University of Nevada , Las Vegas University of Nevada - Las Vegas ( UNLV ) is a public , coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise , Nevada , USA . The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip . The institution includes the Shadow Lane Campus , located just east of the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada , which houses the UNLV School of Dental Medicine , the only dental school in the state of Nevada . In addition , UNLV ' s law school , the William S . Boyd School of Law , is the only law school in the state . The university has been deemed a " research - intensive university " by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching . The William F . Harrah College of Hotel Administration is annually ranked among the top hospitality programs in the United States due to the university ' s proximity to the Las Vegas Strip . History . The first college classes which would eventually become the classes of UNLV were offered as the southern regional extension division of the University of Nevada , Reno in 1951 in a classroom at Las Vegas High School . In 1955 , State Senator Mahlon Brown " sponsored the legislation to provide $ 200 , 000 to construct the campus ' s first building " - Frazier Hall . Groundbreaking on the original site was in April 1956 , and the university purchased a site in North Las Vegas for future expansion . UNLV was officially founded by the Nevada Board of Regents as the Southern Division of the University of Nevada , Reno in 1957 . The first classes were held on the current campus in the post and beam Mid Century Modern Maude Frazier Hall designed by the award winning local architectural firm , Zick and Sharp . Twenty - nine students graduated in the first commencement ceremonies in 1964 . In 1965 , the Nevada Legislature named the school Nevada Southern University , and the Board of Regents hired the campus ' s first president , Donald C . Moyer . In 1968 , Nevada Southern was given equal status with its parent institution in Reno , and the present name was approved by the Regents in January 1969 , during a winter session and without input by representatives from the University of Nevada , Reno . During this time Nevada Southern University also adopted the southern " Rebel " athletics moniker and a mascot dressed in a southern Confederate uniform named Beauregard . The popular reasoning behind such a controversial moniker and mascot is that they did it to oppose the northern Union traditions and symbols of their northern rival , the University of Nevada . It was not long , however , before protests from NSU / UNLV students forced a slight change to their Confederate mascot , but the " Rebels " moniker remains to this day . Since its founding , the university has grown rapidly , expanding both its academic programs and campus facilities . In 1969 , the Board of Regents approved the new name of University of Nevada at Las Vegas and the abbreviation UNLV . In 1973 Jerry Tarkanian was hired as the men ' s basketball coach by UNLV ' s second president , Roman Zorn . In 1981 Claes Oldenburg ' s Flashlight sculpture was installed on the plaza between Artemus Ham Hall and Judy Bayley Theatre . In 2001 , The School of Dental Medicine opened to train students and offer low - cost dental care to residents . Also , the Lied Library on campus opened . In 2003 , the Institute for Security Studies was established to address Homeland Security concerns . The Lynn Bennett Childhood Development Center opened . In 2004 , UNLV opened its first regional campus on Shadow Lane , near the University Medical Center . The School of Dental Medicine is located on the Shadow Lane Campus . Also , The School of Public Health was established in the Division of Health Sciences to address new and emerging public health issues . In 2005 , construction began on the $ 113 million science and engineering building , which has 200 , 000 square feet of teaching space , laboratories , and high - tech conference rooms . The building , was completed in 2008 . It was designed to support interdisciplinary research ; draw students to high - demand fields such as electrical engineering , computer science , and environmental science ; and attract national and international researchers . UNLV launched its first comprehensive campaign , Invent the Future , with the goal of raising $ 500 million by December 2008 . Also , the Air Force ROTC program was established on campus . In 2006 , The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents raised the minimum GPA to 3 . 