Nevada State College community on the rise

Fall enrollment surges past 1,100 students

Although Nevada State College may have an interim president, the connection students and administrators have to their Henderson school is permanent.

The 2004 fall semester has brought hundreds of new students to take part in new degree programs and recently-formed student organizations.

The parking lot at 1125 Nevada State Drive is nearly full and two portable classrooms have been set up behind the main building to accommodate the growing nursing program.

"We're out of space," said Patricia Miltenberger, interim president since Kerry Romesburg's June departure. "This place is wild."

More than 1,100 students are currently enrolled at Nevada State College, compared with last year's 750. Thirteen students graduated from the college's first commencement ceremony in May, and according to school records, about 170 are expected to graduate between now and spring 2006.

College newcomers also have two new academic options.

About 30 students have enrolled in the Accelerated Pre-Licensure Track of the nursing program, allowing second degree students an option to earn a nursing degree in one year.

A speech pathology program, geared specifically toward teachers who work with students with special needs, is another new choice. Miltenberger said the college also has been approved to offer a bachelor's degree in applied science.

With expanding programs and enrollment, the school may be granted more space next year when state lawmakers meet. A request for funding for a liberal arts building for the college is on the list of construction priorities submitted by the Public Works Board to Gov. Kenny Guinn for consideration in the 2005 Legislature. Miltenberger said the board changed its initial September decision when it refused to recommend funding for the building.

"The building's been controversial," she said. "We do appreciate the political dilemma, but we also have a responsibility for adequate facilities."

Under Romesburg's presidency, the 2001 Legislature agreed to provide $13 million toward the cost of a new building as long as the school secured $10 million. Only $1 million was raised, and the Nevada university system is now asking the state to pick up the $9 million difference.

"It's a dilemma, but for us the bottom line has to be students," Miltenberger said. "We felt like we had to go forward at this point because of the growth of the college."

Student life also is starting to expand at the college. Miltenberger said although many people at the school felt a loss at the beginning of the school year for Romesburg, who took a job at Florida's Jacksonville University, students have been busy developing school activities outside the classroom.

Junior Fred Lowe, 20, serves as a senate member for the Nevada State Student Alliance. He and other student government leaders sponsored a week of welcome-back activities for students at the beginning of the school year. A luau wrapped up the week and was the biggest social event held for students in the school's history.

"We actually had an awesome turnout," Lowe said. "We just try to show them this is a good school. It doesn't have to be impersonal at all."

NSSA started a running club this fall, and science and visual media groups also are in the works.

"There's lots of opportunities here," Lowe said.

While students are feeling more at home, Miltenberger expects she could be replaced with a permanent president as early as January as an ongoing search continues.

In the meantime, Miltenberger, who supported Nevada State College when it was just an idea, will continue filling the role. A retiree with more than 30 years in Nevada higher education, she was on the task force to determine if the college should be established.

"The growth of Southern Nevada certainly spoke to creating more opportunity," she said. "A state college made sense."

Filling in at Nevada State College was an easy decision for Miltenberger.

"I wanted the college to be supported because I think it's important to Nevada higher education," she said. "This college is, in part, a passion for some people."


<<--[back]