Recently, the CSN Strategic Planning Committee put together a report for CSN President Dr. Richards that determined the future for CSN and where they see themselves 5 years down the road.  The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents and the Nevada Legislature wanted the colleges to prepare their budgets for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 and 2011.

Dr. Michael Richards, CSN President

The Board of Regents made the following requirement to CSN and other colleges, plan the future of your schools in A.Q.D.  These letters stand for Access, Quality and Diversity; the CSN Strategic Planning Committee group came up with their report and suggestions – Quality being their most emphasized point (the committee consisted of faculty, administration, students and staff).  This was proper for many reasons; CSN has 43,000 students this year and CSN’s enrollment has grown exponentially over the past decade.  The capacity is stretching uncontrollably and services may need to be cut.

With Diversity being the cornerstone of this institution (Diversity in regards to student backgrounds, age backgrounds and fields of study offered), Access was cut back for several reasons including economics and logistics.  This is not the greatest thing that could of happened, but it is not a terrible idea and I hope one could understand why.

Without a rise in tuition (not fees) or a cap in enrollment, there will not be enough classes provided by CSN to the student body at the current levels.  Dr. Richards has been quoted several times saying that they already turn away 5,000 students because of full classes.  Unfortunately for moral and partisan reasons, the NSHE Board of Regents will never support or propose a rise of the price of tuition that I am recommending.  When we raise prices on goods it is called a cost of living increase.  Well this tuition raise could be called a COST OF EXISTING increase.

Economics is my basis but if CSN were to take away the price ceiling on tuition, the quantity demanded for classes will shorten but CSN will be able to increase quantity supplied for things like capital improvements, student services and the amounts of sections available for classes (core and electives).  If CSN finds the economic equilibrium, Quality and Diversity remain intact while Access will redefine itself sooner rather than later.

Another institution, UNLV, is dealing with an even bigger problem.  Their budget is bigger therefore when they cut 6.9% it is more than what CSN expects.  UNLV President Neil Smatresk formed the Presidential Review Committee to help trim different colleges and degree programs at UNLV.  When the committee was finished, many students were irked by what the committee proposed to cut.  In a time like this it is hard to just slash away at programs that have been thriving for years and years.  But on May 10^th, President Smatresk endorsed their recommendations.

UNLV President Neal Smatresk

Now UNLV will have a lower budget for FY 2010 and 2011, but what can people do?  There are comments on many of the newspaper articles online that say education needs to get cut and these departments are funded too much at this time.  There are some student leaders like CSN Capitol Club Vice President Aimee Riley who say that Access needs to be the cornerstone of an educational institution and with cuts to budgets the students are hurt the most.  Then there are people who say that cuts need to happen so other industries can live and that colleges will rebound years from now.  I tend to agree with Ms. Riley.

Make Access and Quality synonymous with each other.  By making Quality so well at CSN, we make Access available to the students that are there.  The graduation rate goes up and more spots are open.  By making an investment now, we do not risk the institution losing more teachers, students and staff down the road.  If the first definition of Access in anyone’s mind is availability to the community, that is something that can be restarted in years where education is funded through new leadership in the Governor’s Mansion.  Our current majority leadership in the State Legislature has the idea, as does a certain candidate for Governor.

President Dr. Smatresk does not want these cuts and neither do we.