More students attend Douglas campus

As of Friday, 699 part-time and full-time students had enrolled at Western Nevada College in Minden, up from 670 last year, according to Anne Hansen, the college's director of information and marketing.

"This shows the campus is really being utilized by the community," Hansen said. "One reason we have a local campus is to make college more accessible."

Hansen said Web enrollment has increased significantly.

"We know that Web enrollment is way up," she said. "Some of the people that might have commuted are choosing to stay home."

But there have been decreases in other areas, Hansen said, specifically in students taking fewer than six credits.

"We have seen a decline in those taking the occasional class for personal interest or to improve their career skills," she said. "They're holding their money closer or don't have the money to spend."

The college, too, has less money to spend. Over the last year, Western Nevada College has reduced its budget by about 7 percent, trying to meet state-mandated cuts caused by decreased tax revenue.

"We have many unfilled positions," Hansen said. "A number of really seasoned teachers were bought out."

Among those bought out, offered a year's salary in exchange for vacating their position, was Dick Kale, former coordinator of academic and student affairs at the Douglas campus.

"We have not been able to replace that position," Hansen said. "The outlying centers are running with very diminished staff. Some areas are struggling more than others. There are some big holes. We are happy students are in the classroom, but we are concerned about infrastructure."

Hansen worries state cuts will only deepen.

"We are fearfully waiting, hoping for a turnaround," she said, "but also a willingness for people to understand that higher education is the engine of the economy. It creates the leaders of tomorrow, and with too big of a step backwards, we won't be able to recover."

That enrollment is up at a rural campus during hard economic times proves how important a college can be to a small community, Hansen said.

"This means a lot of people are still trying to find the funds to go to college," she said.