In just two years, UNLV’s introductory course on personal finance has grown from 200 to more than 1,300 students across 40 class sections – making it one of the nation’s largest financial literacy courses. The course is helping students from all disciplines build confidence, stress less, and apply what they’ve learned. It’s also allowing researchers to test how financial literacy education influences health, behavior, and success in school.

Dental Medicine professor Dr. Jeffrey Ebersole was named among the 2024 Top Scholars by ScholarGPS, which recognizes researchers for outstanding performance across disciplines and specialties. Based on his extensive publication record, global impact, and the exceptional quality of his scholarly contributions, ScholarGPS placed Dr. Ebersole among the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide. As an R1 research institution, UNLV continues to be a hub for high-impact research, where faculty drive innovation and advance discovery.

UNLV Athletics had a record 151 student-athletes earn the 2024-25 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award, surpassing the department's previous record of 147 set in 2021. Student-athletes must have competed at least two semesters or three quarters at the member institution while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better to be eligible. With this new record, Rebel athletes continue demonstrate their excellence, both on and off the field.

Founded in 2006 by UNLV President Emerita Carol C. Harter, BMI has brought writers from all walks of life to Las Vegas and cultivated future generations of creative writers in Southern Nevada. Noteworthy writers and scholars who have been a part of BMI’s programming include Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Layli Long Soldier, and Percival Everett. Black Mountain Institute champions writers and storytellers through programs, fellowships and community engagement. From the brightest spot on the planet, Black Mountain Institute amplifies writing and artistic expression to connect us to each other in the Las Vegas Valley, the Southwest, and beyond.

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine continues to make Nevadans healthier, this time with a new initiative to empower autistic children. Dr. Jaineet Chhabra, co-chief resident of the Department of Family & Community Medicine held the inaugural camp of “Dr. Jai Basketball: It’s for Everyone!” The camp was one of the few sports clinics specifically designed to augment the performance of those with special needs. Future camps will be development to extend adaptive sports to disabled veterans athletes, with the goal to create a community where sports medicine leaves no one behind. 

For 30 years, the Rebel Recycling program has served the UNLV community by promoting sustainable living and providing comprehensive waste reduction, recycling, and resource management services across campus. The program helps reduce air pollution, conserve water and energy, and preserve both finite and renewable resources. By minimizing what the university sends to landfills, Rebel Recycling supports Nevada’s statewide recycling goal of 25%, helps UNLV avoid landfill fees, and advances the initiatives of the UNLV Sustainability Council.

UNLV continues to expand its degree offerings to meet the demands of growing industries. The university will be the first to offer a bachelor's degree in insurance and risk management in Nevada, and has also launched a bachelor's in cybersecurity to complement a hybrid master's program that began earlier in 2025. New bachelor’s degrees in audio production and engineering technology are also available to prepare students for Nevada's increasingly diversified workforce.

UNLV welcomed more than 33,000 students to campus this semester — the largest-ever fall enrollment in university history — marking the third consecutive year of growth. This record class includes over 8,000 new students, among them nearly 6,700 first-year and transfer students. More than 350 newly admitted student veterans and military family members also joined the UNLV community this semester, bringing the total number of military-affiliated students to nearly 1,800. Together, the university community continues its upward trajectory to accelerate innovation, workforce development, public service and the incredible potential of our students.