In his presentation to the Board, UCCSN Chancellor Richard S. Jarvis stated that System institutions have added an additional 10,000 students to their classrooms over the past two years.

"Nevada's growth is nothing short of phenomenal," said Jarvis. "Our two universities and four community colleges are doing an excellent job of attracting and educating our students. Now with additional incentives like the Hope Scholarship tax credit, we will be faced with even a greater challenge as more students will have access to a college education."

The report revealed the following increases for each UCCSN institution:

Headcount is used to measure the demand for and impact of each institution's programs. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) is used to measure each institution's workload performance or the amount of instruction delivered. FTE is calculated by dividing the total number of enrolled credit hours divided by 15.

Jarvis added that based on these enrollment figures, the increased institutional workload appears to be on track to exceed the growth in budgeted enrollments funded for 1997-98.

The report also revealed that the majority of Nevada's students are "non-traditional" by age and full-time/part-time status. The largest student age group in the System is adults 30+ who make up 36.5 percent of the student population.

"Despite the fact that we are the fastest growing System in the West, with the fastest increases in diversity, we still have the lowest proportion of baccalaureates in the country," said Jarvis. "The probability that a Nevada 9th grader is going to go to college within four years is the lowest in the nation."

"We must continue our efforts to increase access, improve the campus environment and change the college-going culture through such unique partnerships as the K-16 Collaborative and our Workforce Development programs," he added.

Detailed information on the enrollment report can be obtained by calling the UCCSN Office of External Relations in Las Vegas at 889-8426.

Comprised of two doctoral-granting universities, four comprehensive community colleges and one environmental research institution, the University and Community College System of Nevada serves the educational and job training needs of the nation's fastest growing state. As Nevada's only system of higher education, the UCCSN provides educational opportunities to more than 76,000 students.