University of Nevada, Las Vegas facts for kids
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Former names
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University of Nevada, Southern Division (1957–1965) Nevada Southern University (1965–1969) |
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| Motto | Omnia Pro Patria (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"All For Our Country" |
| Type | Public land-grant research university |
| Established | September 10, 1957 |
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Parent institution
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Nevada System of Higher Education |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $388.4 million (2023) |
| President | Christopher L. Heavey (interim) |
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Academic staff
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1,000 |
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Administrative staff
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3,282 |
| Students | 31,142 (2020) |
| Undergraduates | 25,795 (fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 4,282 (fall 2023) |
| 4,043 (fall 2020) | |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Midsize city Main campus: 358 acres (145 ha) North campus: 640 acres (260 ha) Shadow Lane campus: 18.2 acres (7.4 ha) |
| Other campuses | Las Vegas |
| Newspaper | The Scarlet & Gray |
| Colors | Scarlet and gray |
| Nickname | Rebels |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – Mountain West |
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The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a large public university in Paradise, Nevada. It's a "land-grant" and "research" university. This means it gets support from the government and focuses a lot on new discoveries. The main campus is about 332 acres. It is located just 1.6 miles east of the famous Las Vegas Strip.
UNLV was once part of the University of Nevada, Reno from 1957 to 1969. Today, it has special campuses for different studies. For example, the Shadow Lane Campus is home to the School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine. UNLV also has the only law school in Nevada, called the William S. Boyd School of Law. The university is known for its high level of research. In 2018, it spent $83 million on research and development.
Contents
History of UNLV
How UNLV Started
The first college classes that became UNLV began in 1959. They were offered as a part of the University of Nevada, Reno. These early classes were held in a classroom at Las Vegas High School. In 1955, a state senator helped get $200,000 to build the first campus building, Frazier Hall.
Construction started in April 1956 on a 60-acre site. The university also bought a 640-acre site for future growth. UNLV was officially created on September 10, 1957. It was first called the Southern Division of the University of Nevada. The first classes on the current campus were in Maude Frazier Hall. This building had a cool, modern design. The first group of 29 students graduated in 1964.
Becoming Nevada Southern University
In 1965, the Nevada Legislature changed the school's name to Nevada Southern University. They also hired the first president, Donald C. Moyer. By 1968, Nevada Southern was given the same standing as the university in Reno. The name "University of Nevada, Las Vegas" was approved in January 1969.
During this time, the school adopted the "Rebel" nickname for its sports teams. Their first mascot was named Beauregard. He wore a Confederate uniform. This was done to oppose the traditions of their rival, the University of Nevada, Reno. Later, students protested, and the mascot was changed slightly. However, the "Rebels" nickname is still used today. Since it started, the university has grown a lot. It has added many new study programs and buildings.
Key Moments in UNLV's Growth
In 1969, the school officially became the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or UNLV. In 1973, Jerry Tarkanian became the men's basketball coach. He later made the team very famous.
In 1981, a large sculpture called The Flashlight was put on campus. It was created by Claes Oldenburg. In 2001, the Lied Library opened. It cost $55.3 million to build.
In 2002, the School of Dental Medicine opened. It trains students and offers affordable dental care. In 2004, UNLV opened its first regional campus on Shadow Lane. This campus is home to the School of Dental Medicine.
In 2005, work began on a large science and engineering building. It cost $113 million and has lots of space for teaching and labs. This building helps students study important fields like engineering and computer science. In 2006, UNLV opened an international campus in Singapore. It offered a hospitality management degree. This partnership ended by 2015.
In 2007, a bigger student union and a new student recreation center opened. These buildings have study areas, food courts, pools, and fitness rooms. They were built to make the university more student-friendly. In 2016, UNLV hosted a very important event: the final presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Campus Shooting Event
On December 6, 2023, a serious event happened on campus. A person opened fire in two buildings. Three people were killed and one was hurt. The person responsible was later stopped by police. This event was a sad day for the UNLV community.
