CSN HAS LOTS TO CELEBRATE

Just because the economy stinks and budgets are shrinking doesn't mean there isn't any good news out there.

The College of Southern Nevada handed out a record number of degrees and certificates Monday night.

In all, the college graduated 1,906 students for a total of 2,024 degrees and certificates. That's more than a 50 percent increase since 2003.

The college, which has the largest enrollment in the state, has experienced high growth in recent years. Enrollment growth this year was near 10 percent, attributed largely to the economy. People tend to go back to school when the economy is in trouble. This is especially true for community colleges, where skills training is often emphasized.

Both the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, which graduated 2,500 students this month, and Nevada State College in Henderson, which graduated 144, saw single-digit percentage gains in enrollment.

CSN spokeswoman K.C. Brekken said economic realities also seem to have students staying in school longer and taking more courses. Rather than leave after a few classes, students are staying to get their degrees, probably in hopes of better competing in a tight job market.

But how long can that last?

The record number of graduates comes at a time when CSN's budget, like all higher education budgets in Nevada, is shrinking. A plan endorsed by key legislators has the overall higher education budget down 12.5 percent over previously approved levels.

Because of the way the overall higher education budget is divided up, CSN's cut will be smaller, about 5 percent. The larger a school's growth, the smaller the cut.

School officials are unsure how they'll deal with the cuts, but Brekken said it is unlikely that future graduating classes will shrink because of them.

"We don't expect our graduating classes to get any smaller," she said.

In all, the college serves about 40,000 students each fall and 35,000 students each spring.

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.