Smatresk: UNLV strong, but ‘doing more with less’

University president expects economic woes to continue through four years

Steve Marcus

Theater professor Dana Moran Williams, left, greets UNLV President Neal Smatresk after the State of the University Address at UNLV Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009.

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009 | 1:02 p.m.

State of the University

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UNLV Office of the President

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Despite steep budget cuts, fiscal uncertainties and the challenges of an evolving mission, UNLV is standing strong, President Neal Smatresk said today in his first “State of the University” address.

Speaking without notes to a nearly full house in the main ballroom of the campus Student Union, Smatresk praised the university community for banding together to weather a tough economic season.

He also offered “thanks to our legislators … because it could have been worse.”

UNLV sustained a 15.4 percent budget cut -- $32.8 million per year. While still painful, it was anywhere from a half to a third of the reduction that had been proposed by some lawmakers.

“We can count the losses by the people who aren’t in the room with us today,” Smatresk said. “We lost 100 faculty positions and over 250 staff and academic support positions.”

At the same time, UNLV’s enrollment has increased.

“That means we are doing much more with much less,” Smatresk said. Student tuition has increased and there will likely be another hike in the near future, he said. And the optimists who believed the state’s economic forecast would brighten within the next two years are now being more pragmatic, Smatresk said.

“I don’t think any of us still believe we are looking at a two-year shortfall,” Smatresk said. “We’re going to have to work together to weather the next biennium. We’re expecting this to be a four-year situation.”

To that end, Smatresk said he’s rearranged some central office positions to reduce redundancies and maximize efficiencies. That includes giving department deans greater control over their hard budgets.

UNLV will play a key role in helping Southern Nevada not only weather the economic downturn, but to pull out of it, as well, Smatresk said. To do that, UNLV must not back away from its research mission, Smatresk said.

Newly announced partnerships with the Lincy Foundation and the Brookings Institution will help guide those goals, Smatresk said.

The university will also continue to expand its efforts to reduce remediation rates for incoming students by working closely with the Clark County School District to identify – and fill – gaps in basic skills such as reading and mathematics.

The state’s funding formula for higher ed rewards institutions that bring in the most new students, regardless of the disciplines they pursue. That has to change, Smatresk said.

It’s anywhere from two to three times as expensive for the university to add one seat to the nursing program as to add a seat in liberal arts. However, the state pays UNLV the same amount for both groups of students. UNLV can’t support the high-value research and graduate programs without the large base of financial support it gets from liberal arts and urban affairs, he said.

The state’s formula is at odds with UNLV’s goal of pursuing “quality over quantity,” Smatresk said.

“It’s the dirty little secret of higher education,” Smatresk said. “If we cut those programs, we cut the revenue stream.”

One solution might be differentiated tuition, which takes into account the costs associated with specific programs.

“We are committed to helping our Board of Regents, the Nevada System of Higher Education and the Legislature to figure out what that formula should look like,” Smatresk said.

UNLV’s future road will be determined by the campus community, Smatresk said, promising to keep the lines of communication open and to hold regular town hall meetings. He urged people to ask for such events to be scheduled “if you don’t think I’m calling them fast enough.”

Discussion: 15 comments so far…

By UNLVGrad

9/15/09 at 3:50 p.m.

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UNLV is really lucky to have this guy as president. Time will prove me correct, he will go down as one of the BEST presidents that UNLV has ever had.

I only hope that the UNLV family give him a chance to succeed. He is comning in under difficult circumstances and he will help the school get through this and prosper.
By nevadaappleslices

9/15/09 at 4:58 p.m.

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Hmmm - this is the first time I've seen him in a suit. I am glad that he didn't give the generic "Go rebels" emphasis on his speech. Time will tell if he is in the old-boys-network or not.
By SgtRock

9/15/09 at 11:21 p.m.

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"UNLV will play a key role in helping Southern Nevada not only weather the economic downturn, but to pull out of it, as well, Smatresk said. "

Horse manure

Other than the nursing program, I do not know what or how UNLV adds to the economny other than be a consumer of valuable resources.

Students are revenue centers (tax money, tutition and student loans) to keep money flowing into the pockets of high paid staff.

There are professors who earn over $100k and have zero impact on classes. Yeah....their research is just bringing gang busting economic activity to the state. (OMG!)

Can one imagine the impact on productivity in the USA if these talented minds where required to do actual work in the real world?

The blowhard Rogers said that if the higher ed budget was not increased by 20% then the higher ed system would totally collapse.