UNLV Campus Life
The main UNLV campus covers 332 acres in Paradise, Nevada. There's a big project called "Midtown UNLV" happening. It's making the area around the university better. This project adds new shops, businesses, and housing for students. It helps the university grow to meet the needs of the Las Vegas area.
Being Eco-Friendly at UNLV
UNLV is working to be more eco-friendly. They have an "Urban Sustainability Initiative." This program helps the campus and the Las Vegas community use less energy and water. Some campus buildings have special "LEED" certifications. This means they were built using green methods. For example, the Science and Engineering building uses recycled materials. Its roof reflects sunlight to keep the building cool. It also uses special windows and sensors to save energy. Low-flow toilets and a drip irrigation system save water.
In 2009, UNLV won an award for its sustainability efforts. They saved almost $11 million from 2001 to 2009 by using less energy. They also have a special garden that uses very little water.
Sports Facilities
UNLV has many great sports facilities. These include the Thomas & Mack Center (built in 1983), Cox Pavilion, and Allegiant Stadium. These places host home games for UNLV sports teams. They also host big events like basketball tournaments. In 2007, a large recreation center opened. It has fitness rooms and swimming pools. The Mendenhall Center, a training center for the basketball team, opened in 2012. The Fertitta Football Complex for the football team opened in 2019.
Other Important Buildings
UNLV has several buildings for performing arts. These include the Judy Bayley Theatre and the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. In 2007, a new student union opened. It's a big building with food, meeting rooms, and offices for student groups.
Greenspun Hall opened in 2008. It houses the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. It also has the campus radio station, KUNV-FM, and UNLV-TV. The building is named after Hank Greenspun, whose family gave $37 million for its construction.
What You Can Study at UNLV
UNLV offers more than 350 different study programs. You can earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. About 850 teachers work at UNLV.
Here are some of the main schools and colleges:
- School of Integrated Health Sciences
- School of Architecture
- School of Public Health
- College of Education
- Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
- College of Fine Arts
- Graduate College
- Honors College
- William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
- Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies
- College of Liberal Arts
- School of Music
- College of Sciences
- Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
- School of Public Policy and Leadership
- School of Environment and Public Affairs
- School of Social Work
- Department of Communication Studies
- Department of Criminal Justice
And here are some of the professional schools:
- Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
- Lee Business School
- School of Dental Medicine
- School of Nursing
- William S. Boyd School of Law
Black Mountain Institute
The Black Mountain Institute is a special center at UNLV. It focuses on writing and literature. It hosts events, offers fellowships, and supports writers.
Leaders of UNLV
List of Presidents
| No. | Portrait | President | Term | Notes |
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| 1 |  |
Donald C. Moyer | 1965–1968 | |
| 2 | |
Roman J. Zorn | 1969–1973 | |
| 3 | |
Donald H. Baepler | 1973–1978 | |
| – | |
Brock Dixon | 1978–1979 | acting president |
| 4 | |
Leonard E. "Pat" Goodall | 1979–1984 | |
| 5 | |
Robert C. Maxson | 1984–1994 | |
| 6 |  |
Kenny C. Guinn | 1994–June 30, 1995 | interim president |
| 7 | |
Carol C. Harter | July 1, 1995–June 30, 2006 | |
| 8 | |
David B. Ashley | July 1, 2006–July 11, 2009 | |
| 9 |  |
Neal J. Smatresk | August 6, 2009–January 31, 2014 | |
| – | |
Donald D. Snyder | February 1, 2014–January 4, 2015 | acting president |
| 10 | |
Len Jessup | January 5, 2015–June 30, 2018 | |
| – | |
Marta Meana | July 1, 2018–August 23, 2020 | acting president |
| 11 |  |
Keith E. Whitfield | August 24, 2020–March 3, 2025 |
Academics and Rankings
Getting into UNLV
Getting into UNLV is considered "selective." For students starting in fall 2018, about 9,527 out of 11,613 applicants were accepted. About 3,947 students enrolled. More than half of the new students were girls (57.9%).
For students who started in fall 2016, the average high school grade point average was 3.31. About 20% of new students were in the top 10% of their high school classes.
