Extreme heat and water scarcity are part of life in Southern Nevada. At UNLV, they also shape how the university approaches sustainability, from research and classroom projects to campus operations and community partnerships. 

That work helped UNLV become one of 14 institutions in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to earn the new Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability. 

This six-year designation recognizes institutions that incorporate sustainability into curriculum and career preparation, research practices, business operations, and community engagement. It is separate from Carnegie’s Elective Classification for Community Engagement, which UNLV also holds and renewed this year. 

UNLV earned the sustainability classification through the 2025 pilot program.

“Earning this classification is a big moment for UNLV because it recognizes how sustainability connects our campus with the Southern Nevada community,” said Tara Pike, Facilities Management sustainability manager. “For those of us who work in this area every day, it’s especially rewarding to see that effort recognized on a national level.”

Here’s what Carnegie cited as strengths in UNLV’s application:

• Southern Nevada focus. UNLV’s sustainability work reflects the region it serves, including local environmental challenges and their impact on underserved communities. 
• Regional research. That local focus also carries into research on climate and resilience, supported by partnerships with government, industry, and community partners. 
• Sustainability in the classroom. UNLV faculty have incorporated sustainability in the curriculum through many real-world projects, including energy audits and community gardens.
• Career pathways. Internships, mentorship, applied research, and partnerships connect students with fields such as water, energy, healthcare, and hospitality.
• Rebel Climate Action Plan (CAP). Carnegie commended the university’s roadmap for a more sustainable and climate-resilient campus for its structure, governance and stakeholder engagement, and for providing a framework for UNLV’s sustainability work.

“Rebel CAP was a standout in UNLV’s application,” said Amy Halvorson, director of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Sustainability at University of Colorado Boulder. “It reflects a clear understanding of Southern Nevada and gives the university a practical way to respond to the sustainability issues that matter most in the region.”

Day-to-day efforts within the campus community include Rebels Refill to promote reusable bottles, UNLV Surplus Center to repurpose university property, O-Marché for exchanging and reusing secondhand items, and residence hall recycling stations. Other efforts include energy efficiency, water conservation, and transportation programs. 

“This classification gives UNLV an outside measure of how sustainability is showing up across the institution,” said Chris Viton, vice president for Business Affairs and chief financial officer. “It’s a useful benchmark and a meaningful recognition of the university’s progress.”

The classification is hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE). 

The 14 pilot institutions receiving the classification are: 

• Bennett College
• Carleton College
• Clarkson University
• George Mason University
• Mt. San Antonio College
• Pima Community College
• Tohono O’odham Community College
• Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
• University of Arizona
• University of California, Merced
• University of Idaho
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Carnegie will announce the full inaugural group in June 2027. The pilot institutions completed a self-study and application, submitted supporting evidence, and helped test the framework before the classification applications opened more broadly. 

“We had the opportunity to be part of this from the ground up and see how the classification took shape,” Pike said. “We were able to look closely at our own sustainability efforts while also providing feedback that could help make the process work for other institutions.”