Regents wrestle with funding for dental school

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 10:23 a.m.

ELKO -- Starting a dental school at UNLV will require about $2 million a year in state support, school officials said Thursday.

UNLV Provost Doug Ferraro told a meeting of the regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada the first students would be accepted in fiscal 2003.

When the system is in full operation, it will cost $10 million a year, but $8 million will come from tuition and the treatment of Medicaid patients, Culinary Union members and children in the Nevada Check-Up program.

Starting costs for the dental school are included in the proposed budget of the university, which is expected to receive final approval by the regents in August.

Regent Doug Seastrand of North Las Vegas said dental school has a "lot of nay-sayers," but he called it a "bold" idea and that Nevada would be getting a prestigious dental school at a small cost.

Regent Dave Phillips of Las Vegas noted that Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, initially told the Legislature and the regents there would not be any state money required.

But Rawson replied, "I never thought the dental student would be different from the English or the math student." Just as the state supports these students, so would it provide money for the dental students.

Rawson said it is "preposterous" to believe the state would not support the students, just as it does other schools.

The session sparked a sharp exchange between Phillips and UNLV President Carol Harter, who explained the finances of the school.

Phillips asked several times what the bottom line was. Harter said the school will realize money from the per-pupil support, which is used in the state's funding plan.

Phillips snapped at Harter, "This is voodoo economics." Harter replied the state will be chipping in about $2 million a year in per-pupil support.

Regent Mark Alden of Las Vegas announced his support of the dental school, saying it would be self-supporting.

Backers of the dental school initially suggested there would be 40 students in the classes, but now they project 75 students in each class. The first class would enter in fiscal 2003.

"Dental schools are very expensive," Ferraro said. "We need to get started. If we get through the start-up, we will be all right."

Ferraro said consultants feel the state should raise its tuition, which is proposed at $11,000 for a Nevada resident and $23,000 for out-of-state students.

He said tuition in other dental schools range from $23,000 to $48,000.

Nevada now sends its dental students out-of-state through the WICHE program, in which the state pays $14,700 for each student.

The board also approved plans by the National Council of Family Court Judges to construct an $8.5 million headquarters at the Redfield campus of the University of Nevada, Reno, south of Reno. The present operation is near the Reno campus and has outgrown its facilities.

The university will pay the utility and maintenance costs for the new center, which will cost an annual $350,000 to $400,000 a year.