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 | $367.6 million (2022) |
| President | Keith E. Whitfield |
| Provost | Christopher L. Heavey |
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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 | 25,869 (Fall 2020) |
| Postgraduates | 4,261 (Fall 2020) |
| 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 is a place where students can learn and do important research. The main campus is about 1.6 miles east of the famous Las Vegas Strip.
UNLV used to be part of the University of Nevada from 1957 to 1969. Today, it has special campuses like the Shadow Lane Campus. This campus is home to the School of Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine. UNLV also has the only law school in Nevada, called the William S. Boyd School of Law.
UNLV is known for its high level of research. It is ranked among universities with "Very high research activity." In 2018, UNLV spent $83 million on research and development. This shows how much they focus on new discoveries.
Contents
History of UNLV: How it Started and Grew
The first college classes that would become UNLV began in 1959. They were offered as a branch of the University of Nevada 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.
Early Days and First Buildings
Construction started in April 1956 on the first 60-acre site. The university also bought a much larger 640-acre site in North Las Vegas for future growth. UNLV was officially created on September 10, 1957. It was called the Southern Division of the University of Nevada. The first classes on the current campus were held 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.
Gaining Independence and a New Name
By 1968, Nevada Southern was given the same importance as the University of Nevada in Reno. In January 1969, the school was officially named the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or UNLV.
The "Rebels" Nickname and Mascot
Around this time, Nevada Southern University chose the "Rebel" nickname for its sports teams. The first mascot was a wolf dressed in a Confederate uniform. This was meant to be a playful way to oppose the "northern" traditions of their rival, the University of Nevada. However, students protested, and the mascot was changed. The "Rebels" nickname, though, is still used today.
Key Moments and Growth
Since it started, UNLV has grown very quickly. It has added many new study programs and campus buildings.
- In 1973, Jerry Tarkanian became the men's basketball coach.
- In 1975, the Center for Business and Economic Research was created. It helps Nevada's economy by doing research.
- In 1981, a large sculpture called "Flashlight" by Claes Oldenburg was put on campus.
- In 2001, the Lied Library opened. It cost $55.3 million to build.
- In 2002, the School of Dental Medicine opened. It trains dental students and offers affordable dental care.
- In 2004, UNLV opened its first campus outside the main one, on Shadow Lane.
- In 2005, construction began on a large science and engineering building. It was designed for research and to attract students to important fields like computer science.
- In 2006, UNLV opened an international campus in Singapore for hospitality management.
- In 2007, a bigger student union and a new student recreation center opened. These facilities were built to make student life better. Also, Greenspun Hall, a modern building for the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, broke ground.
- In 2011, the business college was renamed the Lee Business School after a large donation.
- In 2016, UNLV hosted a major event: the final presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
- In 2019, the School of Community Health Sciences became the School of Public Health.
- In December 2023, a sad event happened on campus. A person who had applied to be a professor but was not hired caused a shooting. Three people died, and one was seriously hurt before the shooter was stopped by police.
What You Can Study at UNLV
UNLV offers many different degrees. You can earn a bachelor's, master's, or even a doctoral degree. There are over 350 different programs to choose from! About 850 teachers work at UNLV.
Academic Colleges and Schools
UNLV has many different schools and colleges where you can study:
- 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
Professional Schools
These schools focus on specific careers:
- 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 (BMI) is a special center at UNLV. It focuses on writing and literature. They host events, offer fellowships, and support writers.
Research and Discoveries at UNLV
UNLV is a place where a lot of important research happens. The amount of money UNLV gets for research has been growing. In 2018, research spending reached $37 million.
Research Areas
The College of Sciences gets the most funding for research, with nearly $15 million. The College of Engineering also receives a lot of money for its projects. The College of Education has also seen a big increase in its research funding.
New Inventions and Degrees
UNLV is also good at creating new inventions. In 2016, 61 patents were filed. This means 61 new ideas or inventions were protected by law. The money from licensing these inventions also doubled. Another way to see how much research happens is by looking at the number of doctoral degrees given out. These degrees require a lot of research. In 2016, 166 doctoral degrees were given.
Academics and How to Join UNLV
UNLV is considered a "selective" school for admissions. This means they choose students carefully.
Applying to UNLV
For students who started in fall 2018, UNLV accepted 9,527 out of 11,613 applicants. About 3,947 students decided to enroll. More girls (57.9%) than boys (42.1%) joined that year.
Student Scores and Grades
For students who started in fall 2016, the middle 50% of SAT scores were between 900 and 1130 (out of 1600). The middle 50% of ACT scores were between 19 and 24. About 20% of new students were in the top 10% of their high school class. The average high school grade point average was 3.31.
UNLV's Rankings
UNLV's programs are recognized around the world.