UNLV's Reputation
UNLV's Hotel Administration program is ranked very high. In 2025, it was ranked No. 4 in the world! UNLV's English department is also known for its creative writing programs. In 2018, UNLV was recognized as one of the most diverse universities for undergraduate students.
UNLV Libraries
UNLV has several libraries. The largest is the Lied Library, which opened in 2001. It's a huge building, about 301,000 square feet. It's named after Ernst W. Lied, a real estate businessman.
Many colleges at UNLV also have their own libraries. These libraries have books and materials specific to their subjects. For example:
- The Architecture Studies Library
- The Teacher Development & Resources Library
- The Music Library
- The Wiener-Rogers Law Library
- The School of Medicine Library
Research at UNLV
UNLV is very active in research. In 2016, the university filed 61 patents. This was a 17% increase from the year before. This shows that UNLV is constantly working on new ideas and inventions. The number of doctoral degrees given out also increased. This means more students are doing advanced research projects.
Student Life at UNLV
UNLV has over 350 student organizations. These groups cover many different interests. To be an official group, they must be recognized by UNLV's Involvement Center.
Student Newspaper
The student newspaper on campus is called The Scarlet and Gray Free Press. It covers news about UNLV and higher education in Nevada. The paper is printed twice a week and also posts articles online. Its name was recently changed from Rebel Yell.
Fraternities and Sororities
There are many Greek life organizations at UNLV. These are social groups that students can join.
UNLV Sports Teams
UNLV has varsity teams in 16 different sports. The men's basketball team is called the Runnin' Rebels. The men's baseball team is called the Hustlin' Rebels. UNLV is a founding member of the Mountain West Conference. Most teams compete in NCAA Division I FBS.
The school's official colors are scarlet and gray. These colors were chosen in 1958. UNLV's mascot is Hey Reb!. He is a toned-down version of the original mascot, Beauregard. The Hey Reb! mascot first appeared in 1983. On June 16, 2020, the Hey Reb! statue was removed from campus. This decision was made after discussions about racial equality.
Sports Traditions
One big tradition is the "Battle for Nevada" football game. The UNLV football team plays against the Nevada Wolf Pack. The winner gets the Fremont Cannon. This cannon is a very loud symbol of their rivalry. The cannon was silenced in 2000 after it was accidentally dropped. Now, the winning team paints the cannon with their school colors.
Famous Sports Teams
UNLV is most famous for its men's basketball program. Coach Jerry Tarkanian made the team legendary in the 1970s-1990s. The Runnin' Rebels are one of the winningest teams in Division I basketball history. They won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1990. They beat Duke University 103–73. This was the largest win in a championship game ever! They were also the first team to score over 100 points in a championship game.
UNLV is also known for its golf program. Coach Dwaine Knight has helped many golfers become PGA Tour professionals. Some famous golfers from UNLV include Adam Scott and Ryan Moore. The team won the NCAA Division I Men's National Golf Championship in 1998.
Notable People from UNLV
Faculty Members
Many talented people have taught at UNLV, including:
Famous Alumni
Many former students have become famous athletes, entertainers, and politicians.
Athletes
- Greg Anthony (basketball)
- Anthony Bennett (basketball)
- Chad Campbell (golf)
- Randall Cunningham (football)
- Larry Johnson (basketball)
- Shawn Marion (basketball)
- Adam Scott (golf)
- Matt Williams (baseball)
Entertainers
- Guy Fieri (chef and TV star)
- Ryan Higa (YouTube personality)
- Jimmy Kimmel (TV host)
- Suge Knight (music executive)
- Kenny Mayne (sports journalist)
- Ronnie Vannucci (drummer for The Killers)
- Eric Whitacre (composer)
- Anthony E. Zuiker (creator of CSI TV series)
Politicians
- Shelley Berkley (former U.S. representative)
- John Ensign (former U.S. senator)
- Carolyn Goodman (mayor of Las Vegas)
- Joe Lombardo (governor of Nevada)
- Steve Sisolak (former governor of Nevada)
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Nevada, Las Vegas para niños
