Table of Contents:

1. Background
2. Program Purposes
3. Procedures

Section 1: Background

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1. The community education program is a component of the WNC mission as it is with most community colleges. It has been the experience here and at other colleges that a viable community education program actually has the effect of enhancing and encouraging enrollment in regular courses.
2. Since the WNC Community Education Program has rapidly expanded from limited offerings in 1985 to a major component of the college operation, these policies and procedures document the relationship between community education and state funded courses and programs.
3. The goal of life-long learning is essential to the development of our community and therefore a goal of the comprehensive community college.

Section 2: Program Purposes

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1. Within the context of WNC as a comprehensive community college, the community education program provides:
   1. Courses and workshops that respond to community cultural and recreational needs.
   2. Courses and workshops that develop and improve personal and job skills and respond to life-long learning.
   3. Activities that enhance the quality of life.
2. This purpose can be served by a variety of program formats and is characterized by a quick response system to the needs of the community. They are as follows:
   1. Noncredit courses/community education credit courses
   2. Noncredit workshops/community education credit workshops
   3. Seminars
   4. Performances
   5. Exhibitions
   6. Tours
   7. Lectures

Section 3: Procedures

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1. An annual estimated budget will be established for the community education program.
2. Instructors will be selected and compensated in accordance with the current personnel policy established for community education instructors.
3. Program services can be provided by contracting with public/private agencies and entities.
4. Only courses offered for community education credit require regular college registration.
5. Noncredit activities and courses will have a registration process that is separate from the regular college registration.
6. Community education course/workshop numbers and titles will not duplicate regular state course titles and numbers.
7. All revenues and expenditures are accounted for in accordance with Nevada System of Higher Education and WNC business office procedures.
8. All instructional activities that are less than 15 hours will be noncredit and classified as workshops.
9. Instructors for credit community education classes will be hired using the same criteria outlined in the Western Nevada College Staff Information Handbook.
10. Courses listed in the Master Course File take precedence over community education courses not only in number and title but also in content and description.
11. Information regarding proposed community education courses is to be sent to the appropriate Academic Director.

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