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COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
COLLEGE PROFILE – ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
CSN is the only community college in the 42,000 square mile region of southern Nevada, with 1.5 million residents. Its three main campuses, and fourteen extension centers, offer services to all residents of southern Nevada. The extension centers include sites in each of the four rural counties of southern Nevada, neighborhood learning centers in low-income and minority-based neighborhoods, and four High Tech Centers. Distance education is offered extensively online, and through public television and videoconference, offering over 175 distance education classes online. Distance students have grown from 1,100 students in 1999 to 9,600 students today.
CSN’s service area is predominantly rural, with the primary population center of Las Vegas, Clark County, with 1.5 million residents: 75% of the total State of Nevada population. CSN is the largest higher education institution in the state with 36% of student headcount enrollment; 31% of the student FTE in the state public higher education institutions; and 64% of student enrollment of the four community colleges. While student headcount enrollment increased 68% for the four community colleges in the State, student enrollment at CSN has increased 107% from 1994 to 2003. System-wide headcount enrollment is projected to increase by another 52% in the next ten years. (NSHE Enrollment Planning Report)
Southern Nevada, with three institutions (University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Nevada State College and CSN), has a participation rate of 33 students enrolled per 1000 population. Northern Nevada however, with four institutions (one university and three community colleges) has a participation rate of 55 students enrolled per 1000 population (NSHE System Performance Indicators, January, 1999).
The enrollment of minority students at NSHE institutions increased for every minority group
from Fall 1996 to Fall 2006 exceeding nationwide figures reported by NCES for Hispanic,
Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native groups. Female students account
for more than half of institutional student enrollments.
PERSISTENCE, GRADUATION, AND TRANSFER RATES 2000 DATA
|
| |
Persistence
|
Graduation
|
Transfer
|
| Low-Income |
18.5%
|
3.2%
|
5.12%
|
| First Generation Students |
20.0%
|
3.5%
|
5.67%
|
| Students with Disabilities |
37%
|
4%
|
4%
|
| All CSN Students |
40%
|
2.8%
in 3 years
|
8%after 2 yrs.
23%after 4 yrs.
|
| All 2-Year Institution Students |
52%
|
38.4%
|
22%
|
Sources: CSN Financial Aid, Student Right to Know, NCES Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study
Faculty Characteristics
CSN has close to 500 full-time and almost 1,000 adjunct faculty. The number of full-time faculty doubled from 1999-2001 reflecting a state funding increase for instructional support, necessary to meet increased enrollment.
| CSN Faculty |
Full-time
|
Adjunct
|
Total
|
Percent of Total
|
| Total |
448
|
965
|
1,413
|
32% FT
68% PT
|
| Male |
251
|
581
|
832
|
59%
|
| Female |
197
|
384
|
581
|
41%
|
| American Indian/Alaskan |
6
|
5
|
11
|
1%
|
| Asian/Pacific Islander |
25
|
47
|
72
|
5%
|
| African American |
38
|
67
|
105
|
7%
|
| Hispanic |
28
|
56
|
84
|
6%
|
| Caucasian |
350
|
743
|
1093
|
77%
|
Source: CSN Human Resources
CSN has a strong base of general education, career and technical education, and transfer preparation programs, offering twenty-one Associate of Arts (AA) degrees, eighty-six Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees and seventy-two Certificates of Achievement. Associate of Arts degrees prepare students for transfer with emphases in Communication, English, Fine Arts, Mental Health, Psychology, Social Science, Business, Science and General Studies. Associate of Applied Science degrees and Certificates of Achievement are offered in thirty concentrations.
Fifty-six percent of students are female, 78% of its students attend part-time, and 39% are aged 30 years or older. The students closely reflect the racial and ethnic population of the region. Minority students comprise 42% of enrollment: 18% Hispanic; 11% African American; 1% Native American, and 12% Asian. Hispanic student enrollment is the fastest growing, reflecting the 125% growth in the Clark County Hispanic population.
