Western Nevada College (WNC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Western Nevada College (WNC) is one of four community colleges that are part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Western Nevada College is located in Carson City, the capital of Nevada, and has rural campuses in Fallon and Minden and instructional centers in Hawthorne, Yerington, Smith Valley, Lovelock, and Fernley.

The college began in 1971 through a leased facility and was set up to serve the residents of Reno, Carson City, and western Nevada. Gradually more buildings were constructed and additional teaching centers were set up. Presently, the Western Nevada College serves approximately 5,300 students per semester and offers 40 academic degree and certificate programs.

The Western Nevada College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Information Summary

See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	Insufficient Data
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$4,558
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	23 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	N/A / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	3,327

Academics

Associate Degrees

Western Nevada College offers the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of General Studies (AGS), and Associate of Science (AS) for students who eventually want to transfer to a four year university or college for pursuing the baccalaureate (BA or BS) degrees. The college offers the Associate in Arts degree in areas such as Criminal Justice, Deaf Studies, Fine Arts, and Musical Theatre. Associate in Science degree candidates can opt for numerous areas of specialization such as Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Space, Geosciences, Mathematics, and Physics.

Western Nevada College also offers the Associate in Applied Science degree (AAS) for students who want to take up a profession immediately after completing their courses. Areas of concentration for the Applied Associate of Science degree program include Accounting, Computer Technology, Nursing, Childhood Education, Geographic Information Systems, Management, and Welding Technology.

Bachelor’s Degree

WNC offers the Bachelor of Technology (BT) degree for students looking for higher technical and occupational skills for progressing to supervisory roles. The Bachelor of Technology degree is offered in Construction Management.

Certificates

Western Nevada College offers numerous career-oriented certificate programs in areas such as American Sign Language, Bookkeeping, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Customer Service, and Retail Management.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Gallery

Admissions

Western Nevada College follows an open-door admissions policy in which any student who can benefit from a college education is allowed to enroll. The college does not have any pre-admissions requirements and students are not required to provide transcripts of previous education. Any person who is 18 years or above or who is a high school graduate or has a GED can seek admission in the college. Please note that some programs such as Nursing and Allied Health have specific application procedures and may require submission of transcripts.

Prospective students are required to submit a completed application for admission. They are also advised to read the college catalog to make themselves familiar with the programs, services, policies, and deadlines. Students are encouraged to appear for placement exams for an accurate assessment for placement in various courses.

Financial Aid

Western Nevada College offers financial assistance to students to help them meet their academic expenses. The basic objective of providing financial aid is to bridge the gap between family resources and annual educational expenses of the students enrolled for various programs at the Western Nevada College. The different forms of financial aid offered at Western Nevada College are grants, loans, work-study programs, and scholarships. To apply for financial aid, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education.

Different types of federal grants available to eligible Western Nevada College students include the Federal Pell Grant, LEAP Grants, Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). Students can apply for the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans. Students may be eligible for work-study programs in which they can seek on- and off-campus work-study positions. The work hours cannot exceed more than 20 hours per week. Various scholarships are also offered to students. These include the Millennium Scholarships, Tribal Scholarships, and Community & Private Organization Scholarships.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6399th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Nevada.

Students

Student life at Western Nevada College is rich and vibrant. The Associated Students of Western Nevada is a form of student government that represents the voice of the students. There are a number of clubs and student organizations on the campus that present numerous opportunities to get involved in campus life. Some of the student clubs sponsored by the college include the Nursing club, Campus Connect, Latino Student club, Lone Mountain writers, and Phi Theta Kappa.

Counselors are available throughout the year to provide assistance to students regarding placement testing, planning for the academic schedule, transfer guidance, career exploration, interests assessment, training requirements, and job search assistance. The Academic Skills Center provides free tutoring in Math, Spanish, Biology, and Physics. The Center also organizes various workshops on study skills topics and time management. The college has a Peer Mentoring Program for providing supplemental instruction and mentoring to the students. The Bookstore at the Carson campus stocks books, apparel, accessories, collections, supplies, and computer software and peripherals. The campus features a Child Development Center to provide quality child care for its students and the community. The library at the Carson campus has thousands of textbooks, magazines, e-books, online journals, newspapers, videos, and DVDs.

The Western Nevada College has no residence halls for students but it provides assistance in searching for off-campus options. Dining facilities are available for the students at the Sedway Café which serves a variety of fresh salads, hot entrees, sandwiches and grilled items for lunch as well as breakfast and snacks and soups.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Western Nevada College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, Region XVIII. The college competes in the Scenic West Athletic Conference. WNC’s teams are known as the Western Wildcats. The college has two athletic teams: men’s baseball and women’s softball.

The college is home to a fitness center that offers cardiovascular equipment, free weights, and a universal weight lifting machine.

Bibliography

Western Nevada College. About WNC. Web. 17 September 2011.

Western Nevada College. Student Life. Web. 17 September 2011.

Western Nevada College. Fall 2011-Summer 2012 Catalog. 2011. Print.

Western Nevada College