ABSTRACT
Higher education became a part of the DNA of life in rural Nevada in 1967, when Great Basin College opened its main campus in Elko. In the fall of 1999, Great Basin College began one of the most unique endeavors in the history of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Democratic access to higher education in rural Nevada has undergone a transformation. Great Basin College looked far beyond traditional ways of thinking about the college experience. For rural Nevadans, Great Basin College is higher education, and the new democratic access to the bachelor's degree has been a game changer for students, and especially for business and industry. The rapid advancement of the baccalaureate degree at Great Basin College has made a significant imprint on the landscape of higher education in Nevada. Great Basin College provides individuals, entire communities, and indeed the nation, continued access to the fulfillment of the American Dream.
