Harter upbeat in annual university address

Jennifer Knight

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.

In an uplifting speech that touched on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, UNLV President Carol Harter extended a challenge Tuesday to raise $350 million in six years.

Harter used her annual State of the University address at Cox Pavilion to announce the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' first capital fund-raising campaign.

"If done well, it will raise the level of giving to new heights and sustain those heights in the future," Harter said.

Money raised will go toward creating 12 or more endowed chairs, which are privately funded faculty positions that bring prominence to a university. Funds would also be used to create more scholarships and fellowships and contribute to building research centers, Harter said.

Leading up to the announcement, Harter noted $1 billion fund-raising campaigns that are under way at several top research institutions throughout the nation, and fantasized what she might do with that kind of money.

In doing so, she pointed out problems that she said are holding UNLV back, such as the need for expanded student services, more advanced technology, more full-time professors, a comprehensive library collection, more computers and more laboratory space.

"Not being able to afford the luxury of waiting to see if the state's fortunes turn around and if higher education becomes a higher priority, we must make every effort to increase -- perhaps disproportionately -- our federal grants and contracts, business partnerships and private funds," Harter said.

UNLV's reality is that it must trim $9.3 million from its budget and freeze all new and incoming positions as it plans for more enrollments. All of this is happening at a time that Harter is trying to enhance UNLV's research reputation.

Despite the fiscal concerns, Harter's speech hit some poignant notes. Her presentation included a two-minute commemoration of Sept. 11 set to Bruce Springsteen's "My City of Ruins."

"She did good," said Regent Steve Sisolak, who has pushed Harter to raise more private money in the past. "President Harter showed she is a visionary, but she is also a realist."

Board of Regents Chairman Doug Seastrand said he hoped the fund-raising campaign will send the message to the Legislature that the university system is doing its part.

"We understand the importance of an education and we hope the Legislature will do its part now to help with that," Seastrand said.

The largest project the university system has on its 2003-2005 legislative budget is a $75 million science and engineering building for UNLV. Harter said it is important to get that project approved because it sets the stage for better research laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities that would attract world-class scientists.

Harter also wants to tie the university with the Nevada Test Site to create a unit that trains people in disaster planning, counterterrorism and national security issues, she said after the speech.

"There aren't many universities now that specialize in preparing for these types of activities," Harter said. "We have this wonderful opportunity."