GBC to award 553 certificates, degrees: another record number
GBC will be graduating another record number of certificates and degrees this spring.
The number of students graduating has maintained and/or increased in all of GBC’s service areas.
Some service areas have seen a 47 and 35 percent increase in graduates in the last year.
The numbers indicate GBC is fulfilling its mission to bring higher education to rural Nevada and beyond.
Graduation dinner receptions in Battle Mountain, Pahrump, Ely and Winnemucca will begin early this week. The Elko graduation ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. May 16 in the Elko Convention Center.
This year, the college has received applications for 553 certificates and degrees, up from 520 last year.
“We are seeing the number of students graduating throughout most the service area increase,” said Vice President of Student Services Lynn Mahlberg. “ The number of students graduating from Winnemucca has increased more than 45 percent in the last year.”
The total number of students who applied to graduate is 445. Some students will have received dual credit and will be receiving a certificate and a degree, or multiple degrees.
It is anticipated 251 students will walk across the stage to receive their diplomas at the ceremony May 16.
Based on applications, the college estimates this year it will award 59 bachelor degrees plus one post bachelor certificate (up from 57 in 2014), 304 associate degrees (up from 273) and 190 certificates (up from 188).
“The college’s faculty and staff have worked hard to do more with less. They believe deeply in the mission of the college and are not easily distracted by year after year budget cuts,” said GBC President Mark Curtis.
Curtis attributed the increased graduation numbers this year to several factors including a student-centered faculty and staff, quality advising, encouraging students to take a full class load where possible and increased convenience offered by the college.
“Students are showing a preference for the convenience of online courses, minimizing the need for travel and maximizing personal convenience,” Curtis said.
Of the degrees to be awarded, 27 are Battle Mountain graduates, 21 Ely graduates, 52 Pahrump graduates, 73 Winnemucca graduates, and 380 from Elko and surrounding areas, including a number from out of state.
“GBC has a vision for growth that will include more baccalaureate degrees, and more outreach to rural Nevada,” said Curtis. “As such, graduate numbers will continue to grow.”
For the first time in the history of GBC’s commencements, this year will be the first year the ceremony will be streamed live and can be viewed by visiting www.gbcnv.edu.
This is just one of the many ways GBC is fulfilling its mission to bring rural Nevada communities and beyond better access to higher education and its resources.
Great Basin College is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education and governed by the Board of Regents. The college is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.