Western Nevada College

1. Western Nevada College The State of the College August, 2008

2. Bill Amdal Jack Anderson Robert Collier Dick Kale Ed Kingham Leonard Mackey Kathy McGee Susan Riggs Virginia Schnaible Rick VanAusdal AnnouncementsSummer early retirements and resignations

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 In-service, 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.

7. 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.

8. A Time ofChallenge 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%)

9. How we are addressingour challenges Current biennium cuts: • 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

10. How we will addressfuture challenges (continued) 2009-2011 biennial cuts: • Continued operating budget cuts from 2009 • Continued hard position freeze • Buyout savings • Voluntary leave without pay program • Maintain enrollment levels • Continued student surcharge?

11. 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!

12. Moving on…our opportunities 1) To build a stronger sense of college community among employees: • 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

13. Opportunities (continued) 2) To create a culture of accountability and evidence • 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. A Year of Introspection in the Midst of a Budget Crisis: Our2010 NWCCU Self Study How we function in current conditions can shape not just our students’ lives but the future of our state.

17. 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.