Expanding UNLV looks for ways to acquire more land

Construction projects at UNLV:

To meet the demand for more space to accommodate the burgeoning student population, UNLV President Carol Harter said Tuesday the university is starting a special reserve fund devoted to land acquisition.

"We need to get into the land acquisition business for our future," Harter announced during her fifth annual State of the University address.

She noted that UNLV, which has a student head count of about 21,000 students, probably will double to more than 40,000 students by 2010.

"Although our master plan estimates that our 335-acre campus can accommodate 35,000 students, it is unlikely to support 40,000 or more," Harter said.

She said the university is beginning a reserve fund earmarked for land acquisition with $500,000 taken from its capital improvement reserves.

"Despite perceptions, we are not really a landlocked campus. In fact, there currently are several land parcels for sale adjacent to the campus," she said. "We need to identify sources of revenue that would allow us to purchase some of the properties."

In addition to expanding the main campus, regional campus sites will be needed to accommodate the increased student population, the president said. UNLV officials also will "continue to explore other ways of providing classes and services in close proximity to the main campus," Harter said.

During an address that outlined a bright future for the young university, Harter reiterated the importance of a recently announced Summerlin campus, to be located at West Charleston Boulevard and the Las Vegas Beltway now under construction.

The Howard Hughes/Rousch Corp. has agreed to allow UNLV to purchase 80 acres in Summerlin, with options for additional acres in the future.

"We hope to purchase the land at Summerlin in several phases. We have already secured a private donor for the initial land purchase. It is a beautiful property adjacent to a country club, a planned performing arts center and an industrial park," Harter said.

She said the university first will build a general purpose education center and develop partnerships with the private sector to support research and development.

"The Nevada Development Authority is working with a number of businesses that have great interest in relocating to the Summerlin area, as well as Silicon Valley executives who are interested in retiring but who want opportunities to stay involved in research and development," Harter said.

Research is a keystone of UNLV's future.

"Our goal is to be a student-centered research institution," she said.

Harter said at some point in its future, UNLV will become the major research university in Nevada, and at the same time will continue to be the cultural and entertainment center of the community.

The president's portrait of the university's future landscape was filled with new programs, new buildings and new goals.

The engine driving the building and vision at the university is fueled by growth, not only growth from new people moving in but growth that will result from a new Millennium Scholarship, which guarantees a free education to Nevada high school students who graduate with a "B" average or better.

"We need to continue to participate in strategic planning," Harter said. "This strategic profile is very ambitious but it has to be flexible, and we must be able to respond quickly to breaking and unpredictable opportunities. Planning and entrepreneurism must be balanced."

archive