Foundation saves accelerated degree program for motivated students

In October, CSN Department of Business Administration chair Clarissa Cota found herself in a bind and prepared to dash the hopes of students who aspired to finish their degree in half the time generally required to complete 60 credits.

More than 50 minority and low-income students submitted extensive applications to take part in the CSN Accelerated Associate of Business Degree Program for the next semester.

The program began at CSN in spring 2010 with funds from the U.S. Department of Education and provides disenfranchised students an opportunity to take 30 credits in one semester to complete their associate degrees in business -- an innovative approach at a time when higher education is striving to drastically increase the number of Nevadans with college diplomas.

The grant covered the cost of the courses, textbooks, gas cards for transportation and student support services required for such an intense program that does not allow time for students to work.

But this fall, the federal funding collapsed after a series of state budget reductions left Nevada's higher education funding levels below the necessary threshold for the grant. Knowing the quality of students that applied and the value of the program, Cota rallied the CSN community for support.

"The Foundation made it happen. They really did," she said. "They stepped up and assisted and it will lead to more students completing college and it will lead to a transformational change in each as they overcome what is a very challenging program."

The CSN Foundation voted in November to provide $36,000 to cover the 10 textbooks each student needs to complete the program. CSN will provide the classes at no cost to the students. Cota noted that the gas cards, money for calculators and additional tutoring will not be there this year without the grant but was elated to keep the accelerated program intact.

"Graduating with an associate of business degree provides students with the basic business core needed to transfer to any other four-year school and have a career in business. Our goal is to get them to transfer to their desired schools," she said.

That's exactly what Amanda Lewellen, 28, was able to do after completing the program. She is now at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she will compete in the Governor's Cup Collegiate Business Plan competition this spring with the hope that the prize money could be used to start her own business.

Lewellen, a nurse at Summerlin Hospital, said she began CSN in August of 2010 and envisioned herself taking two classes a semester until such time as she could get a business degree. Her goal is to one day become a hospital administrator or start her own business.

"I started to worry if I continued on that path of two to three classes a semester that maybe I wouldn't have completed," she said. "I was glad I had the accelerated business program and it was all or nothing. It was kind of like tearing off a Band-Aid."

Even with the grueling schedule of 10 classes that semester, she made time to work at the hospital two shifts per week.

The time requirement was intense, she said, but the breadth of subjects covered -- everything from economics to statistics -- opened her eyes to help her see what she wanted to do and to continue on at UNLV. Upon being informed that the program might have been canceled this spring, Lewellen expressed concern.

"They (CSN faculty and staff) all really went out of their way to make sure the students succeeded and that we did well," she said. "So I'm glad it's still going."