Sandoval: Curriculums at colleges need revamp

CARSON CITY -- The curriculums of Nevada's community colleges and universities must be revamped to provide students the skills they need to secure high-paying technology jobs, Gov. Brian Sandoval said Monday.

The governor made the comments after an hourlong closed-door meeting with executives of several high-tech firms, Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and legislative leaders of both parties in the Legislative Building.

He said Nevada "can immediately" align higher-education curriculums to meet the skills needed by high-tech companies.

"I will talk to the presidents of universities and community colleges to identify what you all need," said Sandoval during a short news conference after the meeting.

He and legislative leaders have called creating jobs the No. 1 priority of the state, which has a 14.5 percent unemployment rate, the highest in the nation, and leads in bankruptcies and foreclosures.

In response to the governor's statement, Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich said community colleges, in particular, are trying to design their curriculums to meet the needs of business and the state's goal of economic diversification.

But he said in an interview this is difficult to accomplish when Sandoval proposes to cut state spending for colleges and universities by $162 million.

Klaich said the state's community colleges are "quite nimble" in changing programs to deal with business needs but cannot make changes overnight.

"We are looking at where we can scale back," Klaich said of the proposed budget cuts. "It certainly would be very difficult to start up new programs while the kinds of budget cuts being proposed are on the table."

Following the meeting with Sandoval and legislators, GE Energy executive Paul Miner said his company -- which has facilities in Minden and North Las Vegas -- sees an "equal need" for an educated work force and a business-friendly tax environment. The company employs about 800 workers at its Minden plant where it makes electronic parts and equipment used to monitor and improve the efficiency of power plants. In North Las Vegas, it has a transportation facility.

Capgemini executive Kevin Doyle said his company had to hire out-of-state workers because it could not find people with necessary skills in Nevada. Capgemini is working on a business portal website for the secretary of state. The France-based company offers Internet technology and outsourcing services to companies around the world.

Doug Couto, a Citrix executive, said one does not always need a college degree to acquire a high-tech jobs, but a specific set of skills that can be provided by community college courses.

Citrix is a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company that offers desktop, software and other types of computer services around the world. It has done work for the Regional Transportation Commission in Las Vegas.

Like Sandoval, Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said it would not be difficult to make sure community colleges and universities provide the skills needed by high-tech companies.

"We need to provide training in areas for 21st century needs," Horsford said. "It is a message that has to be sent to higher education."

Nevada for decades has been ranked by the Tax Foundation as having one of the most business-friendly tax climates. But that has not induced many high-tech firms to locate in the state.

For 2011, the Washington, D.C.-based education association ranked Nevada as the fourth-best business climate, trailing South Dakota, Alaska and Wyoming.

"I don't know the answer," responded Couto when asked why high-tech firms have not sought out Nevada because of its favorable tax climate for business.

But Horsford said the responses given by the high-tech executives help "reinforce what we know," that the state needs an educated work force to go with its record of offering low business taxes."

Sandoval reiterated that he is still taking numbers of business executives and calling chief operating officers to try to interest them in moving to Nevada.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel
at evogel@reviewjournal.com
or 775-687-3901.