ON DECEMBER 8, 2006, President Otto Merida and Board Member Maggie Arias Petrel traveled to Ensenada Mexico with Dr. Fred Maryanski and Dr. René Cantú (President and Vice President of Multicultural Affairs, respectively) of Nevada State College where the LVLCC, CETYS and Nevada State College signed a partnership agreement. The partnership between the Latin Chamber and CETYS is very ambitious as it seeks to address issues such as Nevada's nursing shortage—especially nurses who are fluent in Spanish. The partnership is currently unfolding, and once all aspects of the program are in place, this partnership will provide educational opportunities for small Hispanic-owned businesses, Las Vegas' healthcare system, Nevada college students and the community at large. The partnership focuses on the following four areas:

1. International Nursing Exchange Program: We are planning and developing a program to bring Mexican nurses for defined time periods to Southern Nevada to help alleviate the nursing shortage and the cultural gap that exists between the healthcare system and the growing Hispanic community.

The "International Nursing Exchange Program":
• Is an integrated twelve month program that will identify and select Mexican nurses who have completed their BAs to work in Nevada temporarily and return to Mexico with enhanced skills and U.S. licensure
• Takes candidates through the Visa process
• Engages candidates in English immersion at CETYS through successful TOEFL passage
• Takes candidates through a licensure preparation curriculum at NSC
• The INEP Program is beneficial to U.S. and Mexico as candidates would come to the U.S. for about three years and return to Mexico with experience in U.S. hospitals and return with enhanced knowledge of nursing techniques, technology, and valuable licensure in the U.S.


2. Cultural Exchange Programs: NSC and CETYS are engaged in cultural exchange programs designed to enhance the learning experience and mutual understanding.
• On February 15, 2007, an art exhibit of Maestra Maricela Alvarado's art work opened in our new Basic and Water II building in conjunction with the BW II Open House; the community was invited
• More cultural exchanges will be planned in the future in conjunction with Nevada State College Heritage Center events


3. Spanish Immersion Programs: NSC and CETYS are developing economical, cost effective and credit based immersion programs to take place at CETYS Universidad to better prepare NSC students for their professional careers by developing Spanish language skills and learning about Hispanic culture.
• Slated to begin summer 2007
• Designed to enhance the language skills of our teachers and nurses in training
• Will include Spanish and CBL coursework
• For credit
• Students will live with Mexican families in Ensenada


4. Noncredit Business Courses at the Latin Chamber: NSC, CETYS and the LVLCC are working cooperatively to develop noncredit courses to be taught by CETYS faculty and offered at the LVLCC that will address the educational and professional development needs of the Hispanic business development in Southern Nevada.
• Classes slated to begin in the late spring
• Marketing, business, finance, management skills
• Course will cost about $100 each

More information about the partnership agreement between the Latin Chamber, CETYS and NSC will be forthcoming. For more information contact Dr. René Cantú Jr. at (702) 992-2000.