Whether they’re driving from Summerlin, relocating from Elko, or moving from across the country or the world, first-year and transfer students at the inaugural Rebel Ready Week will be fully immersed in all things UNLV.

The new event, Aug. 21-25, includes a range of activities to help incoming students navigate challenges, grasp opportunities, and empower them with resources as they begin their path to a college degree. Most importantly, they will meet peers, faculty, and staff. 

Forging Lifelong Connections From Day One

It’s all aimed at fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring the students are confident as they step into their first lecture class.

“We decided to go big or go home,” said Savannah Baltera, director of new student orientation, transition, and family programs. “We programmed full days for them so they can really get immersed, not only in the culture of UNLV, the resources, but also make those genuine connections with their fellow students who will probably turn out to be their lifelong friends.”

More than 4,000 students (about 75 percent from Nevada), are expected to attend Rebel Ready Week, a requirement for all new students. A virtual experience is available for those unable to attend in person. Among the qualities that make the week distinctive is that all events, activities, and daytime meals are free.

For Karen Violanti, executive director of the First-Year Success Experience, the week will play a critical role guiding students to recognize the impact of relationships on their success at UNLV.

“Rebel Ready Week offers an incredible opportunity for the relationship ‘seeds’ that have started in the pre-arrival experiences (which started in March) to connect, take root, and solidify as students start the academic year,” Violanti said. “This includes relationships with other students, peer leaders, faculty, staff and also resources on campus.”

It took a year of collaboration among UNLV administrators, who recognized the need to create a more cohesive, comprehensive experience. 

In addition to the core organizing committee, about 100 student leaders and 50 faculty and staff will support the emerging Rebels, signifying how important the effort is to the university.

“We know if we can help provide a better transition experience and help students feel more of a sense of belonging, that students are more likely to have a better success rate and to retain and progress and complete a degree in a more timely manner,” said Barb Roberts, associate vice president for enrollment management.

“Retention, progression, and completion for our students is one of the biggest components for us to continue our rise as a minority-serving, research institution. It crosses so many different levels of our Top Tier strategic plan,” Roberts said.

Expect More Immersive Opportunities than Ever Before

The programming integrates some existing traditions and expands on past programs. It kicks off with what used to be a more limited program, “College Day.” New Rebels will spend eight hours in their chosen academic college with like-minded students and professors. 

Keynote sessions in Ham Concert Hall Tuesday through Thursday will explore:

• Student success and high-impact practices
• Health and wellness, including mental, physical, environmental, and financial strategies; 
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice — always a point of emphasis at UNLV, consistently atop diversity rankings in the country.

Students will also get to explore at least five of their academic and personal interests through more than 300 Rebel Passport breakout sessions. Interactive sessions range from crime scene investigation at the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs to set creation at the Scene Shop in the Department of Theatre in the College of Fine Arts.

“The scope of offerings is a testament to this whole campus, every department, every college, stepping up to put sessions on during what is a busy week for everyone preparing for the fall semester. That we were able to put together so many offerings for students is what makes me the most proud,” Baltera said.

The week concludes on Friday with UNLV Creates, the annual academic convocation and welcome ceremony for incoming students and their supporters.

Optional Rebel Relax social programs in the evenings include an outdoor movie night, open houses, a pep rally, and a block party. 

Feedback following the event will be sought through an app, and organizers are looking at other ways to extend the leap this event represents, including tracking GPAs and matriculation of this first cohort to experience Rebel Ready Week. The ultimate goal, of course, is assisting students to not only start on the right path but continue and complete it.

“We are excited to assess and know what they have learned that was new, what are they most excited about, what are they most nervous about, what do they want to know more about,” Violanti said.

A heart-tugging moment that symbolizes the students’ transition to college life always gets to Baltera. It’s when students and their supporters don Rebel shirts and other gear for the first time and take photos with their “Reb-blooded family.”

“You can see it switch, where it clicks for them,” Baltera said. “It’s happiness, excitement, probably a little bit of like, ‘Oh, this is real.’” A feeling she hopes every student at Rebel Ready Week will feel once again as they don their cap and gown for commencement.