Policy Statement
Nevada State College has many policies pertaining to academic and student affairs. Students are responsible for complying with these policies. The following is merely a guide to the policies that are most relevant to students, as well as processes and systems that support them; it is not a compilation of all policies or their word-for-word presentation.
Although every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information in this catalog, students and others who use this catalog should note that laws, rules, and policies change from time to time and that these changes may alter the information contained in this publication. Changes may come in the form of statutes enacted by the Legislature, rules, and policies adopted by the Board of Regents, or by the President or designee of the campus. It is not possible in a publication of this size to include all of the rules, policies and other information that pertain to students, the institution, and the Nevada System of Higher Education.
More current or complete information can be found in the online Nevada State College Policy Library at www.nsc.edu/policy. Where no specific policy is in place for Nevada State College, the college will follow the current applicable policy in force at the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Legal Notice
The Nevada State College General Catalog describes anticipated programs, courses, and requirements, but these are subject to modification at any time to accommodate changes in college resources or educational plans. The catalog does not constitute a contractual commitment that the college will offer all the courses and programs described. The programs described do not constitute a contractual commitment with the student on the part of the college. The college reserves the right to eliminate, cancel, reduce, or phase out courses, programs, and requirements for financial, curricular, or programmatic reasons; to limit enrollments in specific programs and courses; to change fees during the student’s period of study; and to require a student to withdraw from the institution for cause at any time.
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Nevada State College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, and in accordance with college policy, sexual orientation, in any program or activity it operates.
Nevada State College employs only United State citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States
Title IX Notice of Non-Discrimination
NSHE and its member institutions do not discriminate on the basis of sex in their education programs and activities: Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states at 20 U.S.C. § 1681(a):
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX may be referred to each member institution’s Title IX Coordinator or the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education.
Contact information for Title IX Coordinator: Chelsie Adams, Chelsie.Adams@nsc.edu, 702-992-2059, 303 S. Water Street, Ste. 200, Henderson, NV 89015.
NSHE Non-Discrimination Policy
The non-discrimination policy of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) can be found in the Board of Regents Handbook, Title 4, Chapter 8, Section 13. For additional information, please visit the NSC Policy Library available at www.nsc.edu/policy.
Policy Against Sexual Harassment
The sexual harassment policy of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) can be found in the Board of Regents Handbook, Title 4, Chapter 8, Section 13. For additional information, please visit the NSC Policy Library available at www.nsc.edu/policy.
Student Responsibilities
It is the student’s responsibility to:
- Read and understand the contents of the college catalog.
- Become familiar with all college policies & procedures available at www.nsc.edu/policy.
- Be aware of all college deadlines, including dates for registration, change of registration, withdrawal, and fee payment.
- Contribute to the maintenance of a campus environment conducive to intellectual curiosity, civility, and diversity.
- Keep the college informed of changes in address, phone number, enrollment changes which might affect financial aid awards and/or any other circumstances which could affect satisfactory progress toward a degree.
Student Expectations
Students are expected to:
- Attend class and complete all assignments in accordance with the expectations established by their instructors and programs of study.
- Conduct themselves in the classroom in a manner which contributes to a positive learning environment for all.
- Familiarize themselves with all college policies and procedures available at www.nsc.edu/policy.
- Ask questions and seek clarification, direction, and guidance to any class assignment, college policy, or procedure which is unclear.
- Students may be expected to complete class requirements beyond the published meeting times. This varies by course and instructor.
College Values and the Exchange of Ideas
The modern state college fosters the acquisition of knowledge and the distribution of newly discovered information. It enlivens curiosity, cultivates critical judgment, and encourages the contribution of its informed students to the development of American society. Nevada State College is committed to these goals and to the maintenance of an academic environment which advances the free exchange of ideas.
While prohibition of certain kinds of speech can have a chilling effect on the free and open exchange of ideas, a policy of civility and tolerance can protect the environment, which is free of intimidation to promote open debate.
