[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 27, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                5TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEVADA STATE COLLEGE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 5th 
anniversary of Nevada State College, the newest institution in the 
Nevada System of Higher Education
  Nevada State College was born out of a dire need. In recent years, 
southern Nevada has been growing at a breakneck pace. In 1990, Clark 
County's population was just over 740,000 people; today, it is over 2 
million. With such tremendous growth came considerable growing pains. 
Enrollment in Nevada's two universities and four community colleges 
swelled 16 percent from 1994 to 2000. Clark County was facing both 
teacher and nursing shortages. Nevada needed another place to train the 
next generation of nurses, teachers, and business professionals. That 
place is Nevada State College.
  In many ways, Nevada State College is representative of our State. In 
2002, Nevada State opened its doors with 177 students; 5 years later, 
NSC's enrollment has swelled to over 1,900. In true pioneer fashion, 
Nevada State's students tend to focus on professions that are needed 
most in the community. NSC's two largest majors, nursing and teaching, 
are two areas of critical need in Nevada. But Nevada State is more than 
simply a nursing and teaching college.
  Nevada State students also practice civic responsibility. Before they 
graduate, NSC students are required to take a course called Community 
Based Learning, CBL, 400. In this course, students work with different 
organizations to improve their community. For example, Nevada State 
graduates have worked at their local libraries, volunteered at 
nonprofits, and tutored public school students in the areas of math, 
science, and engineering. This service-oriented program has been such a 
success, it was named to the Presidential Higher Education Community 
Service Honor Roll for 2007.
  Nevada State College has experienced rapid growth in its first 5 
years, and I am sure it will continue to grow in both students and 
stature. Soon, NSC will begin expanding into its 500-acre parcel 
situated in the beautiful foothills of Henderson. I look forward to the 
completion of the new campus. Nevada State College is only 5 years old, 
but it has already made its mark as one of Nevada's shining academic 
gems.

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