0 for admittance to UNLV . UNLV opened its first international campus in Singapore , where the William F . Harrah College of Hotel Administration offered its bachelor ' s degree program in hospitality management . UNLV plans to end its partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology by 2015 , due to economic issues such as rising tuition in Las Vegas and the falling value of the U . S . dollar in Singapore . In 2007 , an expanded student union ( with study and social lounges , eateries , a new ballroom , and a 300 - seat theater ) and a new student recreation center ( with high - tech weight and fitness rooms , swimming pools , and a juice bar ) opened in the fall . Both these facilities reflected UNLV ' s goal of becoming more student - centered . The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs broke ground for the $ 94 million Greenspun Hall , which showcased the latest environmental and technological advancements and served as an anchor for " Midtown UNLV . " In 2010 , UNLV cut Clinical Laboratory Sciences , and continued cutting all Health Science majors until 2013 . UNLV Now . UNLVNow is a proposed public / private partnership between UNLV and Majestic Realty Co . The project is part of UNLV ’ s Campus Master Plan and includes : A mega - events center on the northwest part of campus . The center would give UNLV a state - of - the - art home for its athletics teams and provide the region with the only events center capable of hosting concerts , sports , and other special events for 60 , 000 spectators . A student village offering housing , dining , and shopping , as well as the retail and service activities customarily found adjacent to or as part of residential campuses . New initiatives . In 2005 , the university received over $ 95 million in extramural research funding , about a 30 percent increase over the previous year . Its fund raising campaign , " Invent the Future " , reached its $ 500 million goal in 2009 . In 2009 , a $ 59 . 7 million Advanced Clinical and Research Training Center was constructed under architect Carpenter Sellers . This LEED equivalent building is expected to be completed by summer 2010 . It will serve to consolidate the University of Nevada Health Sciences System programs through the shared use of classrooms , teaching labs , and simulated patient lab space . Sustainability . The University of Nevada , Las Vegas has created an Urban Sustainability Initiative that strives to implement sustainable practices both on campus and in the larger Las Vegas community . In addition to having two campus buildings in the process of LEED Silver Certification and one building in the process of LEED Gold Certification , UNLV has reduced its use of electricity and natural gas by 38 percent per square foot since 2001 by retrofitting older campus buildings . In the 2009 edition of the Sustainable Endowment Institute ’ s College Sustainability Report Card , University of Nevada - Las Vegas received a grade of " C " . The Science and Engineering building received a LEED Silver rating in March 2009 . SEB achieved this rating by using recycled glass , steel , concrete , and wood . More than 60 % of the leftover construction materials were recycled . The roof of SEB was made to reflect 92 percent of sunlight . This reduces the amount of heat absorbed into the building and therefore , reduces energy needed to cool the building . Incoming air to SEB is also pre - cooled through evaporation so the need for air conditioning is reduced . High performance window glazing also allows light to come in while keeping the building insulated . Occupancy sensors allow lights to automatically turn off when a room is not occupied , saving electricity . Low - flow sinks , toilets , and showers , as well as a drip irrigation system for the native desert landscape reduces water usage by 42 % . SEB also uses a reclaimed water system that captures wastewater , providing 750 gallons of water a day that is used to flush toilets . The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs building of the University of Nevada , Las Vegas received a LEED Gold rating in April of 2010 . In 2009 , UNLV received the Cashman Good Government Award for the campus ' sustainability measures . UNLV earned the award for " maintaining consistent energy costs despite substantial campus growth , " saving nearly $ 11 million from 2001 - 2009 . UNLV was also recognized for managing the xeric demonstration garden and for its recycling efforts . Budget . In an effort to stop or at least reduce the budget cuts to UNLV and the rest of the Nevada System of Higher Education ( NSHE ) , rallies were held early 2009 to protest the situation . Tuition was raised by 10 % for fall 2009 as a partial measure to alleviate Nevada ' s financial hardship . Resources and amenities aiding students in their research and learning may be cut . Faculty and staff are also affected by Nevada ' s budget shortfalls . They remain worried about pay cuts , lost benefits , and job security . Academics . UNLV offers about 220 programs of study in varying fields leading to bachelor ' s , master ' s , and doctoral degrees , which are taught by approximately 850 faculty members . UNLV ' s colleges include : UNLV ' s schools include : " The Atlantic " recognized UNLV ' s English Department as having one of the nation ' s most innovative Master of Fine Arts programs and one of the top five doctoral programs in creative writing . " Down Beat " Magazine , the internationally recognized industry standard trade publication for jazz music , recognized the work of the 2010 UNLV Jazz Ensemble as " Outstanding Large Jazz Ensemble Performance " among graduate college - level jazz bands in their annual Student Music Award issue of that year . In 2006 , UNLV opened its first international campus in Singapore . The UNLV Singapore campus is housed on the 10th and 11th floors of the National Library of Singapore , a prestigious