At UNLV, learning doesn’t stop at the edge of campus. Through a wide range of outreach programs, the university works alongside local schools, nonprofits, government agencies, and neighborhood organizations to tackle real needs and create lasting partnerships. From education and healthcare to sustainability and youth programs, outreach is a key way UNLV shows up for the community it serves.
These programs give students a chance to step outside the classroom and gain hands-on experience. Volunteering, mentoring, and working with community members lets students see the impact of their skills while building a sense of responsibility. Meanwhile, faculty and staff apply their research expertise to solving complex problems in our communities.
UNLV recently earned its second consecutive Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement — the highest standard of recognition for community engagement efforts at colleges and universities. Here’s just a snapshot of the hundreds of partnerships that UNLV’s colleges, schools, and administrative units are leading to improve the lives of Southern Nevadans.
Health & Social Services
UNLV, Three Square Food Bank Partner for Food Drive Amid SNAP Delays
In November 2025, UNLV partnered with Three Square Food Bank to help feed Southern Nevada families. Nearly 250 faculty, staff and students volunteered for an emergency food distribution event outside the Thomas & Mack Center, giving away donated food to about 1,000 households on a first-come, first-served basis. This effort came as SNAP benefits, which help nearly 500,000 Nevadans supplement their monthly food budgets, were delayed.
School of Dental Medicine Serves Nevada Through Community Clinics
The School of Dental Medicine hosts multiple community outreach clinics each year serving children, individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, women, and children affected by domestic violence, those re-entering the workforce, and people with special needs.
In fall 2025, the school, in collaboration with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, opened a Cleft Palate and Advanced Needs Clinic that serves patients with developmental disabilities and children with cleft palate. The clinic offers accessible, anesthesia-ready rooms and gives UNLV students hands-on experience through patient care.
Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Boosts Access to Care via Clinics
UNLV School of Medicine provides essential outreach to Las Vegas through a number of programs offering medical and mental health services to underserved populations in Las Vegas.
UNLV Health, the clinical practice associated with the medical school, also operates clinics based at two CCSD schools to provide free primary care to the uninsured. The efforts also include deploying community health workers to help families navigate barriers like food and housing insecurity. Another collaboration with Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN) provides free health care for uninsured individuals through the UNLV Community Clinic inside the Ruffin Family Clinic,
The Center for Individual, Couple & Family Counseling serves as a primary training facility for the medical school’s couple and family therapy program and provides high-quality, low-cost therapy to the Las Vegas community. UNLV Well Connect connects medical students with underserved, underinsured, and undocumented individuals to help them access and navigate local resources.
UNLV PRACTICE functions as a community mental health training clinic, offering affordable psychological services and expanding access to rural Nevada through tele-behavioral health programs. Together, these entities utilize a student-led, interdisciplinary model to bridge healthcare gaps and provide preventative education throughout Southern Nevada.
UNLV, Las Vegas Raiders Partner to Promote Wellness for Girls
UNLV’s RUSH program, in partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders, introduces middle school students to flag football while promoting health, wellness, and confidence, with a focus on supporting girls’ participation. The program combines athletic coaching with lessons on nutrition, teamwork, and mental well-being, helping students build skills and stay active. Led by UNLV’s School of Public Health, RUSH encourages participants to adopt healthy habits and fosters personal growth both on and off the field.
Consortium for Arts + Medicine Keeps Vegas Circus Stars Soaring
The Consortium for Arts + Medicine, a collaboration between the School of Integrated Health Sciences and College of Fine Arts, brings together performers, healthcare professionals, and researchers. The initiative explores the unique medical and physical needs of performing artists, promoting collaboration across disciplines to improve injury prevention, treatment, and overall wellness while advancing research at the intersection of arts and healthcare.
UNLV Puts Focus on Life Skills Through Community Engagement
Project F.O.C.U.S., led by UNLV’s College of Education, provides adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southern Nevada with academic, career, and life skills support. The program partners with local businesses, schools, and community organizations to offer internships, inclusive learning, and real-world experiences, giving participants opportunities to build skills while actively engaging with the Las Vegas community.
UNLV Athletics Partners with Nonprofit to Build Beds for Local Youth
UNLV Athletics, in partnership with local nonprofit Sleep In Heavenly Peace, helps provide beds for local youth through the annual Build a Bed event. Student‑athletes, athletics staff, campus volunteers, and members of the public come together in the Thomas & Mack Center parking lot to build and donate around 100 beds for local youth in need of a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
Business and Community Enrichment
UNLV Cyber Clinic Helps Support Small Businesses
The student-led UNLV Cyber Clinic provides small businesses with cybersecurity measures to reduce the risk of hacking, ransomware, phishing attacks, and other cybercrimes. In collaboration with the UNLV Office of Economic Development and the Nevada Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the clinic works with SBDC clients to identify vulnerabilities in their computer systems and protect them from online threats.