Personal verbal harassment of one individual by another is uncivil behavior, which can taint or pollute the learning climate and discourage open expression of ideas on legitimate academic subjects.
The college is committed to an orderly learning environment, which protects the right of free speech and rejects personal intimidation of any kind.
Mission Statement
At Nevada State College, excellence fosters opportunity. Excellence in teaching leads to innovative, technology-rich learning opportunities that promote the acquisition of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. Quality, affordable four-year degree programs open the door to career success and enhanced quality of life for a diverse population of students. Our graduates, in turn, foster the greatest opportunity – the promise of a stronger community and a better future for all of Nevada.
NSC Core Themes
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Promote Student Success
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Nevada State College faculty, staff and administrators are united by an unwavering commitment to the success of our students. As stated in our mission, the College facilitates this success on a broad scale through "excellence in teaching." This excellence, in turn, yields learning experiences characterized by innovative engagement. This engagement is manifested in "innovative, technology-rich learning opportunities that promote the acquisition of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills." Our innovative methods routinely incorporate experiential learning opportunities, an active examination of real-world issues, and the pursuit of progressive instructional practices. The "technology-rich" approach immerses students in the study and application of technology and keeps them poised to adapt to the increasingly sophisticated demands of the modern world.
Taken together, these efforts are expected to promote a variety of essential student learning outcomes. In promoting, the acquisition of "interdisciplinary knowledge and skills," we strive to impart students with the critical thinking ability needed to solve complex real-world problems and adapt to the shifting challenges of a rapidly evolving society. Moreover, the broad availability of free, high-quality information engendered by the Internet era compels our educators to place an increased emphasis on the effective evaluation and application of this information. Successful students also develop strong written and oral communication skills and exhibit the integrity and discipline-specific expertise needed to thrive in a chosen career path. Finally, in the pursuit of "a strong community and a better future for all of Nevada," successful graduates cultivate a respect for all forms of diversity, a commitment to the common good, and an ability to work well with others.
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Foster Educational Opportunity
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Nevada State College is founded on the belief that all students deserve an opportunity to succeed at the highest level. The fulfillment of this goal hinges on the provision of “quality, four-year degree programs” to a “diverse population of students” from largely under-served, first generation, non-traditional and/or financially challenged backgrounds. A large proportion of the students the College recruits and supports are particularly likely to benefit from our dedicated faculty and staff, personalized service, and focus on teaching and learning. As such, one of our chief aims is to “open the door to career success and enhanced quality of life” for students who otherwise might face limited opportunities for success in higher education.
To accomplish this, we offer a wide array of affordable four-year degree programs in flexible learning formats that meet the needs of a working, commuter student population. Our School of Education helps address a statewide need by preparing highly qualified educators and speech language pathologists who will respond to the needs of all learners and educate students to reach their highest potential. The School of Nursing provides critical support to Nevada’s health care community and offers degrees in a variety of learning formats, including a second degree accelerated track, an RN to BSN track, and a part-time program designed for students whose external obligations prohibit full-time enrollment. A range of bachelor’s degrees in the Liberal Arts & Sciences prepares students for success in a number of fields, from professional careers in medicine, psychological counseling, and law enforcement to rapidly growing fields in business, biotechnology, and visual media.
Students are guided along each of these degree paths by personalized student support services in critical facets of the college experience. The combined goal of our service and educational initiatives is to “open the door to career success” by improving the retention, persistence and graduation rates of our students. The College aspires to improve the outcomes of all students, particularly those who come from first-generation, non-traditional, and other under-represented backgrounds. Our success in this regard plays an integral role in the future economic and social health of a state burdened by one of the lowest proportions of college graduates in the nation. The graduates of Nevada State College are expected to leaven this burden and contribute to a more diverse workforce and diversified economy.
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Strengthen the Community
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As a public institution, Nevada State College is determined to provide returns on the investment made by the state and its citizens. Foremost among these returns, as stated in our mission, is the development of graduates who can deliver on “the promise of a stronger community and a better future for all of Nevada.” Aided by the knowledge, skills, and integrity they acquire at NSC, our graduates support existing, high-demand fields and help fulfill the needs of growing industries that promise to diversify the state economy.
