Students use the expanded science lab on the Fallon campus.
By Western Nevada College
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
It’s an ideal time to be a science student at Western Nevada College’s Fallon campus.
Chemistry and biology faculty and students will use the renovated and expanded Science Lab in Virgil Getto Hall.
The finishing touches to the $1 million project were completed this past spring.
The improvement project, encompassing rooms 309 and 310 in Virgil Getto Hall, was funded by the William N. Pennington Foundation, which has been instrumental in upgrading classroom and learning experiences for Western Nevada College science students across WNC campuses. Previously, the Pennington Foundation funded biochemistry and human cadaver laboratories, as well as a state-of-the-art biology lab with an anatomage table on the Carson City campus.
The renovation of the lab in Fallon enabled WNC to add technological advances to the facility and to create a learning space that will increase WNC’s ability to serve students and dramatically improve teacher-to-student learning experiences.
“The facility also has updated resources for the students and the capacity to provide responsive distance courses, high-quality lab images and demonstrations to students who may need to take these courses from their homes or from rural communities outside of Fallon's borders. This will help more of the students in Northern Nevada access education and achieve their professional goals,” said Fallon Campus Director Jessica Rowe.
New circular student lab tables promote interaction and teamwork among the students. Coupled with an assortment of LCD TVs along the perimeter of the lab, demonstrations will be more visible and teaching-friendly for students who may have struggled to follow them in previous teaching formats.
Students will also use a state-of-the-art anatomage table. This virtual dissection tool features an 8-foot display of pre-loaded cadavers, medical scans showing pathologies (MRI or X-rays), and more.
“We anticipate that this will help us welcome students into our Nursing program and into science-centered fields of study,” Rowe said. “As we know, the nursing and health care fields are experiencing shortages, and these shortages are particularly painful in the rural regions. These lab courses are also the cornerstone of many of the transfer fields that are experiencing high need in the communities that surround us.”
The community will also become familiar with the lab. Rowe said that children will visit on Fridays once per month for science-based and STEAM-centered learning activities. A community event is scheduled for Oct. 14 to spotlight the careers that WNC classes take students.
“We had great response from area artists and professionals, Churchill Arts Council, the Office of the Sheriff, NAS Fire Services and from Churchill County during the summer, and we would like to have the science lab feature in that,” Rowe said of the college's career day.
Research students will also benefit from the new lab space. Professor of Biosciences Gary Evett has been leading that group of students each summer in INBRE research and is eager to relocate the program into the updated lab.
For information, phone 775-445-3379 or email fallon@wnc.edu. To enroll go to wnc.edu/enroll.
Fall semester begins at WNC
As Western Nevada College’s fall semester approaches on the Fallon campus, individuals should know that it’s not too late to make higher education a priority in their lives.
With the flexibility of course offerings, small class sizes and more economical tuition and fees compared to universities, WNC provides students with many reasons to become a Wildcat.
Ask about the requirements for WNC’s Registered Nurse program, and learn more about Western’s Jump Start and dual enrollment programs, counting military experience toward an associate degree, continuing education classes and more.
Choose from more than 50 in-person classes and many more that offered online. Nursing, Welding, Ceramics, Digital Photography, General Mechanics, Biology, Chemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Geology, Literature, Composition, Nursing Assistant, Calculous and Precalculus are just some of the in-person subjects offered this fall. For a complete list of classes offered on the Fallon campus, go to wnc.edu/class-schedule/.
Courtesy
Chemistry Professor Gary Evett talks to students about the new science lab in Fallon.
Continuing students are reminded to register for classes through their myWNC account.
To learn more about WNC Fallon classes, admission and more, phone 775-445-3379 or go to wnc.edu/fallon. The Fallon campus is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday prior to the start of the semester.
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. To receive guidance on a career or scheduling, contact Counseling Services at 775-445-3267 or counseling@wnc.edu..
Students are reminded that textbooks, eBooks, digitally delivered coursework and Western merchandise, as well as rental services, are available through the college’s online bookstore at wncbookstore.com.
To celebrate the start of fall semester, Textbook Brokers is offering a 25 percent discount on WNC merchandise ordered online and in the pop-up store. If ordering online, enter the code “earlybird25” to receive the discount.
To place an order, students will just need to visit wncbookstore.com — which is iPhone and Android friendly — and enter their student ID. Course materials will automatically appear in your cart. Then, click checkout and select to have books and other items delivered to WNC or your home address.
An ordering kiosk is available in Virgil Getto Hall on the Fallon campus. Fallon residents will receive free delivery of orders to their home residence. For home deliveries, students are advised to select USPS Priority Shipping so their orders will arrive in 1 to 3 business days.
Pottery studio class starting Sept. 2
If you like playing with clay, throwing on the wheel or trying an assortment of hand-building techniques to create your own individual pottery pieces, join a pottery studio class this fall in Fallon. The class is set for 1 to 5 p.m. on Fridays from Sept. 2 through Dec. 15.
