Nearly 125 new faculty and professional staff members were formally welcomed into the UNLV community at the annual New Faculty/Staff Orientation on Aug. 17.

Opening with welcoming remarks and a forecast for UNLV's future from President Carol C. Harter, the full day's program introduced new faculty and staff to the university's leadership and support services.

The audience also heard from Richard Jensen, senior assistant to the president, and from Ray Alden, interim provost; saw a preview video of the new Lied Library; and received first-year survival tips from some of last year's new faculty members.

Giving a profile of UNLV students, Assistant Vice President for Student Life Terry Piper, aided by UNLV Student Senate President Stephanie Davy, told the newcomers that they can expect today's students to assume they can "do it all" -- which may include working full time, going to school full time, having a full social life, and making high grades with relatively little study time. Piper encouraged his listeners to make an extra effort to help students be more realistic in their expectations of how much they can accomplish at one time.

At lunch, they heard recollections of UNLV's early days from Fred Albrecht, vice president for university and community relations; Ken Hanlon, director of the Arnold Shaw Research Center for Popular Music; and English Professor John Irsfeld, all long-time members of the UNLV community.

In the afternoon, representatives of more than 30 campus services for students and faculty cooperated in a "poster session" to provide information and answers about their areas.

A reception hosted by the president concluded the day.

The orientation was organized by the provost's office through a campus-wide committee and with the participation of many departments.

The campus book store had gifts for the newcomers, and door prizes awarded throughout the day were provided by a variety of campus units such as the Performing Arts Center, the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, the parking division, and the Rebel Store.