Douglas campus will remain

The Douglas County campus of Western Nevada College has already been affected by budget cuts, but will remain open.

"Certainly we will continue to offer classes there," said college marketing director Anne Hansen.

Anne Hansen, WNC marketing director, said some programs will be discontinued, including health information technology and the legal assistant program.

Hansen said the Douglas campus has already been downsized by leaving the director's position there vacant. The Carson-based dean of student services is handling the director's duties.

For the coming fiscal year, the college was budgeted to receive $15.7 million in state funds. The 6.9 percent cut passed at the special session Feb. 23-28 will reduce that by just more than $1 million. That's on top of the 12.8 percent cut imposed on the college by the 2009 Legislature.

Nearly 5,700 students attend college at its Carson City, Douglas County and Fallon campuses.

Hansen said students also are adapting to the reduced number of class sections available because of reduced operational budgets. She said more students are adopting interactive video classes in part because they are trying not to drive as much every day.

"People are trying to complete their degrees in the most efficient and expeditious ways they can," she said.

Student Stacy Melhus of Gardnerville said Friday that she is taking the prerequisites to enter the registered nursing program. She said she hopes there is a slot available for her when she's ready to apply but that she's not in a hurry.

"I'm working full time and I have three kids," she said. "When I get there, I get there."

Hansen said cuts are coming at a time when the economy is driving more people back to school to improve their job skills. She said student enrollment is up 6 percent this year and the number of full-time students seeking a degree is up 33 percent.