UNLV moves up in rating by magazine

Jennifer Knight

Friday, Sept. 7, 2001 | 11:23 a.m.

U.S. News & World Report for the first time has recognized the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a research institution, but another higher education publication that tracks research productivity indicates Nevada continues to lag.

The U.S. News annual ranking of colleges and universities elevated UNLV to the more prominent category, according to a report released Thursday. The magazine is due on newsstands Monday.

The two studies focus on different factors in evaluating colleges and universities. A low ranking in U.S. News is feared by admissions officers around the country because the magazine's findings are more widely used by students when choosing a college. The popular magazine groups institutions by class and then measures and ranks them according to admissions selectivity, class size, graduation rates and reputation.

The other study, published recently in the Chronicle of Higher Education 2000-2001 Almanac issue, measures some of what U.S. News does, but also takes into account degree production, student aid and federal money received and spent by universities.

Overall, the U.S. News report is a step in the right direction for UNLV, university officials say.

"It is a step or two above where we were last year," said Ray Alden, UNLV's provost. "I think the institutions we're being grouped with is not that bad a company to keep."

Last year, the magazine ranked UNLV among the eight top public schools in the Western region, which included Texas, Washington, California, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Idaho and New Mexico.

Since last year's report UNLV was reclassified as a research institution by the Carnegie Foundation. U.S. News reflected the change in its report by ranking UNLV among 249 schools categorized as national doctoral universities.

Still, U.S. News ranked UNLV below its northern counterpart. For the 12th consecutive year, the University of Nevada, Reno was ranked on the doctoral list, in a higher category.

Though the U.S. News rankings are popular in the academic field, they have also been criticized because they depend heavily on academic reputation.

UNLV's reputation, for example, received a grade of 2.4 out of a possible 5.0 in its class. UNR, which was one class above UNLV in the magazine's ranking system, got a 2.5.

With the exception of West Virginia, Nevada ranked last in states with similar populations in regard to three measures of university productivity: student aid, research spending and federal research funds, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Federal research money is especially important for Las Vegas if it wants to break away from its gaming-driven economy, according to education experts hired by the university system to reform higher education.

The university system's hope is to garner more federal funding to grow UNLV's research programs. The idea is that the money will eventually flow back into the local economy, create businesses that locate near the university and diversify the tax base, said Jane Nichols, Nevada's higher education chancellor.

"The economic side effects of having a research institution in town are significant," Nichols said. "It helps grow the university and the economic pie, which leads to prosperity. We have some growth that we need to make in this area."

UNR was listed by the Chronicle of Higher Education's list of top institutions in federal research and development expenditures, garnering $24.5 million during the fiscal year that ended in 1999. UNLV, a relative newcomer to the research field, was not included on the list.

Nevada also turned out the fewest doctoral graduates in the nation. Ninety-one doctorates were awarded in 1997-98 (the latest year that numbers were available). The national average is 920.

The number of enrolled freshmen who ultimately graduated from Nevada schools was also low when compared with states of similar population, such as New Mexico, Utah, Nebraska and West Virginia.

UNR's graduation rate, based on enrolled freshmen, was 44 percent in 1999; UNLV's 33 percent.

Despite having some of the lowest tuition rates in the nation -- $2,100 per year for a full-time student -- the university system continues to struggle in regard to the percentage of Nevadans who attend college.

Of Nevada's 1.9 million residents, most of whom reside in Las Vegas, 12.4 percent received a bachelor's degree, compared to 16.1 percent nationally. About 5.9 percent went on to receive graduate degrees, compared to the national average, which is 9 percent, the Chronicle's report said.

"There's not much more we can do to crank out students," said Alden. "There are a sizeable amount of people who come here to work in the service industry and don't want a bachelor's degree. We are here for those who do want one."

UNLV had a 9 percent increase in its fall enrollment from last year. The surge is part of a nationwide trend, wherein people are returning to school as a result of a slowing economy and shrinking job market, Alden said.

Nevada in 1999-2000 also finished last when compared to states with similar populations regarding the amount of money the state allocates for student aid.

Nichols says that the state's Millennium Scholarship program will change that. A $10,000 scholarship is awarded to all high school graduates of the class of 2000 who maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

The area of need-based scholarships, which would aid low-income students, is currently being addressed.

Most of the figures released in the Aug. 31 study by the Chronicle used figures from 1997 through 1999. The system has since struggled to obtain funding.

A $121 million shortfall to the state's general fund prompted the Legislature to cut the state's higher education budget for the coming fiscal year. The system received $496 million in funding, just a 7.9 percent increase from the previous biennium.