Community Service Program Offers Legal Guidance to Local Residents
UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law runs a Community Service Program that gets law students out of the classroom and into the community. Students team up with local organizations like Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and Nevada Legal Services to host workshops and provide legal information on things like family court, tenants’ rights, sealing criminal records, and bankruptcy.
Rebel Recycling Takes Lead in Waste-reduction Efforts
UNLV’s Rebel Recycling program oversees campuswide recycling and waste-reduction efforts, supporting sustainability through regular collection services, special recycling programs, and zero-waste support for campus events. The program works to make recycling accessible and routine for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
A key outreach effort is the Drive Up and Drop Off recycling stations, which allow community members — particularly those in apartment buildings — the ability to recycle their waste by dropping it off at a designated location. By extending recycling access beyond traditional bins, Rebel Recycling encourages broader participation and helps reduce landfill waste both on campus and in the surrounding community.
Rebel Recycling also coordinates seasonal Christmas tree recycling, providing the community with an easy way to responsibly dispose of trees after the holidays. Recycled trees will be chipped into mulch and used in public and school gardens and parks across the community.
Urban Forestry Initiative Fights Climate Change, Expands Green Spaces
In 2023, UNLV received a $5 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service to launch a Las Vegas urban forestry initiative focused on combating extreme heat and climate change in Southern Nevada. Through the newly established Las Vegas Urban Forest Center, the initiative is planting thousands of drought-tolerant trees, expanding green spaces, and providing education and workforce development opportunities, including arborist training and certification.
UNLV partnered with local organizations — including The Nature Conservancy, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and Clark County School District — to grow the city’s tree canopy, strengthen climate resiliency, and offer hands-on volunteer and internship experiences.
UNLV Hospitality College Teams Up with Nonprofit to Boost Tribal Tourism
The Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV has partnered with the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association to deliver an innovative training program that helps Indigenous communities bolster cultural tourism and navigate federal grant opportunities. The initiative includes modules on topics such as cultural tourism systems, land‑use planning, and U.S. Forest Service grant applications and compliance. The program equips tribal nations with tools to grow tourism economies while supporting community resilience and stewardship.
Engelstad Scholars Learn the Value of Community Through Service
The UNLV Engelstad Scholars Program, housed in the College of Liberal Arts, combines financial support with community engagement by requiring scholars to complete substantial service with local nonprofit organizations each year. Through partnerships with more than two dozen community groups — including legal aid, food banks, youth programs, and advocacy organizations — students not only gain leadership and civic skills and work experience but also contribute hundreds of hours of service that directly benefit the Las Vegas Valley.
Rebel Alumni Give Back to Las Vegas Through Annual Day of Service
UNLV Alumni Association Day of Service brings together alumni, students, and staff for a day of volunteering with local nonprofits across Las Vegas. The event gives Rebels a chance to give back, support community projects, and connect with each other while making a real impact in the city. At this year’s Alumni Day of Service on Feb. 21, volunteers will work together to remove stickers and fix minor tears, making the books presentable for new readers. Contact the Alumni Association to see how you can get involved.
UNLV Brings Conversations on Race and Equity to Local Community
We Need to Talk is a discussion series that brings together faculty, community leaders, and local experts to adversity, discrimination, and other issues that bring challenges to members of our Southern Nevada community. Coordinated by UNLV University Libraries, in partnership with Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, the series offers panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and online resources to engage both students and the broader community.
President’s Holiday Village Provides Toys to Southern Nevada Children
UNLV’s 4th annual President’s Holiday Village welcomed thousands of Southern Nevada families for a day of holiday activities, including music, a petting zoo, games, bounce houses, and an opportunity to meet with local first responders.
The event is held in partnership with United Movement Organized Kindness (UMOK), the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and dozens of community partners. Each child can select a new toy from rows of toy-filled tables while volunteers provide one-on-one assistance.
“This event reflects UNLV’s commitment to its public purpose by helping address a community challenge,” said UNLV President Chris Heavey. “Seeing young people experience joy during the holiday season is incredibly meaningful.”
College of Urban Affairs Makes a Policy of Creating Better Communities
The UNLV Community Resilience Initiative, led by the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, works to help Las Vegas communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from social, economic, and environmental challenges. Through research, coursework, and hands-on projects, the program connects students with local government, nonprofits, and businesses to address real urban issues.
Students and faculty collaborate with local leaders and organizations to develop solutions, inform policy, and strengthen community capacity. The program supports workforce and economic development while fostering stronger partnerships across the region.
UNLV Connects Student-Veterans with Support and Community Programs
The UNLV Military and Veteran Services Center supports student-veterans, active duty service members, and their families, helping them navigate university life and access benefits. The center provides a veteran-friendly environment with academic, personal, and administrative guidance.
Through programs like PAVE (Peer Advisors for Veteran Education) and the Rebel Vets SVA Chapter, veterans connect with peers, engage in community service, and access career opportunities. Additional initiatives, including VetSuccess, VITAL, and the Yellow Ribbon Program, provide benefits, counseling, and wellness resources to support student success.
