Western Nevada College Counseling Services has added new team members Adrian Barrera, Claudette Dutra, Tyler Golden, Evan O’Brien and Kathryn Whitaker. “We have reorganized or re-imagined our entire office and what we do,” said WNC Counseling Services Director Piper McCarthy. “At a lot of institutions, there are offices with just academic advising. However, that is just one part of our team members’ jobs.” The focus of the unit is ensuring student access to the college as well as success. “They are all uniquely tied to coordinating a service or program that WNC offers connected with access and or student success,” McCarthy said. “With everyone being connected to one office and being crossed-trained in academic advising, it has allowed us to offer a better student/adviser ratio, but also has allowed us to offer better services and coordinate initiatives and programs more efficiently.” Here are the roles these counselors will fill and the programs they’ll be assisting students with: Claudette Dutra: She serves as the Dual Enrollment Coordinator and plays a key role for all of the high schools WNC serves for dual enrollment. She coordinates services provided to high school students participating in dual enrollment programs and serves as home-base support for the Outreach and Access advisers, schools, students and parents. Adrian Barrera: He serves as an Outreach and Access Adviser. He is leading the outreach and access programs for Carson, Douglas and Virginia City high schools. This role lends to providing academic advising, coordinating the Nevada Promise and Bridge to Success outreach and access program for the high school seniors, and coordinating the dual enrollment efforts. Tyler Golden: Student Success Coordinator. He is leading efforts toward orientation and First Year Experience (https://www.wnc.edu/firstyearexperience/) and is focusing on implementing systems and processes to address students' success and retention — both programs being built to foster student success. Kathryn Whitaker: She serves as the academic adviser for the Fallon campus, as well as the lead for WNC’s outreach and access programs in Churchill County High School and Oasis Academy. This role helps provide academic advising for any student from the Fallon campus, coordinating the Nevada Promise and Bridge to Success outreach and access programs for the high school seniors, and coordinating the dual enrollment efforts for Oasis and CCHS. Evan O'Brien: He serves as an Outreach and Access Academic Adviser. Evan is leading the outreach and access programs in Lyon County, including Dayton, Silver Stage, Fernley, Yerington and Smith Valley high schools. This role lends to providing academic advising, coordinating the Nevada Promise and Bridge to Success outreach and access programs for the high school seniors, and coordinating dual enrollment efforts. For advisement and information about dual enrollment and the Nevada Promise Scholarship, phone 775-445-3267 or go to wnc.edu/counseling/. Make fall semester your launching pad to a fabulous future With the semester beginning Monday, Aug. 29, individuals can still receive support and guidance to enroll in the classes and programs they want. If you are new to WNC, you need to apply for admission and meet other obligations. To begin, go to wnc.edu/starthere/ and/or phone Admissions & Records at 775-445-3277. WNC offers a blend of in-person and online classes, as well as open entry and late-start courses. Western also provides certification prep training in a number of fields. Learn more by going to wnc.edu/pat/ or phoning 775-445-4272. To help students prepare for fall semester, WNC has implemented later operating hours on Wednesdays throughout August. Admissions & Records, Financial Assistance and Counseling Services in Bristlecone Building Rooms 101, 102 and 103 will be open until 7 p.m. Students can complete their associate degree at WNC, then transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno. Continuing students are reminded to register for classes through their myWNC account. Contact Counseling Services at 775-445-3267 or counseling@wnc.edu. Dates announced for Pop-Up Bookstore on WNC Campus Western Nevada College students who have placed orders through the online bookstore can pick up their items later this month at a pop-up store on campus. Textbook Brokers is providing a pop-up store for students on Aug. 26, 29 and 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Joe Dini Building Room 100. To celebrate the start of fall semester, Textbook Brokers is offering a 20 percent discount on WNC merchandise ordered online and in the pop-up store. If ordering online, enter the code WILDCAT20 to receive the discount. Textbook Brokers offers WNC students a full-service online bookstore to purchase textbooks, eBooks, digitally delivered coursework and Western merchandise, as well as rental services. To place an order, go to wncbookstore.com. Ordering kiosks are available in Students Services in the Bristlecone Building on the Carson City campus and in Virgil Getto Hall on the Fallon campus. Fallon residents will receive free delivery of orders to their home residence. For information, go to wncbookstore.com, email wncbookstore@textbookbrokers.com or phone 775-507-4011. All signs pointing toward WNC WNC has placed new directional signs in streets surrounding the college to better serve people coming to the college. The news signs are on Winnie Lane, West College Parkway, Combs Canyon Road and North Ormsby Boulevard. “Thanks to Jeff (Erickson) in facilities for this start to rebranding the campus. There will be more to come to help people get where they are going and increase visibility overall,” said WNC Interim President J. Kyle Dalpe.
