Jun. 6, 2023

 

Dear Colleagues,

Nevada’s 82nd Legislative Session ended in a whirlwind last night. It’s always hard to address all of our needs in 120 days every two years, but let’s pause and reflect on the incredible gains that we just made for our Top Tier research institution that will allow us to help our state in myriad ways.

First, we are grateful to Governor Joe Lombardo, Legislative Leadership, and all of our elected leaders who made UNLV and higher education a priority this session. Our state leaders made numerous decisions and compromises this session that support UNLV. This includes more than $18 million in General Fund allocations to restore budgets reduced during the 2021 Legislative Session. Additionally, $14 million was approved to boost stipends for graduate assistants at UNLV, and $320,000 was allocated to bolster the K-12 teacher pipeline through enhanced summer school funding.

And as many of you have been following, Governor Lombardo on June 1 signed Assembly Bill 522 that included cost of living salary increases for state employees beginning in July. Additional information on the COLA increases will be shared at a later time.

Below is a summary of some of the additional legislation that will impact our university over the next biennium, which runs from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. (NOTE: Some of these bills have not yet been sent to or signed by the governor. Nevada law provides the governor up to 10 days to act on legislation passed at the end of the session or it automatically becomes law.)

  • Assembly Bill 140: Makes “Juneteenth Day” a legal holiday in Nevada to be celebrated on June 19 (if the date falls on a weekend, the holiday will be celebrated the previous Friday or following Monday). Additional information will be shared at a later time.
  • Assembly Bill 268: Awards state employee retention payments of $500 for Classified and Professional staff in permanent positions at 50 percent or greater on March 31, 2023, and June 16, 2023 (this applies to staff who make less than $120,000 annually).
  • Assembly Bill 328: Allows the Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic at the Boyd School of Law to expand operations and provide additional pro bono services ($1 million).
  • Senate Bill 291: Supports the Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Prep within the College of Education ($1.5 million).
  • Senate Bill 341: An appropriation bill that funds a tourism safety and research initiative through the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the International Gaming Institute’s Expanding the Leaderverse initiative.
  • Senate Bill 350: Establishes the Graduate Medical Education Grant Program.
  • Senate Bill 375: Creates a grant program to expand undergraduate and graduate nursing programs at UNLV and other NSHE institutions.
  • Senate Bill 457: Expands student enrollment and supporting faculty at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine ($9.2 million).

Our state leaders have made a significant investment in our university, and most importantly, in our people. I find their commitment motivating as it demonstrates they share in the same bold vision for UNLV that we all have for our university and Nevada. As responsible and effective stewards of state resources, we will continue to graduate incredible students, make advances in STEM and creative scholarship, and contribute to the vibrancy of our community and state. 

And there is more work to be done. A special session is expected to be scheduled soon when state leaders will look at additional legislation that may positively impact UNLV.

In the meantime, I want to express my gratitude to everyone – deans, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters – who participated in the legislative process by testifying or advocating on behalf of UNLV. I also want to acknowledge the contributions of former President Dr. Marta Meana, as well as staff in the Provost Office and Business Affairs.

I want to give a special thanks to Interim Vice President of Government and Community Engagement Dr. Constance Brooks for leading our advocacy at the legislature and our entire Office of Government and Community Engagement for all their work over the past few months.

We have much to be thankful for and our mission to make our state and community better continues. Thank you for being a part of how Rebels make it happen!

Warm regards,

Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D.
UNLV President