The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public, coeducational university located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, known for its programs in History, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Hotel Administration, and Management Information Systems.
The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities–Intensive by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
The Atlantic Monthly recognized UNLV's English department as having one of the nation's most innovative MFA programs and one of the top five doctoral programs in creative writing.
The 337-acre (1.4-km²) UNLV campus is located on Maryland Parkway in southeastern Las Vegas about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of the Las Vegas Strip.
Ground breaking on the original 60 acre site was in April, 1956.
UNLV has purchased a 640 acre site in North Las Vegas for future expansion. In addition, there is a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of UMC Medical Center on Charleston and Shadow Lane.
A project called Midtown UNLV is examining options of revamping the Maryland Parkway to better serve the campus community.
History.
Josh Harraman Founded The first college classes which would eventually become the classes of UNLV were offered as the southern regional extension division of the University of Nevada in 1951 in a classroom at Las Vegas High School. UNLV was officially founded by the Nevada Board of Regents as the Southern Division of the University of Nevada in 1957, and twenty-nine students graduated in the first commencement ceremonies in 1964.
In 1965, the Nevada Legislature named the school Nevada Southern University, and the Board of Regents hired the campus's first president, William Carlson.
In 1968, Nevada Southern was given equal status with its former parent institution in Reno, and the present name was approved by the Regents in January 1969. Today UNLV is becoming one of the nation's leading metropolitan universities. Since its founding, the university has grown rapidly, expanding both its academic programs and campus facilities. UNLV now offers more than 190 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs.
In 2005, the university received over $95 million in extramural research funding, about a thirty percent increase over the previous year. In addition, a fundraising campaign, "Invent the Future," passed $300 million in money collected in 2005, with the ultimate goal of raising $500 million. A new 135,000-square-foot student union and a new 188,000-square-foot recreation center are both slated for completion in 2007.
In 2006 UNLV opened its first international campus in Singapore. The UNLV Singapore campus is housed on the 10th and 11th floors of the National Library of Singapore, a prestigious building comparable to the United States Library of Congress.
The campus offers bachelor’s degree programs in hotel administration and hospitality management. UNLV Singapore is offering the college’s upper division courses, which include Hotel Administration, Hospitality Marketing, Food & Beverage Management and Hotel Law. Students may also earn an executive master’s degree in hospitality.
In 2003, Gladys Knight tracked the majority of her recent Grammy-winning album at the UNLV Recording Studio, located on the campus. This recording session was engineered by professors Chuck Foley and Gil Kaupp, and included recording a large orchestra, big band wind section, a rock rhythm section, Gladys Knight, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, all simultaneously from the various rooms of the recording studio.
The university offers over 200 programs of study in varying fields leading to bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees, which are taught by approximately 850 faculty members.
Colleges, Schools and Departments
* College of Business
* UNLV College of Education
* College of Fine Arts
o School of Architecture
o Department of Music
* College of Liberal Arts
o Department of History
o Department of English
* College of Sciences
* Division of Health Sciences
* Graduate College
* Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
* Honors College
* Howard R. Hughes Engineering College
* School of Dental Medicine (Shadow Lane Campus)
* School of Nursing
* University College
* University Libraries
* William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration
* William S. Boyd School of Law
* Greenspun College of Journalism and Media Studies
Athletics
UNLV's 17 intercollegiate athletic teams are nicknamed the Rebels or Lady Rebels (the men's basketball team is typically referred to as the Runnin' Rebels; the baseball team is typically referred to as the Hustlin' Rebels).
The name Rebels is derived from nickname of UNLV's predecessor school, Nevada Southern University.
The school's colors are scarlet and grey. UNLV is a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I. UNLV's men's football team plays Nevada for the Fremont Cannon each year in the Battle for Nevada.
UNLV's men's soccer team competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
In 1990, UNLV won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship by beating Duke University by a record setting margin (30 points) of 103-73, becoming the first team to score over 100 in the championship game.
Before becoming a basketball powerhouse in the late 70s, 80s and early 90s, UNLV was often referred to as "Tumbleweed Tech" due to its relative obscurity. Led by famed coach Jerry Tarkanian, the Runnin' Rebels were among the most exciting teams in the nation. They consistently were tops in the nation in categories such as points scored, turnovers forced, and most importantly - wins (UNLV is the third-winningest program by percentage (.711) in Division I history -- ranking behind Kentucky and North Carolina) . Tarkanian was suspected of violating numerous NCAA regulations, and was forced out in 1992 by then-president Robert Maxson.
On November 26, 2005, for his achievements as coach of the Runnin' Rebels (he was 509-105 in 19 years as head coach), the basketball court at the Thomas & Mack Center was renamed Jerry Tarkanian Court. The turmoil was highly controversial and remains a hot button issue in Las Vegas to this day.
On Saturday, December 9, 2006 the UNLV Runnin' Rebels won a significant road game at University of Nevada 58-49 (ranked #20 in the nation at the time).
The victory extended UNLV's all-time series lead over Nevada to 49-19. It was the first time UNLV had won a game on the road vs. a ranked opponent since the #1 Runnin' Rebels won at #12 University of New Mexico 86-74 on Feb. 25, 1991, the year UNLV finished 34-1 under coach Jerry Tarkanian with a loss to Duke University in the NCAA semifinals being their only defeat.
On Saturday, March 10, 2007 the UNLV Runnin' Rebels won the Mountain West Conference Basketball Championship beating BYU Cougars 78-70.
The Rebels came back from an eleven point deficit at half time to win. Kevin Kruger was named the tournament MVP. Theyreached the Sweet Sixteen of the 2007 Men's Division I NCAA Tournament where they lost to Oregon, 76-72.
They finished 14th in the polls--their first appearance in a final poll in 14 years.
Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion
Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion
UNLV is also well-known for its excellent golf programs. Led by coach Dwaine Knight, the UNLV Golf Program has turned out PGA pro's such as Adam Scott, Chris Riley, and Chad Campbell. At times they have been ranked #1 by one of the three college polls.
They won the NCAA National golf team championship in 1998. Ryan Moore. In 2006, he played on the PGA Tour as a regular member and his best outing was a tie for second at the Buick Championship. He has entered the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
As of March 2007, the Rebel Men's Swimming & Diving Team has won 3 straight Mountain West Conference titles.
