Rogers wants policy set on single professional schools

Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 | 9:59 a.m.

Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers wants university regents to formally adopt a policy that limits professional programs in the state to one law school, one medical school and one school of dentistry for the next 20 years.

Rogers started clamoring for the policy several months ago but finally decided to put it on the Feb. 4 agenda to propel the Board of Regents to take action, he said.

"I want it codified so the next chancellor doesn't have a problem," said Rogers, who plans to step down from the post at the end of the 2005 Legislature. "I think the more things like that we can put to rest the better."

Rogers said talk of starting a second medical school in Las Vegas or a second law school in Reno subsided after his initial memos on the subject. Rogers wants UNLV and UNR officials to work together to expand their respective programs in the rest of the state, not compete for funding by opening their own schools.

Currently, UNR has sole responsibility for running the University of Nevada School of Medicine, including its clinical programs in Las Vegas. UNLV likewise has sole ownership of the William S. Boyd School of Law and the School of Dental Medicine.

Rogers set up a task force in October of UNLV and UNR officials to discuss ways they could work together to expand the medical school's presence in Las Vegas and to develop an academic medical center.

Rogers said he specifically banned UNLV President Carol Harter and UNR President John Lilley from participating in the negotiations "because they don't get along" and because their competitiveness has brought previous partnerships to a standstill in the past.

With the two presidents out of the way, "everything has been going really well," Rogers said. He said he hopes to have an initial proposal for the partnership finished by June 1.

Trudy Larson, assistant chancellor and a physician with the School of Medicine, said the partnership will likely revolve around the clinical training of students with professors from each university teaching in their specialties.

The proposal will go to the two presidents for their acceptance, Larson said.