UNLV’s research gets high ranking

Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000 | 11:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- UNLV has placed in the second-highest category of research universities in rankings released by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

"It's a big jump for us," Tom Flagg, director of news and public information for UNLV, said. "We're ecstatic about this."

In the last ratings by Carnegie, UNLV was in the fifth level of research universities. "This is the direction we want to go. We want to become more of a research institution so we can contribute to the economic diversification of Nevada."

UNLV's older sister, the University of Nevada, Reno, landed in the highest plateau. It was placed in the "Doctoral/Research Universities -- Extensive" category. That group includes institutions that offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs and awards 50 or more doctoral degrees per year in at least 15 disciplines.

UNLV is categorized in the "Doctoral/Research Universities -- Intensive." Carnegie said, "These institutions offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs and award at least 10 doctoral degrees per year in three or more disciplines or at least 20 doctoral degrees per year overall."

Flagg said UNLV has research contracts and grants worth about $26.8 million a year. UNR has more than $87 million.

Carnegie said these rankings are a snapshot of the school and its programs. It bases its report on three years of figures supplied by the U.S. Department of Education.

Flagg said Carnegie changed the ranking categories from past years. There are now nine levels.

Since the last ranking, Flagg said UNLV has added a number of doctoral degrees. "We've been underrated and we've been waiting for this to happen. We wanted to achieve a level two in a certain number of years."

UNLV wants to play a part in the diversification of Southern Nevada by offering continuing education courses and working in partnership with high-tech companies that locate in Clark County.

"We took a good move upward," Flagg said in referring to the report.