The Student Services Plan at Great Basin College focuses on defining the activities, programs, services, policies and practices that support, encourage, and reward student responsibility and learning as outlined in the Student Services Five Year Plan (Exhibit 3.1).

Student Services assists GBC in fulfilling its mission through the provision of support services, which include career counseling, academic advising, placement testing, job placement, recruitment and retention efforts, and financial assistance. GBC’s Student Services have important responsibilities at education centers outside of Elko. (See Standard 2—Branch Campuses for additional information about these services.)

3.A.2 Qualified staff.
The Great Basin College Student Services staff are both academically qualified and seasoned by experience. Several staff members have been added to the Student Services staff to accommodate the increased demand related to baccalaureate degrees: an advising position split between the Ely and Winnemucca campuses, an admissions and records officer, a recruiter, a fitness center coordinator and a financial aid specialist. Appendix 3.2 is a table listing the Student Services Staff, the respective degrees earned, and the years of experience the staff member has accrued.

Staff members are encouraged to pursue advanced degrees and training. Three individuals have earned degrees with support from the College while employed at GBC. Since the last accreditation visit, the Student Financial Services director and the Career Center Operations director have received Master’s Degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, and the DARS Specialist earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Sierra Nevada College. Non-professional support staff are encouraged to pursue either an associate or baccalaureate degree through the grant-in-aid program. Staff training and development is also supported through the Student Services’ budget and the Faculty Senate Professional Development Fund. Student Services staff and professionals may submit a request for operation dollars to fund an appropriate seminar or workshop that will keep them current in their respective field. Recent staff development activities by Student Services personnel include, for example, Job Search Trainer Certification, Student Services Symposium, and Association of Financial Aid Administrators.

Staff assignments are well defined in current job descriptions. As part of staff evaluation, annual goals are set for each staff member and are reviewed midway through the year. Job descriptions and a copy of the form(s) used to evaluate staff are available (Exhibit 3.2).

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