. In an economically constrained environment, more Nevada adults are also turning to community colleges for retraining and updating career skills.
Nevada is at a crossroads as state leaders, policymakers and communities plan for the future of the state. As we move to create new education and employment opportunities, it is critical that Nevada leaders have the most current information on community colleges and the vital role two-year institutions play.
The Fresh Look at Nevada Community Colleges task force will be charged with examining the following three issues:
- Identify the critical role of community colleges in the future of Nevada and how each college’s mission addresses this role.
- Understand and define what resources are needed to accomplish each college’s mission.
- Identify state employment trends, community college best practices, and sources to strengthen community colleges.
The task force is chaired by Bruce James, president and chief executive officer of Nevada New-Tech, Inc., and includes the following members:
- Morse Arberry, Jr., executive director, Urban League of Las Vegas
- Marybel Batjer, vice president for public policy and communications, Harrah’s Entertainment
- Brent Chamberlain, human resource director, General Moly, Inc.
- Jill T. Derby, former regent, Nevada System of Higher Education
- Barbara Fraser, R.N., director of education, Sunrise Hospital
- Warren Hardy, II, president, Las Vegas Chapter, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.
- Collie L. Hutter, chief financial officer & chief operating officer, Click Bond, Inc.
- Rob Jorden, Western Apprenticeship Coordinators Association of Southern Nevada
- Matt LaBranch, senior vice president for operations, International Gaming Technology
- Pedro Martinez, deputy superintendent, Washoe County School District
- Patricia K. Miltenberger, Ph.D. , professor, College of Education, University of Nevada, Reno
- Ron Montoya, principal, Valley High School, Clark County School District
The task force will hold its first meeting on Thursday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Reno office of the Nevada System of Higher Education (2601 Enterprise Rd.).