This effort to strengthen the community extends to our faculty and staff, who establish partnerships that advance the fortunes of public and private entities across the region. Furthermore, our faculty share their expertise with the community in productive ways, and community leaders are likewise welcomed to contribute their expertise to the growth and edification of our students. Ultimately, we hope that the sum of these endeavors is a community strengthened by a more civic-minded populace and a more diverse, capable workforce.
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Accreditation
Nevada State College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through Accreditation.
Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution. The criteria for NWCCU Accreditation can be found here.
Inquiries regarding an institution's accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 558-4224
www.nwccu.org
Contact Information
http://www.nsc.edu
Address: 1125 Nevada State Dr.
Henderson, NV 89002
Phone: (702) 992-2000
Fax: (702) 992-2226
Nevada State College is one of eight institutions within the Nevada System of Higher Education. The main campus is located in the City of Henderson, in the Las Vegas Valley.
History of Nevada State College
As the only four-year, comprehensive public college in the state of Nevada, Nevada State College places a special emphasis on the advancement of a diverse and largely underserved student population. In this role, the college emphasizes high-quality instruction, exemplary service, engaging learning experiences, and innovation as a means to more efficient, effective outcomes in all corners of the campus.
During the past ten years, NSC has achieved remarkable success in furthering its mission and core-values.
Milestones
Enrollment Growth. Since its inception, NSC’s enrollment has grown from 177 students in 2002 to nearly 3,300 students today making it the fastest growing college within the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Degree Programs. The college has grown to offer more than 24 majors and minors including predominate areas of study such as nursing, education, psychology, and biology.
Alumni. May of 2004 marked a momentous occasion for NSC, as the college celebrated its first commencement ceremony with a class of 13 graduates. Since 2004, Nevada State College has graduated over 1,500 students. Over half of NSC’s alumni have graduated with degrees in teaching and nursing.
NSC’s developing 509-acre campus is located in the southeast corner of the City of Henderson, on the sloping foothills of McCullough mountain range. Opening in 2008, the Liberal Arts & Sciences building was the first structure built on the campus. Two new buildings, a combined nursing and education facility, and a student center and administrative building, are slated to be constructed on the developing campus over the next few years. Together, the buildings are expected to add approximately 110,000 square-feet of new space to the campus.
The 60,000 square-foot nursing and education building is planned to house several anatomy labs, over a dozen classrooms, a large auditorium, faculty and staff offices, and a cutting-edge media center. The second building, the 50,000 square-foot student center and administration building, will house the college’s student services department, study and activity space for students, and offices for administration.
NSC’s Campus Master Plan, which was approved in 2010 by the NSHE Board of Regents and the City of Henderson, provides an innovative framework for the campus. The plan calls for the seamless, sustainable integration of academic and academic-support uses with its surrounding environment. The full campus build-out will accommodate 25,000 – 30,000 students with roughly six million square feet of academic, residential, industry, retail and cultural space.
Diversity. Nevada State College’s campus community – the students, faculty, and staff – is one of the most diverse populations in Nevada. Close to 50% of NSC’s students and over 20% of its full-time faculty and staff belong to an ethnic or racial minority group. Based on recent growth-rates, future enrollment projections, and federal reporting guideline, Nevada State is likely to become the first four-year Hispanic Serving Institution in Nevada and one of only 70 public, four-year colleges and universities in the country.
Accreditation. In August 2011, NSC received full accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities retroactively effective September 1, 2010. Accreditation recognizes higher education institutions for performance, integrity, and quality to merit the confidence of the educational community and the public. Successfully obtaining independent accreditation is a crowning achievement for the Nevada State College campus community and its partners, the Nevada Board of Regents and the Nevada System of Higher Education, the city of Henderson, and the larger community.
State Approvals
The School of Education has full approval of the Nevada State Board of Education. The Nursing program has full approval from the Nevada State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.