building comparable to the United States Library of Congress . The campus offers bachelor ’ s degree programs in Hotel Administration and Hospitality Management . UNLV Singapore is offering the college ' s upper division courses , which include Hotel Administration , Hospitality Marketing , Food & Beverage Management and Hotel Law . Students may also earn an executive master ' s degree in hospitality . An elementary school , Paradise Professional Development School , is located on campus and operated as a partnership between UNLV and the Clark County School District . Undergraduate . UNLV offers 95 different undergraduate major fields of study that lead to a bachelor ' s degree as well as 71 minors from its colleges and schools . William S . Boyd School of Law . The William S . Boyd School of Law was founded in 1997 . Despite its young age , the law school has risen to national prominence . U . S . News ranked the William S . Boyd School of Law 76th overall the country . Many of the law schools specialty areas are highly rated including dispute resolution and legal writing which are rated 10th and 3rd , respectively . UNLV School of Dental Medicine . The UNLV School of Dental Medicine is currently the only dental school the state of Nevada . The UNLV Shadow Lane Campus , where the dental school is located , is in the heart of Las Vegas ' medical district . The dental school also offers quality , low - cost dental services to the surrounding communities . Student Life . Much of the student life at UNLV revolves around its Student Union , or SU . The SU houses the offices for its student government and student organizations on its third floor . Student Government . The Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada , Las Vegas , abbreviated CSUN , is the undergraduate student government at UNLV . It is a body that consists of an executive board , a senate of 25 members from all of the colleges at UNLV , a judicial council , and directors that plan and organize events and marketing . CSUN currently has an annual budget of about 1 million U . S . dollars that is funded through student fees . The senate ways and means committee determines how that the CSUN budget will be divided up to be set aside for such items as student organization funding and scholarships . The final say on spending in CSUN is the senate . Together with UNLV , CSUN founded an on - campus preschool in 1974 as part of the College of Education . Both students and staff can utilize this accredited preschool . The graduate student government at UNLV is separate from the undergraduate student government . The Graduate & Professional Student Association , or GPSA , is the graduate student government at UNLV . Student Organizations . According to U . S . News , UNLV has over 250 student organizations . To become a student organization , the organization must become recognized by the UNLV student government CSUN . " The Rebel Yell " . " The Rebel Yell " is the student newspaper on campus . It covers many topics about higher education in Nevada and the state of UNLV as well . " The Rebel Yell " extensively covers CSUN senate meetings and elections . It is printed twice weekly and also posts its articles online . " UNLV Fight Song " . " Win with the Rebels " by Gerald G . Willis Win with the Rebels a victory today ! Win with the Rebels , the Scarlet and Gray . From mountains that surround you , To far across the sea . We ' ll win with the Rebels of UNLV . U - N - L - V UNLV Go . Fight . Win . We ' ll win with the Rebels of UNLV . Undergraduate Diversity . In 2011 , UNLV was named the 10th most ethnically diverse university in the United States of America by U . S . News & World Report . Campus . The main campus of UNLV is located on a 332 acre land grant in centrally located Paradise , Nevada . " Midtown UNLV " is an ongoing private - public development along Maryland Parkway , a border street to the University of Nevada , Las Vegas . Development began in 2002 and the purpose is to expand the university to meet the demands of a major university in the Las Vegas metropolitan area . The project is designed to improve the " front door " of the University by improving amenities for students and businesses along Maryland Parkway . The goals are to reduce vacant spaces , lower business turnover rates , as well as create new space for the University to expand . Additionally , the project aims to create new housing developments close to campus . Major funding is through state funding sources along with private donations . Dorms . There are four different dorm complexes on the UNLV campus . Daytona Complex , Tonopah Complex , South Residential Complex ( SOU ) , Upper Class - man Complex ( UCC ) . On Feb . 