UNLV graduates from Tumbleweed Tech to higher learning hotbed

Neal Smatresk's passion and zest for UNLV shined as he escorted a handful of legislators on a two-hour-plus tour of the university on Monday, pointing out buildings, but also explaining philosophical changes that have taken place since he became president in 2009.

It's about the fifth such "seeing is believing" tour the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has offered to groups of invited guests during the past two years, starting with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce last year.

Under Smatresk's leadership, the emphasis has been on building closer ties between the university and the local community, particularly the business community. His goal is to "get rid of any barrier between UNLV and the city. We're a big part of this city, not just located in it."

Like a proud papa, he invited the public out to tour the campus. Tours for community groups are available. For more information, call 774-8658.

"If you haven't been here in 10 years, you'll be shocked," he said.

Even the stop at the Lied Library emphasized free resources to which the community has access, resources that would cost a bundle for a private person or business, but which can be obtained free through the library.

Peter Maksymec invented a device to stop water loss from broken sprinkler heads but needed a business plan. UNLV's Center for Entrepreneurship helped him create one, another example of that spirit of cooperation between university and local businesses.

"We're not Tumbleweed Tech anymore," Smatresk said.

While that spirit of cooperation was emphasized, throughout the tour the consistent bragging was about students' accomplishments, how well they are doing now in various competitions, how high they rank nationwide in various fields.

Did you know that UNLV graduate Eric Whitaker, who earned a bachelor's in music in 1995, won a Grammy on Feb. 12? "Light and Gold," his debut album as a conductor, won for best choral performance.

Did you know three engineering students won first place in the United Nations' International Humanity Technology Challenge after designing a personal solar power device that could be useful in Third World countries which have more sunshine than electricity?

You might already know that the UNLV School of Architecture was one of 20 university teams chosen to compete in the 2013 Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon to build solar-powered, energy-efficient homes.

New to me was the Academic Success Center, one of Smatresk's first endeavors. The center helps students who are entering the university, yet aren't fully prepared. Free tutoring is available for those students, and not just the athletes, to help them remain in the university.

The spirit of cooperation also extends between two departments that are more symbiotic than it would seem -- the College of Engineering and the College of Fine Arts.

They cooperate in a variety of ways, including creating a new degree for entertainment engineering. The first four graduates are expected this year out of a program with 102 students. Second-year students built working mock-ups showing how the aquatic show "Le Reve" operates, revealing answers to my big question: How do they get the water in and out?

After several years of budget cutting and losing 700 positions (540 of which were not already vacant), as well as eliminating programs, the top dogs at UNLV are looking forward, deciding what can or cannot be done.

"We all have to reinvent ourselves," Smatresk said, echoing a battle cry for more than just universities.

Some scoffed when former President Carol Harter envisioned turning UNLV into a research institution back when it was best known for basketball and a strong hotel administration program.

Seems that scoffing was unwarranted as Smatresk, with his background in zoology, builds on Harter's vision and enhances it with his own.

Today, the president can call UNLV a research university without listeners laughing as they did in 1995 when Harter became president.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call her at (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Morrison