Following an application process led by President Keith E. Whitfield, UNLV is proud to announce it has accepted an invitation to participate in the sixth cohort of Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), which includes 75 universities and colleges nationwide. More than 100 universities and colleges nationwide have participated in the initiative since 2020, and UNLV is one of 18 institutions in the 2025-26 cohort. CCI is a comprehensive program for senior campus administrators to acquire knowledge and develop campus-specific strategies to create an inclusive environment where Jewish students feel safe, supported, and free to express their identity without fear of antisemitism, harassment, or marginalization.
“UNLV’s membership in the Campus Climate Initiative marks an important step in our institution’s ongoing efforts to address the challenges facing Jewish students, faculty, and staff while increasing visibility and fostering understanding of Jewish identity to better serve our diverse university community,” said Gregory Brown, professor and co-chair of the UNLV Task Force on Jewish Identity and Inclusion. “We look forward to collaborating with Hillel staff to advance Jewish identity and inclusion on our campus through effective, meaningful partnership and education.”
Through participation in the program, UNLV will access resources to assess its current campus climate and a 10-month educational curriculum to explore Jewish student experiences on campus. Upon completing the program in December 2025, university administrators will use data-driven insights to design and implement a Campus Action Plan to foster a more inclusive environment for Jewish students and the broader student community.
UNLV’s participation in the CCI demonstrates the university’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including supporting and uplifting Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
In 2024, President Whitfield and Executive Vice President and Provost Chris L. Heavey supported UNLV's formation of the Task Force on Jewish Identity and Inclusion. The task force is charged with developing a plan to enhance the visibility, safety, vibrancy, and inclusion of the Jewish community at UNLV by collecting data, creating campus-wide educational programming through partnerships with local and national Jewish organizations, proposing a Jewish studies curriculum, and proposing policies and procedures to enhance equity and inclusion for Jewish students and faculty.
UNLV’s participation in the Hillel CCI program enhances the commitment of the administration, which has included the participation of Provost Heavey in the Academic Engagement Network’s “Signature Seminar,” a professional development program for individual university administrators with senior roles in academic affairs and student support, to increase their knowledge and awareness of Jewish identity, diversity, antisemitism, and inclusion on campus. The AEN is an independent organization of faculty and administrators that works in partnership with Hillel.
In 1976, then-student and now-English Department faculty member Roberta Sabbath founded the Hillel Las Vegas chapter at UNLV to foster connections, celebrate Jewish traditions, and provide opportunities for learning, leadership development, and cultural engagement. Today, Hillel Las Vegas is operated by Jewish Nevada, Nevada's statewide Jewish Federation, and they continue to support Jewish students across the state at both NSHE and private higher education institutions.
UNLV’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has resulted in the university’s designation as a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). Participation in initiatives like the CCI further reinforces UNLV’s efforts to create a welcoming environment for all students and ensure a campus climate that values diverse perspectives and identities.
For more information about CCI, visit the Hillel website.