UNLV Highlights
The information on this page highlights university achievements, community programs, faculty and student milestones, current institutional statistics, and more. This site will continually be updated as new information develops.
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University | Community Outreach | Research
Fundraising | Students
- The William S. Boyd School of Law moved up 13 spots to 75 — its highest ranking ever — according to recent U.S. News & World Report’s annual national rankings
of the best law schools and specialty programs. The move constitutes a 25-place
improvement in the past two years for the law school, which was established just 11 years ago.
- UNLV launched the Academic Success Center in keeping with a continuing
commitment to student success. The center helps students thrive at UNLV and earn
their degrees by providing a wide variety of services, including counseling and
mentoring. Located adjacent to the just-expanded Student Services Complex, the
center provides students a welcoming place to come with their questions about
UNLV.
- Longtime history professor Tom Wright recently was named a UNLV distinguished
professor in recognition of his contributions to the field of Latin American studies
and to the university during his more than 35 years on campus. The distinguished
professor title is not an annual award but rather is given only when a select committee
recommends a professor based upon exceptional performance.
- The new Greenspun Hall houses most departments and programs that are part of
the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, including the Hank Greenspun School of
Journalism & Media Studies. The 120,000-square-foot building, which is located
on Maryland Parkway, was designed to be eligible for a Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design gold rating.
- The facilities management department received the 2009 Cashman Good Government Award from the Nevada Taxpayers Association for keeping energy costs down despite campus growth, saving the university — and taxpayers — $11 million since 2001.
- At the Saturday Children’s Clinics, faculty and students of the UNLV School of
Dental Medicine provide dental care to children who do not normally have access
to dentists. Begun in October 2007, the clinics are held three to five times a year. So
far, faculty and students have volunteered more than 1,000 hours and provided 260
patients with $96,000 worth of dental treatment.
- The UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic offers assistance to youths ages 5 to 17 who have difficulty going to school or staying there throughout the class day. Clinic staff works with students and their families to find solutions that will allow the children to stay in school and avoid the problems often caused by frequent or prolonged absences.
Research
- Chemistry professor Dong-Chan Lee received a five-year, $484,000 early career
development award from the National Science Foundation for his research related
to organic solar cell optimization. This award is the highest given by the federal
government to scientists and engineers beginning their careers. Lee’s award is the
fourth of its kind to be given to UNLV scientists. Chemisty professor Chulsung Bae
and life sciences professors Brian Hedlund and Frank Van Breukelen previously
received the award.
- English professor and poet Claudia Keelan received the 2008 Jerome J. Shestack
Prize from the American Poetry Review for her poem “Everybody’s Autobiography.”
The poem is both an elegy for her father and an attempt to understand the
historical reality of America’s fuel consumption. Keelan is the director of UNLV’s
nationally recognized creative writing program.
- Mechanical engineering professor Brendan O’Toole and his team from the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering are finalizing research in the fifth and final year of a $6.5 million grant from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory aimed at developing new vehicle technologies to protect soldiers from deadly roadside explosions.
- UNLV’s $500 million Invent the Future fundraising campaign has reached 90
percent of its goal. It has raised more than $450 million in gifts and gift intentions,
including more than $52 million for student scholarships and more than $266
million for UNLV’s programs and centers.
- More than 6,000 graduate and professional students are currently enrolled at
UNLV. The university offers more than 120 graduate programs, including 38
doctoral and professional programs.
- UNLV student-athletes set a new school record in fall 2008 when 45 of them
earned Academic All-Mountain West Conference (MWC) honors. To be eligible,
students must have completed at least one academic term while maintaining at
least a 3.0 GPA, and be a starter or significant contributor to their teams. Junior
Jessica Walters, a journalism major who is a three-time Academic All-MWC in
volleyball, topped all Rebels with a 3.96 GPA.
- Mary Ehrsam received the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
Undergraduate Research Fellowship following a competitive, nationwide
selection process. Working with professor Duane Moser of the Desert Research
Institute, she will study microbial and microalgal communities of desert aquatic
systems. The fellowship provides a $4,000 student stipend as well as $1,000 to
allow her to present the results of her research at the 2010 ASM General Meeting
in Philadelphia.