The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has been included among a list of elite-level universities, according to the Carnegie Classification.

UNLV has accomplished one of its major goals — a classification as a “Tier 1” university — seven years ahead of schedule.

Carnegie classification's new category of “doctoral/professional universities" acknowledges growing role of non-research-oriented doctoral work in graduate education.

With one official fearing UNLV could become known as “the university under the overpass,” the school’s president and Nevada System of Higher Education regents aired concerns about how a proposed elevated expressway project could impact the university.

Clark County’s plans to build an elevated roadway to ease traffic between McCarran International Airport and the Strip has drawn the ire of some higher education officials

In the wake of tumult and in times of challenge, UNLV has always found a way to forge ahead — that was the resounding message behind acting President Marta Meana’s first state of the university on Thursday.

Putting the “U” in UNLV is how acting President Marta Meana described those at the university who are helping bring it future successes.

UNLV Acting President Marta Meana gives the annual State of the University address at UNLV Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018.

It wasn’t an easy spring for UNLV. There was the departure of President Len Jessup, anger among donors toward regents about it, and the loss of a major donation that was — controversially — linked to Jessup’s continued employment.

Marta Meana interviewed at a number of universities in the mid-1990s, but none was quite like UNLV.

Marta Meana, UNLV acting president, attends an editorial board meeting at the Las Vegas Sun offices Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018.

On her final day as dean of the Honors College, Dr. Marta Meana received a thank-you card from her students.