It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot, irreverence to their studies;
they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it.

-- J. Bronowski, The Ascent of Man

The college has been working on several important initiatives this past year with the help of consultants. Many of you have participated in surveys, focus groups, round table discussions and interviews. I want to thank you for your support and update you on our progress.

Last year, Assembly Bill 454 mandated that we review the college's organizational structure. The Organizational Review Committee, composed of Regents, community leaders, faculty and staff, hired the Education Alliance to help in its task. The Education Alliance presented a draft report to the Committee last week, recommending that the college create several new administrative positions and realign others. The Committee is reviewing the Education Alliance's recommendations and will make its report to the Legislature by January 1, 2003.

In addition, the college has been working on a diversity program since last summer. Many of you participated in sessions with our consultants, 3D Performance. Last week, members of 3D Performance spent two days here, working with our strategy committee to begin drafting a vision statement and goals. Committee members included Regent Linda Howard, Joanne Vuillemot, Dr. Joan McGee, Dr. Bob Anderson, Patty Charlton, Thomas Brown, John Cummings, Larry Mason, Ann Johnson, Dr. Don Smith, John Kinkella, Helen Clougherty and myself. 3D Consultants will return to CCSN for several days next month to work with a guiding coalition to develop strategies to implement our goals, and then will return to begin training sessions. I will keep you informed of upcoming sessions.

Please accept my appreciation to the hundreds of you who have participated in these initiatives and other committees at our college.

IN THE NEWS

Mr. Parminder Bajaj, Chief Financial Officer
Antioch University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, CA

Ms. Patricia Charlton, Interim Associate Vice President, Finance & Administration
Community College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

Dr. David J. Crockett, Vice President for Administrative Affairs
Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN

Dr. Bill Orr, Vice President, Administrative Services
Crafton Hills College, Yucaipa, CA

Mr. Juan Sandoval, Vice President for Finance & Administration
The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX

ACCREDITATION INTERIM VISIT MAY 13
The Commission on Colleges and Universities, Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, will conduct a focused one-day site visit Monday, May 13, to evaluate CCSN's interim accreditation report. That report, which responded to seven Commission recommendations after its March 2000 review, and the upcoming on-site evaluation, are important elements of the accreditation process to monitor CCSN's ability to meet its mission and goals.

The Commission recommendations focused on: teaching all areas of related instruction in one-year or longer certificate programs; learning outcomes and educational assessment; academic advising policies and practices; relevant student publications; student services affecting retention and persistence; enhanced resources for student services; and an effective administrative structure.

SEVEN ACADEMIC VP CANDIDATES WILL NARROW TO THREE
Seven candidates for the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs will tour CCSN campuses on Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15. The selected three finalists will be available in a forum setting starting Thursday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m. at Charleston B-105. The candidates are:

Dr. Theo Byrns, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
Community College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

Dr. Jeanne Clerc, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs
Georgia Perimeter College, Decatur, GA

Dr. Robert Khoury, Visiting Faculty
Baruch College of C.U.N.Y, New York, NY

Dr. Hans Kuss, Former President
Maysville Community College, Maysville, KY

Dr. Robert Palinchak, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Nashville State Technical Institute, Nashville, TN

Dr. Vicky Smith, Senior Program Director
Institute for Community College Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Dr. Richard White, Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs
Snow College, Ephraim, Utah

TUITION, FEES RISE FOR 2003-05
The Board of Regents recently approved increases to tuition and fees for the 2003 - 2005 biennium at UCCSN institutions. According to the new plan, the university registration fee for in-state undergraduate students will rise from $79 to $85 per credit for the 2003 - 2004 academic year, and then to $91 per credit for the 2004 - 2005 academic year. The university registration fee for in-state graduate students will rise from $107 to $115 per credit for the 2003 - 2004 academic year, and then to $123.50 per credit for the 2004 - 2005 academic year.

For in-state attendees at the state college and the upper level of Great Basin College, registration fees will rise from $62 to $66 per credit for the 2003 - 2004 academic year, and then to $70 per credit for the 2004 - 2005 academic year. Community college registration fees for in-state students will rise from $45.50 to $47.25 per credit for the 2003 - 2004 academic year, and then to $49 per credit for the 2004 - 2005 academic year.

