Record number of CSN students graduate

In 2009, Las Vegas construction project manager Drew Levy was among thousands of unemployed local construction workers.

He enrolled in classes at the College of Southern Nevada to hone his skills. Rather than look at other fields with stronger job prospects, Levy stuck with the industry that he loved for more than a decade and pursued a foothold in its future.

On May 21, he became the first graduate of the new CSN Sustainable Construction Technology degree program when he walked across the stage at the Thomas & Mack Center at the college's 40th annual commencement ceremony.

"I never saw myself going to college. When the economy went bad, I couldn't walk away from construction, which I loved. I wanted to move forward. I see work in the industry for this type of degree," said Levy, who now has a position as an energy efficiency consultant for the local company Energy Conservation Group.

He joined a record number of 2,321 students that were eligible to receive 2,530 degrees and certificates, according to the institution's preliminary data.

"This is the largest graduating class in CSN's history," CSN President Dr. Michael Richards said. "These students are ready to move on to get four-year degrees or join the workforce and put their new skills and knowledge to use for Nevada."

According to the Lumina Foundation, only 30 percent of Nevadans hold an associate degree or higher and, by 2018, more than half of Nevada's jobs will require a postsecondary education or training.

Nevada higher education institutions, including CSN, are taking part in several national initiatives aimed at increasing the number of Americans with college degrees to keep pace with a changing economy that will require more workers with advanced education.

For instance, the Nevada System of Higher Education is part of Complete College America, which is working to increase the percentage of working-age Americans with a college diploma from 40 percent to 60 percent by 2020.

Nationwide, more than 70 percent of young people start some kind of postsecondary course work within two years of graduating high school. Yet just more than half of the students who start their four-year degree full time finish in six years, and fewer than three out of 10 students who start at community colleges full time finish within three years, according to Complete College America.

This is the first time in the nation's history that the current generation of college-age Americans will be less educated than their parents' generation.

Getting a degree is a significant milestone for students. Just ask 2012 graduate Robert Jennings, a 40-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and single parent from Sandy Valley. He drove 130 miles round trip, five days a week, to attend class and work at CSN.

He hopes to teach electronics engineering to high school students someday and is now interviewing for research development positions.

"Getting my college degree means the world to me," he said. "It's my future; it's my son's future."

To help more students such as Levy and Jennings complete degrees and certificates and transition into the workforce, the College of Southern Nevada joins an elite group of colleges this month as part of Achieving the Dream, a prestigious national community college reform network that works to close achievement gaps and increase student retention, persistence and completion rates.

"As an Achieving the Dream institution, we will have access to the best practices in the nation, coaches and data analysts that will help our students succeed and improve opportunities for the entire state," Richards said.

The organization will work with CSN to develop and implement research-based policies and best practices.

"The work of closing achievement gaps and improving student success is extremely difficult and critically important," said Beverly Fletcher, senior director of organizational development and change for Achieving the Dream. "Being an Achieving the Dream institution takes courage, discipline and a tenacious institutionwide commitment to student success and equity.

"CSN should be applauded for helping tackle one of society's most daunting challenges: success for more college students."