Sixteen hours a week is not enough. I want UNLV to engage our students both inside and outside the classroom.
I believe UNLV's rise as an urban university requires changes beyond our academic programs. This university must be brimming with vitality 24 hours a day. We must create an engaging campus culture, one that provides the rich out-of-classroom experiences that produce well-rounded graduates. These experiences - debating ideas after a lecture, working on a research project over the summer, and pitching in on community service projects - are what help students define themselves as individuals.
Some of the ingredients for this transition are already in place. The Lied Library's inviting spaces (and great coffee) have shattered the traditional stereotype of hushed spaces for solitary pursuits. Business is booming in the new student union; in its first two months, the union sold 30,000 more Jamba Juices, tacos, and Frappacinos than it did over the same period last year. I expect the student recreation center, set to open by fall, will add even more credence to the expression, "If we build it, they will come."
We also want you to come. Our campus has always drawn alumni to its arts and sports venues. But do you head right back home when the event is done? I envision a vital atmosphere that keeps you here and encourages you to participate in student-mentoring activities, alumni events, or after-hours public lectures.
The Midtown UNLV project is one more ingredient in this change. By collaborating with local developers, we hope to revitalize the area around the university and create a distinct neighborhood in Las Vegas - a university district. Our plans will calm traffic and build a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment along Maryland Parkway. On the west side of the street, the community will access public spaces and the rich cultural and intellectual resources the university offers. On the opposite side, a full complement of restaurants, retail shops, and residential projects will serve UNLV's students and encourage all to linger and even live here.
In 10 years' time, I believe UNLV will be a remarkable destination for community activity, a place where students learn and grow and where community members come to discuss the issues important to them. Certainly, the concept is grand in scope, but I believe it is right on target.