BUDGET SHORTFALL ACTIONS
In regard to media coverage of a budget shortfall CCSN is experiencing in our current biennium, Patty Charlton, interim associate vice president for finance and administration, issued a progress report about President Ron Remington and Chancellor Jane Nichols' plan to resolve the issue. CCSN and System administration staffs have been working together to resolve the actual dollar amount that will be requested as an adjustment to CCSN's base operating budget. On May 9th, at a special Board of Regents meeting, Drs. Remington and Nichols will request an amount for FY 02-03 to be funded through the Estate Tax. If the Regents approve, the next step is the Interim Finance Committee, a legislative body with authority to approve an adjustment to our FY 02-03 Operating Budget.

MILITARY LEAVE POLICY EXTENDED
Regents recently approved an extension of an amended military leave policy for professional staff in response to the continued military action by America in its war against terrorism. For professional staff called to duty, the revised policy compensates those individuals the difference between their UCCSN pay and their military pay through the end of the 2002-2003 academic year employment contract. Additionally, retirement contributions will continue to be made, and other employee benefits will also continue at the same cost those employees currently pay.

REGENTS PARTNER WITH STATE EDUCATION BOARD
UCCSN's Board of Regents will enter into a new five-year collaborative agreement with the Nevada State Board of Education. An initial five-year collaborative agreement in 1997 resulted in considerable cooperation and progress on behalf of P - 16 education. The follow-on agreement calls for a series of specific action items designed to guarantee students' academic success, including: development of a state P - 16 council; efforts to share and use data for common educational purposes; a major initiative in teacher professional development; focused, mutual efforts to communicate expectations and standards to students and parents; and a strong emphasis on eliciting the input of the business community.

HEALTH JOBS & CAREER FAIR
Health occupations will be featured in a CCSN Job Fair and Career Day at Charleston D Bldg on Tuesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As part of campus student services centers, workforce development staffs will help students maximize opportunities in the medical field. For details, contact: Charleston ext. 5089, Cheyenne ext. 4700, and Henderson ext. 3174.

IDEAS IN THE AIR BROADCAST
On Monday, May 13, hear North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon describe the "State of the City" on CCSN's "Ideas in the Air" on KNPR Nevada Public Radio.

Dr. Gunay Ozkan

GUNAY OZKAN AWARDED EISENHOWER GRANT
Chemistry professor Gunay Ozkan was awarded a 2001-2003 Eisenhower Professional Development Grant of $7,500 with CCSN Sciences matching $5,500. There were 23 Nevada proposals and Ozkan's was fully funded in this crowded field in a project to enhance elementary school science education.

In this pilot project Ozkan will be working with Cortez Elementary, a target school because of its diverse student population and low-income demographics. The proposal calls for developing a kit of science lab materials and supplies that can be used in classroom activities in 4th and 5th grades. School district teachers will participate in writing lessons and worksheets, and tying them to the science content standards.

CCSN will host a workshop in early fall to train 10 Cortez teachers to implement the activities in their school, then support initial set-up at each school. Science lab assistant Patti Morley will be working with Ozkan to support instructional activities. The plan is to make this an ongoing set of activities the teachers can use and expand on each year.

Ozkan's proposal for a pilot implementation of Hands On Nevada Operation Research is a model that is clearly extendable to all areas of science instruction, according to Prof. Carolyn Collins, Physical Sciences department chair. Prof. Judy Stewart intends to become involved on the Biology side in the next stage of this grant. The plan is to expand this to other activities in a diverse range of areas and to other schools in the northeast area of town.

The departments and their honorees were: Accounting, Finance & Office Administration - Kathleen Stanley; Applied Technologies - Gina Flairty-Chavez; Art & Art History - Janet Greek; Biological Sciences - Susan McMillan; Business Administration - Desiree Breidell; Communication - Sophia Pusty; Computer & Information Technology - Virgil Kaufman; Education - Michaela Jahr; English - Ann Stein; Health Sciences - Lisa Finnegan; Human Behavior - Irene Navis; International Languages - Erika Borges; Liberal Arts - Gina Sully; Mathematics - Richard Corporon; Media Technologies - Lori Dramm; Performing Arts - Joni Matthews; Philosophical & Regional Studies - Richard Perez; Physical Sciences - Scott Brown; Public Safety and Human Services - Jeanine Kilbourn; and Resorts & Gaming - Noe Alcala. Additionally, CCSN's Regents' Scholar, Kerri Hamrick, was recognized, along with Phi Theta Kappa members of the All-Nevada Academic Team who are Jarrod Hyam, Apryl Sallee, and Patricia Walls.

AMERICA SALUTES NURSES
As May 6-12 is National Nurses Week, celebrating the contributions and commitment nurses make to quality health care in America, it is also fitting to salute CCSN's trio of excellent nursing programs.