Then the blowhard Rogers said that if the higher ed budget was not increased by 10% then the higher ed system would totally collapse.

Then the blowhard Rogers said that if the higher ed budget was not increased by 5% then the higher ed system would totally collapse.

Then the blowhard Rogers said that if the higher ed budget was cut by even 1% then the higher ed system would totally collapse.

Then the blowhard Rogers said that if the higher ed budget was cut by 5% then the higher ed system would totally collapse.

Then the blowhard Rogers said that if the higher ed budget was cut by 10% then the higher ed system would totally collapse.

I read all one million of his emails.

The budget was "cut" by over 15% and the president says UNLV is strong.
By youreanidiot0

9/15/09 at 11:23 p.m.

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he's amazing.
By adrianhu

9/16/09 at 4:26 p.m.

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Sgt, so you are inferring that the business, engineering, and physical sciences programs are not beneficial to southern Nevada?

And from your deduction, we should close the university except for the nursing school...yeah, that makes a lot of sense and please keep up the great ideas, we need more scholars like you teaching at UNLV (insert sarcasm smile here).
By SgtRock

9/16/09 at 6:09 p.m.

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Most business colleges are very lame and if they help it is so marginal.

Yes, the engineering and physical sciences probably add to the economy.
By SgtRock

9/16/09 at 9:15 p.m.

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One correction....the enigneering, physical sciences and nursing courses help the economy because they train future workers with skills that add a lot of value to the economy.

The research programs are just one big farce that do very little to help the Nevada economy.

The "professors" that do the research have very little effect on the college classrooms in Nevada.
By adrianhu

9/17/09 at 4:47 p.m.

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Hey Sgt, I can see your point.

So, question, who developed solar panels, cell phones, microwaves, radio frequency ID tags?

Also, developed methods to assist soldiers managing PTSD? Researchers! Dr. Ashley at UNLV who teaches in the counseling dept does "worthless" research on developing improved methods to help veterans of the Iraq war and other combat.
By adrianhu

9/17/09 at 4:48 p.m.

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http://education.unlv.edu/ced/research.h...
By ksand99

9/17/09 at 6:05 p.m.

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I guess some are so naive that they think all breakthroughs come only from private enterprise. How gullible!
By SgtRock

9/17/09 at 11:57 p.m.

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"So, question, who developed solar panels, cell phones, microwaves, radio frequency ID tags?"

Wow....all that came from UNLV.

I guess not plus most of the above is a duplication that of research that is occurring in the private sector.

If college research is so beneficial then it would be self-funded because the private sector would be standing in line to hook up college researchers.

That statement is true for some college research programs but only a tiny percentage across the nation.

The statement put out by the president is that UNLV will greatly help Nevada's economy.

That is not true now and it has never been true and it is unlikely to be ever be true.

UNLV is most likely a drag on the Las Vegas economy and generally is a consumer of resources and most likely only adds value when it generates skilled workers that are in high demand like nurses, engineers, etc.

If UNLV focused on key programs, drop most of the research programs, reduced the overall size, increased the admission standard requirements and sold some of its property then it would be become a more leaner and more efficient education institution and would have a greater impact on Las Vegas's economy.
By adrianhu

9/18/09 at 7:51 a.m.

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Well Sgt, you reiterated the same argument about selecting "skilled worker careers," but UNLV is focused on generating multiple fields of study. If the student wants to become a Nurse without attend a four-year they can attend Touro University in Henderson.

Research programs are what secure funding that subsidizes the cuts from the state, also increases national reputation, and allows graduate and undergraduate research assistants.

So, if you are unfamiliar with university models, it is easier to critique and support a business model. This has been recommended for 100s of years and to learn more about it, read this: Tangled up in school by Jan Nespor.

Or consider reading something from the USC Center for Higher Education Policy: http://www.usc.edu/dept/chepa/papers_pub...

Become knowledgeable about a topic, before you comment on it.
By SgtRock

9/18/09 at 11:41 a.m.

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adrainhu....perhaps you should take a breath and read first.

The discussion was about the president's remark that UNLV will have a large economic impact on Las Vegas and help lead it out of a recession.

It is fine and dandy that UNLV wants to teach a broad range of discplines.

That I believe has little economic impact on the local Las Vegas economy.

Read first then make a comment.
By adrianhu

9/18/09 at 11:48 a.m.

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please remember your own comments and reference the university policy recommendations you were imposing....read a book.
By SgtRock

9/18/09 at 7:24 p.m.

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LOL....