- The Hotel Administration program at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality was ranked No. 2 in the world in 2020.
- The Lee Business School's part-time MBA program is ranked in the top 28% by U.S. News & World Report.
- The Atlantic magazine said UNLV's English department has one of the most creative writing programs.
- Down Beat magazine recognized the UNLV Jazz Ensemble for its "Outstanding Large Jazz Ensemble Performance."
- In 2018, UNLV was named the most diverse university for undergraduates by U.S. News & World Report. It even surpassed New York University.
Student Life at UNLV
Student life at UNLV often happens at the Student Union. This building has offices for student government and many student groups.
Student Government
The Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (CSUN) is the student government for undergraduate students. It has an executive board, a senate with 25 members, and a judicial council. CSUN has a budget of about $1 million each year, which comes from student fees. They use this money to fund student organizations and scholarships.
CSUN and UNLV also started a preschool on campus in 1974. Both students and staff can use this school for their children. Graduate students have their own separate government called The Graduate and Professional Student Association.
Student Organizations
UNLV has over 350 student organizations! To be official, a group must be recognized by UNLV's Involvement Center. These groups cover many different interests, from academic clubs to hobby groups.
Campus Newspaper
The Scarlet and Gray Free Press is the student newspaper. It writes about higher education at UNLV and in Nevada. It also covers student government meetings and elections. The paper is printed twice a week and its articles are online. The newspaper's name used to be Rebel Yell, but it was changed because of its connection to Confederate culture.
Fraternities and Sororities
UNLV has many fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women). These are social organizations that often focus on friendship, community service, and leadership. They are grouped into different councils:
- Interfraternity Council
- Panhellenic Conference
- Multicultural Greek Council
- National Pan-Hellenic Council
UNLV Campus: Buildings and Green Efforts
The main campus of UNLV is 332 acres in Paradise, Nevada.
Midtown UNLV Project
Midtown UNLV is a project to develop the area around Maryland Parkway, which borders the school. It started in 2002 to expand the university and improve things for students and local businesses. The goal is to create new housing and make the area better. This project gets money from the state and private donations.
Sustainability Efforts
UNLV is working to be more environmentally friendly. This is called the Urban Sustainability Initiative.
- Two campus buildings are aiming for LEED Silver Certification, and one for LEED Gold Certification. This means they are built to be very energy-efficient.
- Since 2001, UNLV has reduced its electricity and natural gas use by 38% per square foot. They did this by updating older buildings.
- In 2009, UNLV received a "C" grade on the College Sustainability Report Card.
- The Science and Engineering building earned a LEED Silver rating in 2009. It used recycled materials and has a roof that reflects sunlight to keep the building cool. It also uses less water and has sensors that turn off lights when no one is in a room.
- The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs building received a LEED Gold rating in 2010.
- In 2009, UNLV won an award for saving nearly $11 million in energy costs from 2001 to 2009. They were also recognized for their desert garden and recycling.
- UNLV has also participated in the Solar Decathlon and hired a Sustainability Coordinator to improve residence halls.
Student Housing
There are four main places where students can live on campus: Dayton Complex, Tonopah Complex, South Residential Complex, and Upper Class Complex.
Libraries on Campus
UNLV has several libraries. The largest is the Lied Library, which opened in 2001. It is 301,000 square feet and cost $58 million. It is named after Ernst W. Lied, a real estate businessman.
Many colleges also have their own libraries with books and materials related to their specific subjects:
- The Architecture Studies Library
- The Teacher Development & Resources Library
- The Music Library
- The Wiener-Rogers Law Library
Sports Facilities
UNLV has great sports facilities, including the Thomas & Mack Center (built in 1983), Cox Pavilion, Buchanan Natatorium, Earl Wilson Stadium, and Allegiant Stadium. These are where UNLV's sports teams play their home games.
- In 2007, a large 188,000 square foot recreation center was finished. It has weight rooms, fitness rooms, and swimming pools for students.
- 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 also has many buildings for performing arts:
- The Judy Bayley Theatre (1972)
- The Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall (1976)
- The Black Box Theatre
- The Alta Ham Fine Arts Complex (1982)
- The Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center (2001)
- The Paul B. Sogg Architecture Building opened in 1997.
- A new 135,000 square foot student union opened in 2007. It has a food court, meeting rooms, a game room, and offices for student groups.
- Greenspun Hall opened in 2008. This five-story building is home to the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. It has modern media facilities, including the campus radio station KUNV-FM and UNLV-TV. The Greenspun family donated $37 million to the building.
- The Science and Engineering Building, which opened in 2008, is also designed to be environmentally friendly.
UNLV Athletics: The Rebels in Action
UNLV has varsity teams in 16 different sports. The men's basketball team is called the Runnin' Rebels. The baseball team is called the Hustlin' Rebels. The Rebels are part of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I. The men's soccer and swim and dive teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference.
