one year after adding University to its name the president of Nevada state sat down with 8 news now reporter James Schaefer this week outlining the goals for the school answering the question of how they're retaining students in National trends of slowed enrollment and economic adversity when you have to make a choice between uh working or paying for school in an environment where we see increased um inflation and all the things to go with that school often times takes second fiddle Nevada State University president Darian Pard isn't shy about their strengths amid a changing economic climate Nevada high school students face with the question of paying for Necessities or getting a higher education president Pard said she understands that issue and points to Neta State University as fighting a National Economic trend of lowered enrollment one year ago NSU accomplished one of their goals in that effort a title change dropping the college and adding University a transition president Pard said is more than just a name one year later adding Master's programs and Career Technical courses focused on serving the community so for us to have a name that's reflective of what we do uh for a population of students that need US president Pard said she wants to focus on the economic factors which hold back students in Nevada pointing to the fact that 83% of their students receive financial aid and over half are firsttime generation students factors which play into Nevada's education demographics there's a narrative that we have to talk about Nevada ranks depending on what list you look at 46th 47th or 48th in terms of the number of adults who have a college credential the issue of retaining students and increasing enrollment a national issue as smaller private campuses close impacting students success a National Education report indicating the closures of college campuses impacting students negatively discouraging them from continuing their education and seeking alternative school options president Pard says their secret sauce is the community dual credit programs in Las Vegas high schools and growing along with Southern Nevada so we know that the idea of accessible and affordable higher education is the key for economic development in this region and I'd like to say that we're the model of what the future of highering should look like reporting from Nevada State University James schaer 8 news now and President plard also said that they are hoping to build large athletic facilities as they move ahead to develop 500 Acres of space in the coming years