UNLV outpaces UNR in fund-raising

Friday, June 25, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- UNLV is far better than the University of Nevada, Reno at raising private donations for its research and public services programs, a legislative audit shows.

The Legislature allocated $7.2 million to the statewide programs of the University and Community College System of Nevada in 2003. Of that $6.3 million was allocated to Reno for 17 programs that include cancer research, a seismology lab and a center for ethics and health policy.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas received $872,215 for its five statewide programs that include the Southern Nevada Writing Project, KUNV radio, continuing education and the Center for Business and Economic Research.

But UNLV was able to raise $24.3 million from other sources to supplement its programs, compared with $11.9 million for UNR, the audit showed.

This was the first audit released in a series that is under way on UCCSN on such things as capital construction projects, host accounts, reliability of enrollment data and cost of athletic programs.

They were ordered by the 2003 Legislature and will be released as they are completed.

Deputy Legislative Auditor Michael Noel said the system should better evaluate these statewide programs to see if they are achieving their goals. He said they should be examined to determine if they still need state money or can they exist on outside sources.

"Improving the statewide programs' performance measures would provide better information to decision makers on whether the programs are meeting their missions," Noel said.

The audit said the system does not review the total funding and expenses for each program to determine the right amount to ask for from the state.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee that accepted the report, said the system should review these programs to make sure there are no duplications.

Buster Neel, vice chancellor for finance and administration, said the schools would follow the recommendations of the audit. He said additional attention will be paid to leveraging state funds to gain additional outside money.