Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe, President of Western Nevada College, was recently invited to participate in a national discussion on the future of higher education by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity.

“This was a very interesting and valuable experience. As a group, we were able to hear from current students and discuss how higher education might look in the year 2040,” Dalpe said. “When you think about it, that’s not very far away.”

Enrollment trends also emerged as a discussion point. However, while many colleges and universities across the nation struggled with enrollment declines during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, WNC was able to increase its enrollment numbers because of President Dalpe’s direction and initiatives. 

“We have worked hard to not only keep the enrollment we have, but provide more access for students in our rural communities,” he said, noting that recent surveys suggest more and more Americans are rethinking the value of a college degree. “This discussion was very timely. We need to continue to work more strategically to ensure access for the communities we serve. If we don’t, some other entity will.”