National recognition began on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale is known as a nurse, reformer, humanitarian, and statistician. She was born of upper class British parents on holiday in Florence, Italy on May 12, 1820. She was well educated and grew increasingly disenchanted with upper class norms. She toured hospitals and orphanages in Egypt. A trip to Germany led to her spending three months in training as a student nurse at the Institution of Protestant Deaconnesses. She was well aware that the programs available to students of nursing were inadequate to prepare the kind of nurse she envisioned.

Nightingale was asked to go to the Crimea when war broke out between Russia and Turkey to provide nursing care to British soldiers who, along with the French, were assisting Turkey. Nightingale and 38 women found conditions to be deplorable with poor sanitation and widespread disease. She implemented many changes in the environment, provided hot balanced meals and assigned volunteers to write letters for soldiers who could not write home. Through their efforts, the death rate dropped from 50-60% to 2% within six months. She realized that many who died could have been saved if they had care during the night. She became immortalized as the Lady with the Lamp because of her nightly rounds with her lamp.

After the Crimean war Nightingale founded the Nightingale School for Nurses at St. Thomas Hospital in London, which was the beginning of professional education in nursing. She suffered ill health for the remainder of her life which modern historians attribute to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a diagnosis that came into existence following the Vietnam War. Nightingale is considered to be the first modern war nurse and the first documented psychological casualty of war.

Many graduates of nursing schools continue to honor Nightingale by having a traditional pinning ceremony and carrying a lamp during the entrance procession. CCSN's three pinning ceremonies take place next week. The Certified Nursing Assistant pinning for 200 students is Thursday, May 16, at 6 p.m. in the Horn Theatre. Valerie Rosalin, director of consumer health assistance in the Office of the Governor, will be the keynote speaker. Friday, May 17 marks the pinning for 211 students in Practical Nursing at 5 p.m. in Charleston D152. Keynoting will be Diane Chartier, director of nurses for Kindred Hospital. Forty-one students in the associate degree RN program take center stage at the Horn Saturday, May 18 at 1 p.m. and will hear Deborah Scott, new executive director of the Nevada Board of Nursing.

The registered nurses on faculty in the Division of Health Sciences at CCSN take pride in their students' achievements and deserved to be recognized during National Nurses Week.

In the Surgical Technology Program, Donna Felton, RN is the coordinator of the Certificate of Achievement. She received her BSN and MSN from Syracuse University. Along the way she also became a Surgical Technologist. She has been at CCSN for two years.

In the Certified Nursing Assistant Program, Linda Dammeyer is the coordinator and instructor. She has been at CCSN for over 10 years. She received her nursing diploma from Inglewood Hospital School of Nursing in New Jersey and a BS in Health Sciences and MS in Health Administration from St Francis University. Nola Helm, RN received her diploma in nursing and a BS in Health Sciences and MS in Health Care Administration from St. Francis. She has been teaching in our CNA Program for two years.

In the Practical Nursing Program, Deborah Ain is the coordinator and instructor. She received a BSN from Northeastern University and her MSN and Clinical Specialist credential from Boston University. She served in the U. S. Air Force and is still in the reserves.

In the Associate Degree Nursing Program Shirlee Snyder is the program director of the nursing programs and came to us in 1998 from Portland Community College in Oregon. She is a native of Wisconsin where she received a diploma in nursing. She received a BSN from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, an MSN in Cardiovascular Nursing and Clinical Specialist credential from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Francisco.

Debby Antonella received a BSN from the College of Staten Island and her MSN in Nursing Management from Hunter College in NY. She is a tenured professor who teaches mental health nursing and the senior seminar. She is the faculty advisor for the pinning ceremony each semester.

Mae Cherry received a BSN from North Carolina A & T State University and her MSN in Maternal-Child Nursing and Nursing Education from the University of California at San Francisco. She teaches maternity nursing. She has been at CCSN since 1997.

Ramona Kiley received a BSN from UNLV and her MSN from the University of Phoenix. She teaches in the first semester of the ADN Program. She has been at CCSN for a year and is leaving CCSN to return to hospital nursing.

Lisa Kless-Kern received her BSN from NYU and an MSN in Medical-Surgical Nursing and Nursing Education from the University of Texas at Austin. She began her teaching at CCSN in 1989 and is tenured. She teaches fundamentals of nursing to first semester students.

Martin Medvejer received a BSN and his MSN in Chronic Illness and Nursing Education from UNLV. He has been at CCSN since 1998 and was awarded tenure this year. He teaches medical-surgical nursing in the second semester.

