WNC News & Notes

Grade point average matters as much as batting average when you play for the Western Nevada Wildcats. Both the baseball and softball teams are receiving academic honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association.

The baseball team earned academic All-American honors for the past season, with the players hitting the books during long trips to Las Vegas and nearby states of Idaho, Utah and Colorado.

The 26 baseball players earned an average GPA of 3.21 with a 94 percent completion rate. The baseball team has achieved academic spring team of the year honors each year since it started playing in 2006.

Western was the only academic All-American team in the Scenic West Athletic Conference and the only squad in the 10-team Junior College World Series to make the list. The Wildcats placed third in the world series in May.

In its first year of existence, the women's softball team performed comparably, with a 3.11 GPA and a 92 percent course completion rate.

Western does everything it can for students to help them explore a new career and signup for college. The class schedule is found at wnc.edu and registering for classes is all done online. Classes begin four weeks from now on Monday,

Aug. 31.

For those who want to earn a degree, switch careers, or continue learning after being away from college, Western's counseling staff will help with determining the correct class placement and guidance on careers.

There are more than 1,000 classes offered, including dozens of online and interactive video courses. Western serves the area with three campuses and five learning centers.

WNC offers four dozen degrees and certificates, specialized training programs, transfer courses, and community education classes. Many students take college level courses in their hometown their first two years and then earn a bachelor's degree at a Nevada university.

Three classes of Conversational Spanish I are offered Monday and Wednesday afternoons, and Tuesday or Thursday evenings. Two second-semester conversational Spanish courses also are scheduled. Three credit classes are usually $196.50, plus any additional lab fees for classes that require a lab.

For those interested in a new career in graphic communications, seven courses are offered at the Carson City campus in computer graphics, layout and typography design, Web design, electronic imaging, Web animation and electronic imaging with PhotoShop.

Many classes in education, English and history can be transferred to a four-year institution. In fact, Western students may select courses enabling them to complete some or all of the lower division requirements for a bachelor's degree.

There are special academic course of study that may lead to an academic degree or certificate as a nurse, nursing assistant or phlebotomist. Aspiring educators can take teacher education preparation, and for those interested in criminal justice, there is the Western Nevada State Peace Officer Academy (POST.)

Other class subjects include American Sign Language, astronomy, automotive mechanics, computer information technology, construction, dance, early childhood education, electronics technology, French, Italian, health information technology, and technical classes in automotive mechanics and machine tool technology.

The number for academic counseling is 445-3267.

Interest in Western's Peace Officer Standards and Training continues to grow, with 21 cadets

graduating Wednesday and a full class of 40 expected to begin training when the new class begins Jan. 9.

Coordinator Katie Durbin said, "I already have 36 applicants and I'm receiving more every week. Once an applicant passes a background check, I accept them into the academy on a first-come, first-served basis." The 30-week, 33.5 credit program prepares students for careers in law enforcement.

Western's reputation among police agencies may have something to do with the interest. "We have a

97 percent success rate in students being hired within the first year," Durbin says. She said the demand for law enforcement officers will continue to grow as a large percentage of baby boomer officers retire in the next five years.