Transcript Western Nevada College The State of the College August, 2008 Announcements Summer early retirements and resignations Bill Amdal Jack Anderson Robert Collier Dick Kale Ed Kingham Leonard Mackey Kathy McGee Susan.

Western Nevada College
The State of the College
August, 2008
Announcements
Summer early retirements and resignations
Bill Amdal
Jack Anderson
Robert Collier
Dick Kale
Ed Kingham
Leonard Mackey
Kathy McGee
Susan Riggs
Virginia Schnaible
Rick VanAusdal
KUDOS
Mr. Bently has donated additional land to the college to
provide increased parking at the Douglas campus.
The Foundation conducted a feasibility study to
determine the likelihood of the success of a new capital
campaign. The outcomes were extremely positive and
complimentary to the college.
For the first time, college employee annual giving
exceeded 50%.
There have been major dislocations associated with the
rehabilitation of Carson campus space to provide new
ADA access, and to address weather-related building
damage. All staff have dealt with the dislocations with
grace, patience and, occasionally, humor.
KUDOS
The CDC, despite three separate relocations this
summer, has managed to achieve maximum
enrollment for the Fall.
The human resources department, under the
direction of VP Ghan, responded to the budget crisis
with a “buyout” plan which became a system-wide
model and which saved a large number of jobs at our
college, and at other NSHE institutions as well.
The physical plant staff, working short-staffed
because of the position freeze, have been able to
juggle the ADA project, the new chiller project and
major weather-related repair work on the Carson
campus, as well as carry out a major building
resealing and repainting project at the Fallon
campus.
KUDOS
Despite being short-staffed, the budget and business
offices managed to close out ‘08 accounts, create ‘09
budgets, and produce ‘10 and ’11 budget plans reflective
of major new cuts.
Several part-time faculty, college advisory committee
members, and others have volunteered to serve the
college in a variety of small tasks without compensation.
Scholarship applications are now available on-line. This
has resulted in a three-fold increase in applications. 540
high school students were seen by the “Bridge to
Success” program in ’07-’08 compared to 441 in ’06-’07.
20 area high schools received on-site service through
“Bridge to Success” in ’07-’08.
KUDOS
Fallon Student Government and Carson Student
Government have been integrated and are functioning
well as one ASWN.
Student orientations now average 50-60 students
compared to less than 10 in ’04-’05. Significant
improvements made to our Tech Prep program include
systematic student outreach, Tech Prep High School Inservice, and Tech Prep College Day.
There is now a strong, coordinated effort to provide
outreach to the Latino community. Several successful
outreach events and on-campus activities were held.
WNC Faculty Senate agreed on August 15 to defer the
sabbatical competition for 1-year in light of the budget
crisis.
KUDOS
Sharon Tetly is exhibiting recent work at Truckee River
Gallery.
Brigitte Dillet was chosen to be the President of the
National Association of Geoscience Teachers Far Western
Section.
Emily Howarth has developed a series of Applied
Industrial Technology courses to provide “Pay for Skills”
training for employees in manufacturing industries.
Brian Crowe and Bus Scharmann have developed
siren/intercom warning systems and training programs for
Carson and Fallon campuses, to protect campus
communities in the event of on-campus threats of
violence.
A Time of
Challenge and Opportunity
First, the challenges:
• The 2007-2009 budget cuts (7.92% and
holding)
• The predicted 2009-2011 cuts:
Cut in college base budget (10%)
No funding for COLA for 2009-2011 (~4%)
Potentially, no funding for inflation or caseload
increase in 2009-2011 (~2%)
How we are addressing
our challenges
Current biennium cuts:
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2% and 5% operating budget cuts
50% cut in library acquisition budget
50% cut in professional development fund
Cuts in all hosting expenditures (variable by area)
Continued hard position freeze
Student surcharge
Merit deferral
Loss in HECC/SHECC funds
Maintain enrollment levels
How we will address
future challenges (continued)
2009-2011 biennial cuts:
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Continued operating budget cuts from 2009
Continued hard position freeze
Buyout savings
Voluntary leave without pay program
Maintain enrollment levels
Continued student surcharge?
Turn the page…
 Continue to educate the public on the negative
effects of continuing budget cuts on state
education, but work to minimize impact on
students
 Encourage college community support for the
hardest hit departments (by sharing burdens,
cross training, etc.)
 Move on!
Moving on…our opportunities
1) To build a stronger sense of college community
among employees:
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No employees who did not choose to leave were
terminated for budget reasons
All employees (classified, professional,academic)
were treated equally
Departments have shared resources with areas in
need because of staff losses
Employees have, without exception, worked to protect
students
Overwhelming support for the idea of the voluntary
furlough to save jobs
Employees have been personally generous through
their payroll contributions to annual fund
Opportunities (continued)
2) To create a culture of accountability and
evidence
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Redundant program eliminations
Use of program reviews to strengthen existing
programs
Use of objective assessment measures* to
strengthen programs & college
Move quickly to achieve the appropriate program
accreditations
Conduct an honest and useful college self-study,
in preparation for college re-accreditation process
Create efficiencies by combining some
administrative functions
Keep our eyes on the prize:
Focus on college goals!
Continue to improve student success
measures
Continue to ensure institutional excellence
and effectiveness
Continue to enhance the view of the
college, by ourselves and others, as one
college, albeit with many communities.
Our work for the year
Improve the quality of our existing
programs (during new program hiatus)
Look for better ways to serve students,
despite budget crunch
Take a good look at ourselves and write an
honest and effective self study report for
NWCCU
A Year of Introspection in the
Midst of a Budget Crisis: Our
2010 NWCCU Self Study
How we function in current conditions
can shape not just our students’ lives
but the future of our state.
Things will get better…
Because the state cannot afford to let its
colleges continue in these straits.
And when they do, because of the large number
of current vacancies, we will have the funds
needed to restore support to vital, underfunded
and understaffed programs.
And to build new programs that support our
state’s and our communities’ economic, cultural
and educational future.
But, in the meantime, we will emerge as a
stronger college community because we have
supported our students and one another.