Dorothy Pinkney is in her first year at CCSN. She received a BS from St. Francis University in Chicago and her MSN in Nursing Education from Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois. She teaches medical-surgical nursing.

Sharon Rizzato received a BSN from Northern Arizona University and her MS in Critical Care Nursing from San Diego State University. She has been at CCSN for two years and teaches the last semester medical-surgical nursing course.

Judy Scott received a BSN and her MSN in Pediatric Nursing and Nursing Education from UNLV. She joined the CCSN Faculty in 2000 and teaches pediatric nursing. She is an advisor to the nursing students for their pinning ceremony.

Kitt Steenbock received a BSN from UNLV and her MSN and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner credential from Case Western University. She has been at CCSN for a year and teaches pediatric nursing and pharmacology. She continues to practice part time as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Rhigel (Jay) Tan received a BSN from Cebu State College and his MN in Psychiatric Nursing from Cebu State College in Cebu City, Philippines. He teaches medical-surgical nursing in the first semester. He has been at CCSN since 2000.

Ann Thomas received a BSN from Rajasthan University in India and her MA in Parent-Child Nursing form NYU. She has taught maternity nursing at CCSN since 1991 and is tenured. She was awarded a sabbatical two years ago to study maternity nursing practice in India.

Linda Turner received a BSN from Florida State University and her MN in Psychiatric Nursing from UCLA. She is certified by the American Nurses Association as a Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. She began teaching mental health nursing full time at CCSN in 1996 and is tenured.

Annette Ward received a BSN from Oregon Health Sciences University and her MSN from the University of Phoenix. She has been at CCSN for a year and teaches medical-surgical nursing in the second semester.

Patricia Yentsch received her BSN from UNLV. She has taught part time at CCSN for many years and came on full time through Sunrise Hospital Funding. Patty teaches medical-surgical nursing. She has held management positions in local hospitals.

FUND RAISING FOR STRICKEN BERNAL
The Department of Resorts and Gaming is doing a Mother's Day fund raiser for Alan Bernal, one of its classified employees. He recently underwent heart bypass surgery and will be out for an extended period. As a result his wife had to leave work to help him and their two children. To help, attractive Mother's Day Bouquet and Cookie Basket combinations are being sold for just $15. They consist of six assorted cookies and a Mini Carnation Bud vase of fresh flowers. They must be ordered no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday May 8 by email to jill_mora@ccsn.edu. Cash-only pick up will be available on Thursday, May 9 and Friday May 10 at Cheyenne Campus between 9 a.m. and noon or Friday, May 10 at the Henderson or Charleston Campus between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Please include the following information with your order:

Name
Date you wish to pick up your order
Location where you wish to pick up your order

PI ALPHA STUDENTS SWEEP NATIONAL ENGLISH AWARDS
Several members of the national English Honor Society chapter from CCSN earned first place awards during the recent Sigma Tau Delta national four year college conference in Boise, Idaho. All the CCSN students are members of the college's Pi Alpha Chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta, the English Honor Society for two-year colleges. CCSN took honors as the outstanding two-year college chapter and for first place awards in conference papers, transfer scholarships winners, and with future publications. Each first place literary award winner received $100.

CCSN received the Outstanding Chapter Award for several achievements: its Second Annual Veterans Day ceremony at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church; as the first college campus in the nation to receive the National Garden Club's Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker in 2001; and for sponsoring a two-part community forum, "Coping With Crisis - Dealing With the Psychological Impact of September 11th" and "Coping With Crisis - Understanding the Financial Impact of September 11th".

Sabrina Brown, Pi Alpha past- president, accepted the award; she was the chapter's president and chairperson for the annual Veterans Day and Blue Star ceremonies. Barabara Cantu was the chapter president for fall 2001 forums, while Misty DeLibertis and Andrea Argier were co-chairs for the seminars. Best All-Around Conference Paper was awarded to Gina Sully for her narrative presentation, "Winning Isn't Everything". Her witty essay enamored the judges with her conflicting views of beauty pageants and feminism. She plans to major in elementary education at UNLV when she transfers in 2003. DeLibertis received the First Place Narrative Award for "Nights in Angel's Wing", which depicts a provocative spiritual journey with her grandmother. DeLibertis was also appointed to the Sigma Kappa Delta National Board, as well as being the Western Regional Student Representative. She is the first student appointee to the Board. Currently, DeLibertis is the Vice-President, president-elect for her CCSN chapter. She is a business major at CCSN and hopes to have a career with the FBI after she completes her four year degree. The First Place Literary Analysis Award went to Argier, who is currently the president of Pi Alpha. Her paper, "Surviving the Wilderness in Heart of Darkness", provided a psychological character interpretation of Joseph Conrad's novel.

