WNC invites adults back to the classroom
As students head back to class Monday at Western Nevada College, a growing number will be adults who are intent on finishing the college degree they began working toward some time ago.
Enrollment this fall is strong among all age groups, from high school graduates beginning their college experience to adults seeking job skills or career retooling in a tough economy.
But dozens of adults are expected to attend as part of a statewide initiative called "Don't Wait, Graduate!" The program seeks to reconnect Nevada colleges and universities with students who completed at least half of a degree or certificate program, but stopped attending before they reached their goal.
Former WNC students may have been surprised to receive a phone call during the past few months from a counselor at the college, encouraging them to return and finish a college degree. Dozens of students have responded to the call and are taking classes again.
The approach also included sending former students information on a flexible payment option, assistance with scheduling, the option of online classes, and counselors who will help them get reacquainted with college life.
Director of Counseling Deborah Case said a common scenario for the adult student is starting out with an educational goal in mind, and when circumstances change in their lives, they may stop taking classes for a while, and then lose focus.
"Then they may become unclear about an educational goal that fits their current needs and usually don't know how close they may be to getting a degree," Case said.
"We talk about what they're doing now in their lives, if a degree would be beneficial and if so, which would be the best match for them. I can show them how close they are to a degree and discuss which classes they need to complete it."
Western is seeing a large enrollment bump this semester, with double digit increases in overall enrollment, new students, continuing students, full-time students, and part-time students. Many classes needed to fulfill degree requirements are filled to capacity.
"There's definitely a trend toward classes that lead to career training and degrees," WNC Marketing and Information Services Director Anne Hansen said. "When you break down the classes being taken by those age 25 and older, the highest enrollment is in classes for nursing, math, computer technology, English, biology, business and psychology. Other classes seeing a strong enrollment are construction, art, criminal justice, welding and machine tool technology."
As Case puts it: "Everyone I've spoken with so far seems to be excited about the prospect of a new goal and a clear path on how to achieve it. It has been quite a gratifying experience for me."
Dean's List for summer session
Western Nevada College commends 84 students who had superior academic performance and qualified for the Dean's List for the 2009 summer session.
CARSON CITY: Anna Barulich, Ryan Bennett, Matthew Bradley, Kevin Broward, Larry Brown, Gregory Chico, Sarah Crockett, Edith Crowe, Danae Eckart, Michael Erwine, Larisa Favero, Rhiannon Kamper, Adam Loomis, Jennifer Lushina, Tom Mangone, Matthew McPherson, Erica Meisler, Lailah Mobaligh, Aaron Mouritsen, Marci Mueller, Melissa Oliva, Jeani Pulsipher, Elisa Sala, Jennifer Sand-Shequen, Jamie Sayre, Samantha Silvestri, Kendra Simms, Ramona Smolenski, Jaclyn Warner, Coty Wright and Kelsey Zampirro.
DAYTON: Mark Escalera, Adrian Forero, Ron Galloway, Jessica Kramer, Cassandra Noll, Holly Stevens, and Kathleen Zamiar.
FALLON: Stephen Crowder, Karen Edwards, Edna Hair, Scott Hutchings, Chassity Mills, Rhonda Morrison, James Remington, and Brenda Whittington.
FERNLEY: Julie Thompson-Hearn, Andrew Tretheway
GARDNERVILLE: Thomas Avant, Jordan Bowler, Carol Broersma, Kristin Burtt, Heather Bushey, Cheyne Davidson, Kendall Dill, Howard Hawk, Glenn Helton, Gerald Hunter, Susan Kruse, Laura Kruse, Adrea Lamar, Stephanie Prather, Rory Ricketts, and Natalie Wright.
GENOA: Joy McGoldrick;
LAS VEGAS: Melissa Biba;
LOVELOCK: Vicki Switzer;
MCARTHUR, Calif.: Lisa Senko;
MINDEN: Scott Etchison, Sandy Hannah, Susan Hawkins-Davis and Phoenix Lesquereux;
MOUND HOUSE: Teresa Cash, Jolene Hoxsie, Haelee Zeinert
RENO: Che Rugemer
SILVER SPRINGS: Robert Ciminski, Jennifer Glass, Vladimir Rogozhkin
SUN VALLEY: Mila Farrell
VIRGINIA CITY: Kim Campa
YERINGTON: Jill Page, Wiley Post
ZEPHYR COVE: Karen Royce