Editorial: UNLV must change strategy to advance

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 8:59 a.m.

U.S. News & World Report, which annually ranks colleges and universities, produced an issue Monday that for the first time recognized UNLV as a research institution. While that is good news on the surface, another study, in the Chronicle of Higher Education 2000-2001 Almanac, revealed that Nevada ranks low among states with similar populations in research spending and federal research funds.

Part of the problem at UNLV, as we have previously stated, is that the university must respect academic freedom if it wishes to become a better research institution. The university continues to face a lawsuit from former assistant biology professor Marcella McClure, who landed a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, but alleged she was denied tenure because she was judged by different standards than others.

UNLV also must develop a strategy for attracting additional research dollars by identifying new industries that should be developed in Southern Nevada. This would help diversify our economy and encourage many Nevada high school graduates to attend college here rather than go out of state to pursue their academic dreams.