College drops the community from name

Western Nevada Community College officially became Western Nevada College on July 1 to reflect the college's expanded mission and academic opportunities. In addition to associate degrees, certificates of achievement, university transfer programs, and continuing education, Western has also requested permission to offer a Bachelor of Technology degree in Construction Management this fall.

"We're not changing who we are," said President Carol Lucey. "We're enhancing what we do, to offer another valuable educational opportunity for our communities."

Nevada System of Higher Education regents approved the name change proposal in March, along with a request by the Community College of Southern Nevada to become College of Southern Nevada. Western's request was submitted after board approval in December for the college to offer its first B-Tech degree.

The name change follows a national trend where community colleges that offer both associate and bachelor's degrees are removing the word "community" from their names to avoid confusion for bachelor's degree graduates. Such a change first took place in Nevada more than a decade ago when Northern Nevada Community College in Elko changed its name to Great Basin College in 1995, when it began offering select baccalaureate degrees.

Western Nevada will continue to be a community college, but will expand its mission to include the new baccalaureate degree, once it is earns final approval by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.