Where I Stand — Carol C. Harter: A pioneering nexus

Friday, Aug. 6, 2004 | 5:28 a.m.

Editor's note: In August the Where I Stand column is turned over to guest writers. Today's columnist is Carol C. Harter, president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "ONLY IN Las Vegas" is one of many familiar buzz-phrases used to describe the unique attributes of our Southern Nevada culture. You might hear this phrase in conjunction with a thrilling tourist attraction, a high-end production show, a glamorous one-of-a-kind event or even a personal eccentricity of one of our more infamous residents -- but a university?

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In the case of UNLV, where I have recently begun my 10th year as president, I would say that phrase is not only absolutely accurate, but also extremely high praise. A still young, dynamic institution, UNLV has developed in synergy with our bright community -- capitalizing on its attributes, working through its issues and shaping its future.

As I have frequently argued, modern urban universities are the contemporary equivalent of traditional land-grant universities, which are often located in rural regions of our country. Metropolitan universities, with campuses deeply connected to the urban and social fabric of their regions, are now driving economic development and leading change throughout the nation. UNLV is a prime example of this effect.

Over the past decade, I've had the pleasure and privilege of presiding over the exciting transformation of UNLV into a nationally known center of research and scholarship, which is both a major source and impetus for economic and social development. We have succeeded in that transition by developing programs that grow from our local assets and are designed to address the needs of our community, state and region.

Certainly our most obvious and universally recognized asset is the Las Vegas Strip. And, although one could easily make the connection between the resort industry and UNLV's top-ranked hotel administration and tourism programs, there are many other educational opportunities being developed in connection with the Strip environment.

One key area is the blending of art and science now seen in the entertainment industry -- with computerized lighting design, animatronics and robotic control systems pivotal to elaborate productions such as Cirque du Soleil's "O," and attractions ranging from the Bellagio fountains to a whole variety of virtual reality-based thrill rides and theatrical experiences.

Staging such complex entertainments often requires equal parts technical skill and artistic imagination. At UNLV this need has inspired a unique cross-disciplinary program in entertainment engineering, which is already receiving national attention.

Just a few other examples of focus areas that have grown from the needs of our region's top industry include informatics and cyber-security studies, architecture and energy efficiency programs. A number of partnership programs in our Business and Hotel Colleges have also been developed to prepare future executives with the sophisticated management and technical skills needed in today's information society.

Another unique piece of Southern Nevada's landscape is the Nevada Test Site. This resource provides splendid hands-on opportunities for emergency testing and first responder training, simultaneously allowing the study of explosives and hazardous materials in a live, yet isolated and secure setting. Other institutions can only address issues like these and hazardous waste transformation -- so critical to national security and energy source development -- in a remote, clinical manner through data and computer modeling.

Some of the most advanced work in the field of homeland security is also now taking place at UNLV thanks in no small part to these local resources. The new Institute for Security Studies was developed to address a whole range of homeland security concerns -- from the applied science of creating new security technologies to combat terrorism, to the psychological study of the human toll of emergency service industry work. As part of this effort, UNLV is also now home to an innovative executive master of science program in emergency and crisis management, which has attracted both private sector executives and some of Nevada's highest level emergency responders as students.

Our native desert lands insulating the Nevada Test Site also provide unprecedented opportunities for scientific study of solar power and other alternative energy sources, drought and water issues, desert plant and animal life and seismic activity, among other areas. Interdisciplinary research taking place at UNLV can be applied to arid lands throughout the world, providing insight into the effects of urban growth on fragile desert environments.

Community connections like these resonate throughout our institution, whether it's through a deepening cultural investment, such as the Institute of Modern Letters' connection to our "City of Asylum" for writers of protest program; a direct service link such as the School of Dental Medicine's "Crackdown on Cancer" program, bringing oral cancer screening and care to high school students throughout the state; or a business partnership like the biotechnology research activities envisioned for our Shadow Lane Campus.

As we provide scientific discoveries and social insights to help Las Vegas grow and thrive, these efforts are also creating tomorrow's diverse and sophisticated workforce, with not only the strong educational background and technical skills to succeed in emerging industries, but also a genuine appreciation for and dedication to our community.

At just 47 years old -- a very youthful age by major university standards -- UNLV has already developed the research power to ignite the next generation of ideas to diversify and support our local economy. In concert with the overarching goals of the University and Community College System of Nevada, we are advancing that research mission even further, blending traditional and emerging areas to bring maximum benefit to our students, as well as to our community.

Throughout its history, our valley has demonstrated adaptability through changing economic conditions, and an entrepreneurial drive that has captured imaginations around the world. It therefore follows that in the very traditional world of higher education, there is one place you can be assured of finding the flexibility and ingenuity to reflect and sustain this pioneering spirit -- and that's only in Las Vegas.