Dear Colleagues and Supporters of UNLV, 

This afternoon, I had the privilege of sharing an update on UNLV’s incredible progress, our bright future, and some thoughts on the dynamic landscape of higher education during my first State of the University address. 

In a relatively short span, UNLV has grown from a small branch campus on the edge of town into a thriving research university and a powerful engine of talent, innovation, and opportunity. Consider that in just the past year, UNLV has reached a new high in enrollment, our graduation rate set a record, and research spending is higher than it's ever been. 

As I shared during my presentation, these milestones are a testament to countless members of our community – faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and other supporters – who have and continue to share a vision for what UNLV is and what it can become. 

UNLV is a university built by and for this community, and there’s no more powerful thing in this world than a group of people working toward a similar purpose. 

That’s evident here at UNLV — from a recent surge in workforce-aligned degree programs (both traditional and online) to physical expansion on our Maryland Parkway campus – including a planned new building for the Lee Business School – and throughout Southern Nevada. 

We’re grateful to Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Legislature for their record investment in a future home for our business school, our largest academic program and one of our fastest-growing. Fundraising efforts are fully underway to ensure groundbreaking can begin within the next 18 months. The new building will serve as a highly visible gateway to campus and will advance teaching, research, and community connections to businesses and beyond, and we could not be more excited about it. 

In so many ways, we are building UNLV’s brand and expanding our reach. But our growth comes amidst a unique moment in higher education, with many forces coming into play that are changing what we do. I truly believe that UNLV will meet this moment.

There’s no better time to be at UNLV. To maintain our momentum, we need to remain nimble to advancements in areas like artificial intelligence. We have to anticipate changes in how students learn and in how employers hire. We need to forge new partnerships that stimulate even deeper community engagement and drive innovation further. And we have to stay true to our mission and values, building on the contributions of those who’ve come before us. 

I invite you to read about some of the takeaways from today’s State of the University, or watch a short video shared at the end of my presentation that captures what it means to be a part of this great university.  

We are doing incredible things at UNLV! Thank you for your continued partnership and support. 

Warm wishes, 

Chris Heavey
UNLV Interim President