Letter: Stance on CCSN's international students needs reconsideration

According to CCSN President Richard Moore, as a result of the international recruiting effort, CCSN has "expanded the number of scholarships to Nevadans, and they are direct recipients of excess revenues." From this we can conclude that the international students are being charged substantially higher tuition than local students, thereby making them more valuable than local students.

While this scheme may be an effective means of subsidizing local tuition, the mission of the community college goes far beyond just providing cheap college credits to the citizens of the area.

CCSN is also charged with the responsibility of providing skilled workers to the local economy. If these international students do not remain in the Las Vegas area following their education, the community as a whole does not benefit from their academic and vocational training efforts. If they do remain and obtain employment in this area, they take a job that would have otherwise gone to a local graduate.

My argument is simply that the value or the cost of recruiting international students must be measured by more than just tuition generated. The impact on the local economy and the work force must also be considered.

Dean Jewell

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