Editorial: Building on the basics

Sunday, May 6, 2007 | 7:05 a.m.

A s he wraps up his first year at UNLV, President David Ashley says he wants to make sure that undergraduates are receiving an appropriate and rigorous education. So he has asked faculty to reevaluate the general education classes required for undergraduates.

As reported by Christina Littlefield in Friday's Las Vegas Sun, Ashley is still pledged to push UNLV toward its goal of becoming a recognized research institution, but he also wants classes academically strengthened to challenge students. One of his goals is for UNLV to produce well-rounded, ethical students.

"UNLV students have always been among the most enterprising of our state," Ashley said, "and through a more rigorous course of study, we will further challenge, inspire and engage those with the most potential."

It has been a decade since the last major review of UNLV's core curriculum, and it is time for a fresh look. One of Ashley's goals is to prepare students for the global society, and reviews such as this are important because of the speed at which the world is changing.

In addition to seeking input from the faculty, Ashley wisely wants to also hear from people elsewhere in the Las Vegas community, including from businesses, as the university tries to determine what skills it should be teaching undergraduates.

That type of consultation is important because it will give university officials a sense of what a graduate really needs to know.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to hear from recent graduates, who can discuss their experience at the university and how well they were prepared after leaving UNLV. The Clark County School District and the state Education Department should also be integral in the evaluation so that curriculum can be adjusted to ensure Nevada high school graduates that they will be prepared for a state college or university.

Ashley's vision should spur some positive action toward not only improving the general education program at UNLV, which is the basis of a student's college education, but it should also help accomplish the larger goal of improving the state's education system.