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Our University

Since our first classes were held on campus in 1957, UNLV has transformed itself from a small branch college into a thriving urban research institution. Along the way, our urban university has become an indispensable resource in one of the country's fastest-growing and most enterprising cities.

Students walking on a campus path with purple flowers in the foreground.

Vision and Mission

Our mission is for UNLV's diverse faculty, students, staff, and alumni to promote community well-being and individual achievement through education, research, scholarship, creative activities, and clinical services. We stimulate economic development and diversification, foster a climate of innovation, promote health, and enrich the cultural vitality of the communities that we serve. Our vision is that by 2025, UNLV will be recognized as a top tier public university in research, education, and community impact.

University Leadership

Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D., joined UNLV as its 11th president on Aug. 24. An experienced university administrator and prolific scholar, President Whitfield is a former university provost and psychologist with expertise on the social, psychological, and cultural factors related to cognition and healthy aging.

U-N-L-V President Keith Whitfield under We Are U-N-L-V sign

Students posing with large red U-N-L-V letters

Diversity

Here at UNLV, we have come together and created one of the most affirmative and dynamic academic environments in the country. UNLV sits in the top spot in U.S. News & World Report's annual listing of the nation's most diverse universities for undergraduates. The university has ranked in the top ten since the rankings debuted more than a decade ago. We continue to show our commitment to serving our wonderfully diverse population and building the future for Las Vegas and Nevada.

Free Speech

As a public university, UNLV is committed to upholding and protecting freedom of expression. This includes constitutionally protected rights of free speech and assembly, regardless of content.

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Highlights

From creating community partnerships and advancing student achievement, to promoting research, scholarship, and creative activity, we work hard to achieve our goal of becoming a top 100 American research university.