UNLV employees have been strained and overextended during the pandemic, but flexibility saved the day, according to a survey conducted earlier this year.

In a surprise reversal Friday, UNLV President Keith Whitfield announced that the university was planning in-person commencement ceremonies for 2020 and 2021 graduates to be held outdoors at Sam Boyd Stadium in late May.

After a year of distance learning, UNLV seniors celebrated when the plan to hold in-person commencement ceremonies was announced Friday.

In a letter to students, UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield said commencement ceremonies this spring will again be virtual events.

UNLV students who do not already have Internet in their home may be eligible for discounted Cox WiFi, according to a UNLV news releases.

UNLV has received a $250,000 federal grant to expand its food pantry and nutrition center.

A normal day on the UNLV campus has students walking class to class, studying in groups at public tables, and waiting in line at the student union for a snack before heading to a packed lecture hall for class.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, plans in-person instruction for the fall semester but also will offer more remote course offerings to “reduce population density and minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission on our campuses,” Chris Heavey, UNLV’s interim executive vice president and provost wrote in a May 28 letter to students.