The Sigma Tau Delta Scholarship Award for Outstanding Students who plan to major in English went to Argier and Brown. Each student received a $500 scholarship. Argier, the 2002 Sigma Tau Delta Scholarship recipient, plans to transfer to Chapman University in California after completing her Associates of Arts in general studies at CCSN. Brown received her Associate of Arts in general studies from CCSN last year. But she is taking additional English classes at CCSN and UNLV before transferring full-time to UNLV in the fall.

Brown received the 2001 Sigma Tau Delta Transfer Scholarship, and has the distinction of "paving the way" for two-year college participants. All convention papers submitted by two- year college students compete with the Sigma Tau Delta students who are juniors, seniors, and graduate students majoring in English. Two-year Sigma Kappa Delta students are not necessarily English majors and can become members of the honor society after completing 12 hours of college level work and three credit hours in English. Two-year college students were not eligible for the Sigma Tau Delta Awards last year when Brown's narrative, "What I Believe", won the best narrative award. This year her essay, "I Believe", received a special recognition as the "National Essay of Distinction" for Hedera helix, the first national journal for two-year colleges.

CCSN English professor Leslie Shipp, who teaches at the Henderson campus, is the honor society chapter advisor. She was a convention moderator and presenter on "Teaching English at the Community College Level".

NEW COLLEGE COMMITTEE LEADERS
Congratulations to new and outgoing leaders of the College Environmental Council and the College Safety and Security Committee. Randy Insley, Health Sciences, was elected chair of the CEC, replacing Henderson Provost Dr. Ron Meek, with Brenda Kennedy (Performing Arts Center) repeating as vice chair. Frank Lassus, Charleston site manager, takes over the SSC from counselor Dr. N.J. Pettit. Both groups are required to report their work to the Board of Regents.

WIN RESORT ROOM, DINNER, SPA OR GOLF
Classified Council is holding a raffle until May 10 to raise money to purchase new employee of the month plaques. The prize is two-night accommodations at the Casa Blanca Resort and Spa in Mesquite, with dinner for two at Catherine's Fine Dining and your choice of two rounds of golf or two spa treatments. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and can be purchased from the following council reps:

Tammy Wallace, Henderson, ext. 3005; Sonya Newton, Cheyenne, ext. 4002; and Tina Golyer, Charleston, ext. 5631.

PIE IN THE SKY
CCSN's Pi Alpha Chapter of the English Honor Society, Sigma Kappa Delta, needs your Marie Callender pie tins. Pi Alpha will be hosting a writing workshop soon and will return the tins to the restaurant for refunds that will help defray the cost of pies for students attending the workshop. If you have pie tins stored away, e-mail chapter advisor Leslie Shipp leslie_shipp@ccsn.nevada.edu to arrange pickup.

The Coyotes men's baseball squad is heading into the Region 18 playoffs Wednesday, May 8, as the third seed in a field of eight Scenic West teams. Dixie State hosts the tourney in St. George as the first place team, both in the SWAC and nationally. CCSN will play Ricks College in the double elimination regional tourney for the chance to advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series May 24-29 in Grand Junction, CO.

Ranked #20 in the NJCAA poll and second in the SWAC after posting a four-game win streak, the Coyotes headed into a final pair of conference doubleheaders last weekend against the SWAC's third place Southern Idaho. But CCSN hitting was no match for Idaho pitching as the Twin Falls college swept the four game series, winning 4-3, 5-1, 11-1 and 5-1. CCSN capped a rebuilding 2002 regular season with a strong 41-15 record, and a third place SWAC showing at 28-12.

After the May 8 opener against Ricks, CCSN will play again Thursday, May 9. Winning the regional would put the next round at CCSN's Lied Field May 17-18, against the Region 1 winner. GO COYOTES!!

For millions of stressed-out Americans, there's good news. People can learn to manage stress. Start with these tips from Jerome F. Kiffer, MA, Department of Health Psychology and Applied Psychophysiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

1. Keep a positive attitude.
2. Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
3. Be assertive instead of aggressive. "Assert" your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
4. Learn and practice relaxation techniques.
   
5. Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
   
6. Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
   
7. Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.
   
8. Don't rely on alcohol or drugs or smoking to reduce stress.
   
9. Seek out social support.
   
10. Learn to manage your time more effectively.