Last week the #Fisher4Nevada team watched as Governor Brian Sandoval signed three new education bills into law before a large crowd of students, legislatures and community members at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Governor Sandoval also gave a speech, along with UNLV president Len Jessup and several student speakers, including an engineering major and a military veteran.
“This is a proud day for Nevada,” Governor Sandoval stated. “…We came together to do what’s right.”
The event was extra important to Jared and Heather Fisher, as they are both UNLV alumni and were happy to see their school receive some of well-earned attention and recognition.
“I owe so much of my success to the skills and knowledge I gained while studying at UNLV, so it’s great to see that the school is continuing to grow and diversify,” said Jared Fisher. “I’m happy for the student veterans and the future students of engineering and medicine. UNLV is a great school.”
The following is a brief look at what the three new laws intend to do and what they’ll mean for Nevada residents.
Senate Bill (SB) 553
What it is: SB 553 included $25 million for the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), which will go towards UNLV’s new School of Medicine as well as $1.75 million in funding for UNLV’s College of Engineering, which will be used for the creation of a new academic building.
Why it matters: In order for Nevada to continue to diversity its economy, the state must attract top talent to its workforce—And this begins with attracting top students to its universities. By devoting resources to state university medical and engineering programs, Nevada is demonstrating that not only do we value the professionals who make this state the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” but also the professionals who make Nevada healthy and safe, such as our doctors and civil engineers. Nevada has come a long way in this regard, and it’s encouraging to know that we will continue to do so moving forward.
As Governor Sandoval remarked before signing the bill, “We’ve gone from a state that is producing engineers that most likely had to go out of state in order to get a position, and now the conversations that I’m getting are, we don’t have enough engineers.”
Senate Bill (SB) 548
What it is: SB 548 is a bill that will establish the Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation, which will provide teacher training.
As the Governor explained in a press release: “The Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation will attract and train the best students from the Silver State, and the nation, to create a program for “Top Gun” diverse educators to teach our students.”
Why it matters: Nevada suffers from a teacher shortage, so any move that will help draw talented and enthusiastic future teachers to the state has the potential to be a good one. With over 320,000 students, Clark County remains one of the largest school districts in the country. Quality educators are in high demand.
Senate Bill (SB) 457
What it is: SB 457 gives student veterans the opportunity to earn college credit for the skills and experiences they attained while serving in the military.
Why it matters: Some of the most valuable career skills are acquired outside the classroom, and the battlefield is no exception. Military service can teach leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, critical observation skills and many other in-demand job skills.
By allowing academic credit for military education, training and life experience, this bill will make attaining a college degree more affordable, and will hopefully encourage more veterans to pursue an advanced degree.
“I’m determined to make Nevada the most Veteran-friendly state,” stated Governor Sandoval.
About Fisher for Nevada—FisherforNevada.com is the official campaign website of Jared Fisher, a business owner and 2018 gubernatorial candidate for the state of Nevada. For daily updates on issues concerning Nevadans, you can follow Jared Fisher on Facebook and Twitter. You can also tweet at Jared your questions using the hashtag #HealthyNevada.