22 , 2010 , a freshman was found dead in the Tonopha Complex . He died of cardiac arrhythmia , a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat . Libraries . UNLV has several libraries on the main campus . The biggest library on campus is the Lied Library located in the center of campus . Opened in 2001 , the , $ 58 million facility is named for real estate entrepreneur Ernst W . Lied . Many colleges also have their individual libraries that hold materials more closely related to the college : Athletic Facilities . UNLV ' s main athletic facilities include Sam Boyd Stadium , Thomas & Mack Center ( 1983 ) , Cox Pavilion , and Earl Wilson Stadium . These facilities hold home games for UNLV sports programs and have hosted outside events such as the Mountain West Conference Basketball Tournament and the National Finals Rodeo . In 2007 , the recreation center was completed . This recreation center is designed to cater to the needs of UNLV students ' physical and mental health . Most recently , the Mendenhall Center , a training center dedicated for the UNLV basketball program , opened up in 2012 . Other Notable Buildings . Performing arts facilities include the Judy Bayley Theatre ( 1972 ) , the Artemus W . Ham Concert Hall ( 1976 ) , the Black Box Theatre , the Alta Ham Fine Arts Complex ( 1982 ) , and the Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center ( 2001 ) . In 1997 the Paul B . Sogg Architecture Building opened . In 2007 , a new student union was opened . This building offers many amenities for students including a social atmosphere , a diverse food court , conference rooms , a game room , student government offices , and student organization offices . One of the newer buildings on campus , the Greenspun Hall , opened its doors in 2008 . Home to the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Brookings Mountain West Institute , this five - story , 120 , 000 square foot building is home to state - of - the art media facilities . It also houses the campus radio station KUNV - FM , student - run HD2 radio station , and the television station , UNLV - TV . Certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) rating system , the building was named after " Las Vegas Sun " founder and publisher , Hank Greenspun . The Greenspun family also donated $ 37 million to the total cost of the building . In 2008 , the Sciences and Engineering Building opened . The building was created to serve the both the College of Sciences and the Howard R . Hughes College of Engineering in environmentally friendly manner . Athletics . UNLV supports varsity teams in 17 different sports . The men ' s basketball team is referred to as the Runnin ' Rebels and the men ' s baseball team is referred to as the Hustlin ' Rebels . The Rebels are a founding member of the Mountain West Conference , in the NCAA ' s Division I . The only exception is the UNLV men ' s soccer team , which competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . The school ' s official colors of scarlet and gray can be traced to the late - 1950s when UNLV adopted as mascot a wolf wearing a Confederate uniform . Scarlet and Gray were traditional colors of the Confederacy with its gray uniforms and red - based flag . UNLV ' s mascot is Hey Reb , the toned down version of the original mascot named Beauregard , which was a wolf character dressed in Confederate hat and uniform . UNLV ' s Hey Reb mascot made his debut in 1983 . He received his first makeover in 1997 and second in 2009 . Named one of 12 All - American Mascots , he competed for the title of 2004 Capital One Mascot of the Year and made a strong showing by coming in second in online voting . No stranger to national television , Hey Reb has also appeared in two memorable ESPN SportsCenter commercials . UNLV has many traditions in its athletic programs . Each year the men ' s football team plays the Nevada Wolf Pack in a football game called the Battle for Nevada . The trophy for that game is the Fremont Cannon . Built by the Kennecott Copper Corp . , Nevada Mines Division , the cannon is valued at more than $ 10 , 000 and is considered one of the best , and loudest , symbols of rivalry in college football . UNLV is most known for its men ' s basketball program . Made famous by Coach Jerry Tarkanian in the 1970s – 1990s , the Runnin ' Rebels are the third most winning team in Division I basketball history by percentage , only behind Kentucky and North Carolina . ( . 713 , 1037 - 418 through 2008 ) UNLV is well known for their 1990 NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Championship by defeating Duke University 103 - 73 , which was and still is the largest margin of victory in a championship game . In that same game , UNLV became the first team to ever break 100 points in a championship game . UNLV is also well known for its golf program . Led by coach Dwaine Knight , the UNLV Golf program has turned out PGA Tour pros such as Adam Scott , Chris Riley , Chad Campbell , Ryan Moore , Skip Kendall , Charlie Hoffman , Bill Lunde , and Andres Gonzales . They won the NCAA National golf team championship in 1998 . In February 2011 , the Rebel men ' s swimming and diving team won their seventh straight Mountain West Conference titles . Three Rebel swimmers competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics ; Joe Bartoch and Richard Hortness represented Canada and Jonas Anderson represented Sweden . Faculty . Notable faculty include : Alumni . UNLV has seen many of its former students go on to local and national prominence . This includes many athletes that have excelled at the collegiate and professional levels , including : Former Rebels in the entertainment world include : UNLV has also produced numerous politicians , including : Other notable alumni include :