Eighty local families are about to receive some long-awaited news. UNLV/CSUN Preschool Director Chelsie Shurtleff is calling, and she’s ready to inform them that they're off the preschool admissions waitlist.

After months — or often even years — of waiting for a spot to open, UNLV’s expansion of the Marlow Early Childhood Education Campus is complete and ready to welcome these young learners to campus.

“We are incredibly excited to be able to offer new preschool slots to the UNLV student body, faculty, staff, and community at large,” Shurtleff shared.

Home to the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center and UNLV/CSUN Preschool, the facility will now serve over 300 children from ages 6 weeks to 5 years (an increase in capacity of more than 35%). This milestone is the result of decades of planning, community partnership, and a shared commitment to providing high-quality early learning environments for preschoolers and their families.

As the College of Education prepares for the Aug. 5 ribbon-cutting, here's a peek at what the new facility will offer families this fall.

The Welcome Center

When it comes to the welcome center, families are the priority. Its lounge is a comfortable connection spot with a lending library stocked with books and educational resources that parents can take home, extending their child’s learning beyond the classroom.

The space includes flexible gathering areas for workshops, community programming, professional development, and a private room for nursing parents.

Two-Way Mirror Observation Rooms

At the heart of the expansion are four classrooms designed for children ages 3-5. 

“Furnishing was carefully selected, scaled to their size, is durable for active little hands, and designed to encourage independence and engagement,” said UNLV Planning and Construction interior designer Nichole Staker.

These classrooms are also equipped to support UNLV's research and public policy work. 

Each new building includes an observation space between the two classrooms. Equipped with two-way mirrors and audio technology, they allow students and faculty researchers to observe learning as it naturally unfolds without disrupting the learning environment.

“This is well-aligned with our community-based approach to research at the preschool,” said Jenna Weglarz-Ward, early childhood/special education associate professor. “I am excited to observe our early childhood and special education students during their practicum experiences as they demonstrate their learning based on observation of and interaction with our preschoolers.”

The facility was built primarily with funding from an anonymous donor, but community members can support the next generation of learners by helping outfit these new classrooms with curriculum materials.

Classroom Courtyards and Accessible Playscapes

Classroom designs blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. Mechanical garage doors open directly onto outdoor courtyards, giving children the freedom to move seamlessly between learning environments throughout the day. 

Wheelchair-accessible playscapes further ensure that every child can participate in formal and informal play-based instruction.

While the Marlow campus introduces these and other innovative spaces and modern design, its greatest impact may be felt by the families who now have access to them.

For dozens of parents, it begins with a phone call.

And for these young Rebels, it marks the beginning of discovering a place designed to help them learn, grow, and thrive.