UNLV Archives Help Communities Preserve Overlooked Local Histories
UNLV’s Special Collections & Archives offers community archives workshops to help families and local groups learn how to save and organize their own histories. Participants get practical, hands-on support with recording oral histories, sorting photographs and documents, and caring for personal materials — especially stories that are often left out of official records.
As part of this outreach, community members decide what happens to their materials, whether that means keeping them within the family or sharing them with UNLV’s archives or another historical preservation organization. The next workshop will be Saturday, Feb. 21.
Community Concert Band Connects Music and Service
UNLV’s Community Concert Band brings together students and local musicians to make music while giving back to Southern Nevada. Open to players of all ages, the group rehearses on campus and performs accessible concerts for the public, helping connect the university with the wider community through live music. The band frequently partners with local churches and nonprofits, using concerts to raise funds and support organizations that serve the region.
UNLV Students Have Got Service Learning in the Bag
UNLVolunteers is a student-led organization that connects the campus community with service opportunities across Las Vegas. Through partnerships with local nonprofits, students address needs in areas like health, housing, the environment, and youth support while building their own leadership skills.
Two signature programs include Service Day, where students volunteer on projects like trail maintenance, cleanups, and youth programs, and DASH, a long-running tradition in which volunteers prepare and distribute meals to unhoused members of the community.
Childhood Education
UNLV Science & Engineering Fair Showcases Student Innovation
The Beal Bank USA Southern Nevada Regional Science & Engineering Fair, hosted by UNLV’s College of Sciences, welcomes elementary, middle, and high school students from across the region to present hands-on STEM projects. The annual event encourages scientific curiosity, problem-solving, and early engagement with science and engineering through judged competitions and student showcases.
This year, the high school division is set for March 5 at the Thomas & Mack Strip View Pavilion and is affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair, allowing top projects to advance to national competition. Elementary and middle school students will take part March 25-27 at Cox Pavilion, with public viewing and results announced on the final day.
The college also hosts the Rebel Science Camp, which introduces elementary students to science through interactive learning. The program focuses on fifth graders from Title I schools within the Clark County School District, aiming to spark interest in science early in their education. Through engaging, real-life examples, the camp shows how science connects to everyday experiences, builds foundational STEM knowledge, and encourages students to think about continuing their education beyond high school. Students explore topics such as groundwater systems, climate science, chemistry, and resource management through exercises like aquifer modeling, chromatography experiments, and simulated mining activities.
College and Career Readiness Program Preps K-10 Students for Future
UNLV Early Outreach provides college and career readiness programming for K-10 students and families. The programs offer school visits, family workshops, and campus experiences that help students understand what college is like and how to prepare for it. The Early Outreach program also hosts the Young Rebels website to help Southern Nevada youth find the many workshops, summer and school break camps, and other hands-on learning opportunities that UNLV offers to children.
Nurse Camp Introduces High School Students to Careers in Nursing
The School of Nursing's Nurse Camp brings together students from across Nevada who are interested in exploring a future in nursing. The immersive, hands-on program gives participants a chance to learn essential nursing skills, engage with current nursing students and faculty, and gain insight into what a career in healthcare involves — from clinical simulations to discussions about nursing school and career pathways.
The weeklong experience is designed to spark interest in the nursing profession amid a growing demand for healthcare workers, offering students meaningful exposure to the field and helping them envision themselves in future nursing roles.
GenCyber Camp Teaches High School Students the Basics
The UNLV GenCyber Camp is a free summer program that introduces high school students in Southern Nevada to the basics of cybersecurity and safe online practices. Through hands-on activities and interactive lessons, students learn about topics like digital security, cyber threats, and protecting personal information, while also exploring potential career paths in cybersecurity.
Eyes on the Road: UNLV Camp Promotes Safer Driving for Teens
UNLV’s National Summer Transportation Institute is a two-week summer camp that teaches high school students about traffic safety, transportation systems, and smart urban planning through hands-on activities and real-world problem solving. Students learn about the dangers of distracted and impaired driving through interactive demonstrations and presentations from first responders and safety experts. The program encourages teens to make safer choices on the road while introducing them to STEM and transportation-related careers.
YES Program Prepares Students for Jobs in Gaming and Hospitality
The Young Executive Scholars in Tourism and Hospitality (YES) program at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute introduces local students from Title I schools to careers in hospitality, tourism, and gaming. Through a four‑week summer program, high schoolers gain hands‑on experience, mentorship, and industry insights while exploring UNLV campus life. YES also offers shorter workshops for middle schoolers, giving students practical skills, STEAM exposure, and guidance for future career and college opportunities.
College of Education Students Provide Literacy Support to Young Readers
UNLV’s literacy program, led by the College of Education in partnership with Clark County School District, pairs education majors with local elementary students for hands-on reading support. The program gives UNLV students classroom experience while helping children strengthen foundational reading skills. The program operates through ongoing partnerships with local schools and provides additional reading support for students in the classroom.
