Regents briefs for September 8, 2000

Friday, Sept. 8, 2000 | 10:45 a.m.

Feasibility study voted down

The Board of Regents voted down a proposal to study the feasibility of an ombudsman to settle grievances between faculty, students and administrations.

Initially, the board voted 6-3 Thursday to approve the action. Regents Steve Sisolak and David Phillips, however, later changed their minds because of potential study costs beyond staff research into the proposal.

Sisolak called for a reconsideration vote and the measure then was defeated 5-4. Regents Mark Alden, Tom Kirkpatrick, Howard Rosenberg and Douglas Roman Hill were supporters of the proposal to study the matter.

Proponents said it was necessary to create an ombudsman because the grievance process at the administration level has not been working for all cases. Opponents said the system was working and that the money could be better spent in other areas. Opponents also said they didn't want the Regents micromanaging the schools.

Parking garage funding authorized

The University Regents authorized Thursday the sale of $31.3 million in bonds toward construction of a parking garage on the UNLV campus and conversion of a bank loan for the Cox Pavilion.

The parking structure will feature 1,593 spaces and cost $12.5 million to build.

The Cox Pavilion is a $13.5 million, two-story arena that will be connected to the Thomas & Mack Center.

The pavilion that will seat up to 3,500 and will be the home court for the UNLV women's basketball and volleyball teams and a practice site for the men's basketball team. It also will host boxing cards, concerts, trade shows and other events.

The cost includes all site improvements, officials said.

Bachelor's degree program urged

A Board of Regents committee has unanimously recommended a proposal to create the state's first Bachelor of Arts degree in Afro-American Studies at UNLV.

The full board was to consider today the recommendation by the Regents Academic, Research and Student Affairs Committee to start the program under the Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies.

UNLV President Carol Harter said the new program "will not cost any additional money" because the professors, courses and classrooms already are in place.

The creation of the program also will not require additional staff costs, office space or an increase in the department's budget, the proposal says.

The proposed implementation date for the program is spring.