Henderson, Nev. As the blossoms of spring bloom, Nevada State College, nearing completion of its fifth school year, is flourishing like a well-tended garden and enhancing the community it serves. On March 4, the college celebrated its 5th anniversary.
So, what does it take to grow a new college? No doubt the seeds are top-notch academics and dedicated students invested in their futures planted in the ideal space to grow within a community. But it takes more than raw ingredients to grow a college.
Perhaps the secret ingredient to Nevada State’s early success is the relationships the college has cultivated. The college’s leaders have worked hard to create partnerships with other schools, public and private entities, as well as local governments, which allows the college to better leverage funding and better serve the community. This has not only helped the college grow but is fast-setting Nevada State up to be a model for cross-pollinating success with partnerships unlike any other school in Southern Nevada.
In fact, unlike some higher education institutions, Nevada State is actively seeking out ways to partner with other public, private and nonprofit organizations such as the Clark County School District, the College of Southern Nevada, the City of Henderson, Henderson Libraries, Nathan Adelson Hospice and the Galleria at Sunset, on various projects and programs.
We have been given a great gift to build a school from the ground up, said Nevada State College President Dr. Fred Maryanski. It is critical to our continued growth and success as a college to ensure we have the support of our surrounding community, and our partnerships within the community are an important aspect of that effort.
The curriculum of Nevada State College is based upon the community’s needs, the needs of local businesses, and the desires and demands of the students. Special emphasis has been placed on addressing the state’s need for effective, highly educated and skilled teachers and nurses, and commitment is made to developing and promoting partnerships with Nevada’s public-school system, the state’s health care providers, the private sector, and Nevada’s colleges and universities.
However, creating partnerships throughout the community doesn’t just benefit the college it directly benefits members of the community.
The college’s Crossroads program, created and implemented in partnership with the Clark County School District, is one example of Nevada State’s partnerships in action.
Beginning Feb. 20, 80 selected at-risk 8th grade students in 13 middle schools throughout the Southeast region of the valley began participating in the Crossroads program, which helps young people identified by their counselors as being at extremely high risk of dropping out of school.
The brainchild of Dr. Rene Cantu, vice president of Multicultural Affairs at Nevada State College, the program is designed to re-engage students in seeing the value both in their education, as well as a high school diploma, before it’s too late.
Another result of a successful partnership includes the college’s partnership with the City of Henderson, which is working with Nevada State in the creation of its master-planned campus in the foothills of Henderson. Located on more than 500 acres, Nevada State College’s plan features an integrated campus and town center area. This allows planners to maintain a coordinated, cohesive look in the area surrounding the college. Although Phase II of the campus master planning process is still in the final bidding stage, plans do include offerings that will benefit the surrounding community, including a K-5? school.
Through the President’s Advisory Board and the NSC Foundation, Maryanski has also reached out to cultivate an objective, broad-based group of people within the community to bring a variety of views, expertise and resources to the table. This has resulted in interest from community leaders like Service1st Bank of Nevada CEO Bill Martin, who is the president of the NSC Foundation and has been involved in support of the college from the beginning.
To be a good banker, you have to get involved, Martin said. Good banks aren’t just repositories for money; they are a part of the community. Even as a young college, Nevada State College is doing great things for our community, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Nevada State College opened its doors to students in September 2002 after the Board of Regents and the Nevada Legislature determined the need for enhanced educational opportunities in Southern Nevada in 1997.
NSC offers progressive bachelor’s programs in several in-demand fields of study as well as a low student-to-professor ratio and competitive tuition rates.
For more information on Nevada State College, call : 702.990.2000 or visit : www.nsc.edu.