Colors and Mascot
UNLV's official colors are scarlet and gray, chosen in 1958. The mascot is Hey Reb!. He is a toned-down version of the first mascot, Beauregard. Hey Reb! first appeared in 1983 and has been updated twice. He was even named one of 12 All-American Mascots.
The "Rebels" nickname and mascot come from UNLV's history. When UNLV became its own university, it was seen as the "South" splitting from the "North" (the University of Nevada, Reno). The original basketball court even had a wolf mascot dressed as a Confederate soldier. This story is shared with new students during orientation.
In 2020, the Hey Reb! statue was removed from campus. This decision was made after discussions about racial fairness.
Sports Traditions
UNLV has many sports traditions. Each year, the men's football team plays the Nevada Wolf Pack in a game called the Battle for Nevada. The winner gets the Fremont Cannon. This cannon is a very loud symbol of the rivalry. The cannon was silenced in 2000 after it was accidentally dropped during a celebration. Now, the winning team paints the cannon with a funny insult about the other team.
Famous Sports Programs
UNLV is most famous for its men's basketball program. Coach Jerry Tarkanian made the Runnin' Rebels very successful from the 1970s to the 1990s. They are one of the winningest teams in Division I basketball history. In 1990, UNLV won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship by beating Duke University 103-73. This was the largest win in a championship game, and UNLV was the first team to score over 100 points in a championship game.
UNLV is also known for its golf program. Led by coach Dwaine Knight, many UNLV golfers have gone on to play professionally, like Adam Scott and Ryan Moore. They won the NCAA Division I Men's National Golf Championship in 1998.
In 2011, the Rebel men's swimming and diving team won their seventh straight Mountain West Conference title. Some UNLV swimmers have even competed in the Olympics!
Notable People from UNLV
Many talented people have studied or worked at UNLV.
Faculty
Some well-known people who have taught at UNLV include:
- John Boehner (b. 1949)
- Clarence Gilyard (1955–2022)
- Kenny Guinn (1936–2010)
- Harry Reid (1939–2021)
- Brian Sandoval (b. 1963)
- Wole Soyinka (b. 1934)
- Dina Titus (b. 1950)
Alumni
Many former students have become famous in sports, entertainment, and politics.
Athletes
- Greg Anthony (b. 1967)
- Stacey Augmon (b. 1968)
- Anthony Bennett (b. 1993)
- Randall Cunningham (b. 1963)
- Larry Johnson (b. 1969)
- Shawn Marion (b. 1978)
- Adam Scott (b. 1980)
Entertainment and Arts
- Guy Fieri (b. 1968), a famous chef and TV star
- Ryan Higa (b. 1990), a popular YouTube personality
- Jimmy Kimmel (b. 1967), a well-known TV host
- Ronnie Vannucci (b. 1976), drummer for the band The Killers
- Anthony E. Zuiker (b. 1968), creator of the CSI television shows
Politicians
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- Shelley Berkley (b. 1951), former U.S. Representative
- James Bilbray (1938–2021), former U.S. Representative
- John Ensign (b. 1958), former U.S. Senator
- Joe Lombardo (b. 1962), the current Governor of Nevada
- Steve Sisolak (b. 1953), former Governor of Nevada
Images for kids
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Aerial view of the main campus
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The five-story Rod Lee Bigelow Health Sciences Building houses the offices, classrooms, and laboratories for health physics, nursing, radiological sciences, physical therapy, and kinesiology.
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The glass wall of the Robert L. Bigelow Physics Building was built in the shape of a sine wave, while banners inside represent the colors of the spectrum.
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The Boyd School of Law facilities include the state's largest law library and the Thomas and Mack Moot Court.
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UNLV's Science and Engineering Building
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"The Flashlight" by renowned sculptor Claes Oldenburg stands 38 ft tall and symbolizes UNLV as a "Beacon of Knowledge" in Southern Nevada.
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UNLV's School of Dental Medicine is located in the heart of Las Vegas' medical district. In addition to training dental professionals, the school provides dental services to Southern Nevadans.
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Beam Hall is home to the colleges of Business and Hotel Administration.
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The University Libraries attract scholars from around the globe with the most comprehensive collection of documents related to the history of gaming in the world.
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A view through the windows of Lied Library. The library holds more than a million volumes and has 2,500 study spaces.
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The Carol C. Harter Classroom Building Complex holds more classrooms than any other building on campus.
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The new Science and Engineering Building includes flexible laboratory and teaching spaces, offices, high-tech conference rooms, and integrated research areas.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Nevada, Las Vegas para niños
- National Supercomputing Center for Energy and the Environment, a supercomputing facility located on campus.
