The University Libraries, in partnership with the Teaching and Learning Commons and the UNLV Food Pantry, launched the Food for Fines program in December to collect nonperishable items to benefit UNLV students while also eliminating current undergraduate student overdue fines. The two-month program reached its goal of collecting more than 500 items, resulting in all undergraduate student overdue fines being forgiven.

The UNLV School of Music received a gift of more than $6 million from the KJS Family Foundation to support artistic excellence and student success. Finalized last year, the donation funded the purchase of 86 Steinway pianos, significantly expanding access to premier instruments for instruction, practice, and performance. The gift represents the largest donation in the history of the College of Fine Arts and will allow students perform with best-in-class instruments.

The College of Engineering has established the new Department of Applied and Interdisciplinary Engineering to prepare students for engineering careers through hands-on, experiential programs developed in close partnership with industry. The department is home to the B.S. in Entertainment Engineering & Design, the only accredited bachelor's program of its kind in the world, and offers additional degrees spanning construction, information technology, mechatronics, and cybersecurity.

The School of Nursing’s continues to rank among the nation's best according to U.S. News and World Report. The Nursing online master’s degree programs collectively placed 22nd in the latest release and cracked the top ten in a new ranking of online nursing programs for military veterans, placing 9th. UNLV Nursing has earned a spot in the top 30 every year since U.S. News & World Report began rating online nursing degrees in 2012.

The College of Engineering’s online master’s degree climbed more than 40 positions to reach a top-50 ranking — No. 44 — in U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings of the best online degree programs. One of UNLV’s fastest-growing academic units, the College of Engineering offers a fully online master of science in materials and nuclear engineering and recently launched online and hybrid master’s degrees in cybersecurity in collaboration with the Lee Business School.

As of Spring 2026, Lee Business School has 21 students enrolled in its MBA program who are part of the MGM College Opportunity Program. Since 2019, over half of the participating students had no previous college enrollment, and over a third were the first in their family to earn a college degree. The statewide initiative is helping employees across MGM Resorts International earn degrees, strengthen their skills, and advance their careers through online programs offered by NSHE institutions.

UNLV head football coach Dan Mullen was honored with the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award by the Football Writers Association of America. The award is given annually to a head coach who demonstrates an exemplary transition during their first year leading a program. UNLV Football recently wrapped a 10-2 regular season with a win over rival UNR, retaining the Fremont Cannon and advancing to the Mountain West Football championship game.

The inaugural interdisciplinary cohort of Project EXHALE scholars began this semester. The pilot included 10 student scholars — five from clinical mental health counseling and five from human services — who were placed at elementary schools to provide direct support to students, families, and school communities. The program will prepare future clinical mental health counselors to deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to students and their families while also expanding and diversifying Nevada’s school-based mental health workforce.