UNLV president predicts sunnier skies at address

The deluge that engulfed much of the UNLV campus earlier this week was much like the college's recent history - underwater, President Neal Smatresk said Thursday.

But the swamped campus was dry and sun-covered Thursday.

"Perhaps, this is a metaphor. I do believe the floodwaters, budget cuts, have receded and we can rebuild," Smatresk said in opening his State of the University address.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has lost $74 million in state funding over the past four years. But there were no cuts this year, a first since he took office three years ago.

"Our budget is stable," he said. "We have healthy reserves."

That's good news, and not just for students, whose tuition is not expected to climb next year after rising $6,000 this fall, and faculty, whose diminished salaries and benefits might soon be restored, he said. It's also promising for all of Southern Nevada because UNLV generated $1.46 billion in economic activity for the area in 2011, according to a report released Thursday by UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research.

The center found that UNLV's 27,000 students spent about $228 million in the area. The university itself spent about $320 million through employees' expenses and the use of goods and services. Events at UNLV's three arenas added $365 million to the local economy. The center then calculated the multiplier effect of those dollars being spent again in the community for a
$1.46 billion impact.

In all, UNLV generated $8.60 in economic activity for every state tax dollar it received, Smatresk said. He made this point to emphasize to Gov. Brian Sandoval and the Legislature that students and UNLV shouldn't be seen as a "cost," he said.

"It's an investment," he said. "You should start investing now before it's too late."

UNLV may soon receive $3.2 million more in annual state dollars if the Legislature adopts the new funding formula recommended by the Board of Regents and a legislative committee. The formula would reslice the funding pie in favor of UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada, taking dollars from northern community colleges.

Under the formula, college funding wouldn't be determined by simply counting the number of enrolled students. It would be based on the number of students who successfully complete courses, looking at colleges' output instead of input. And funding would vary for courses, giving more money for classes that cost more to offer, such as science and technology.

"It rights a historic wrong," Smatresk said of the formula. "It's a far cry better than what we had in the past."

And the formula would let the university keep its tuition dollars on campus.

Smatresk said UNLV will also "work tirelessly this (legislative) session to restore salaries and benefits."

That restoration must be "first and foremost," he emphasized in an address that focused on improving faculty morale by also opening a health clinic for staff.

Shannon Sumpter, faculty senate chair and associate theater professor, said the president's promises are encouraging, as is the hiring of 78 new faculty members.

But Smatresk didn't address the 19 degree programs cut in the past couple of years.

Those won't return, he said in an interview after the address. They were cut not only because of the funding shortage, but also because they were costly and not in demand, he said. But those cuts open room for in-demand programs, such as information technology.

Contact reporter Trevon Milliard at
tmilliard@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.