UNLV is one of just 18 higher education institutions nationwide to earn the 2025 Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to advancing student success. Administered by Excelencia in Education, the seal recognizes UNLV’s holistic approach to keeping students engaged and on track. UNLV is the first institution in Nevada to receive this distinction and one of only 50 Seal-certified institutions in the nation. The honor reflects the university’s intentional commitment to serving all students, including Latino students, who comprise more than 35% of the undergraduate population and affirms the tangible impact of UNLV’s programs and initiatives that foster success for every student.

UNLV’s interdisciplinary bachelor’s program in Entertainment Engineering and Design (EED) has earned accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) — making it the only ABET-accredited bachelor's in EED program in the world. A joint collaboration between the Engineering and Fine Arts colleges, the program blends technical theater and engineering to prepare students for careers in the entertainment industry. Graduates emerge ready to thrive in a competitive and evolving field equipped with a strong foundation in engineering principles, emerging technologies, and materials science, as well as a deep understanding of the artistic and creative demands of live and experiential entertainment.

From a collection of less than 2,000 books housed in a section of the Las Vegas High School auditorium in 1955, the UNLV Libraries main library has grown into a an award-winning and highly admired state-of-the-art facility with a collection numbering over a million volumes. Named for Ernst Lied, founder of the Lied Charitable Trust, Lied Library officially opened its doors to the public in January 2001. Today, the library welcomes more than one million visitors annually and provides access to over two million books and resources. The iconic facility has since served as the heart of UNLV, championing access, innovation, and academic excellence. 

Geoscience assistant professor Carrie Tyler will serve as principal investigator on a $2.4 million award from the National Science Foundation. The project — Graduate Experiences for Future Leaders: Building Workforce Capacity in Resource Management and Mining — will support 15 graduate fellows in the geoscience department. Their research will draw on Nevada’s world-class geologic outcrops, mineral resources, and water infrastructure to advance knowledge in water resource management, natural resources, and mining to strengthening workforce capacity in these critical industries.

UNLV and tech company Terbine are partnering to develop an agentic AI system designed to help autonomous machines collaborate and enhance supply chain logistics. UNLV will support the effort through resources at its Advanced Engineering Building, including a drone aviary equipped with a fleet of drones of various sizes, launch pads, and industrial-grade communication systems. The university will also provide outdoor test sites across Southern Nevada for land, air, and marine trials. Together, UNLV and Terbine aim to enable the secure coordination of potentially millions of autonomous machines to transform fragmented supply chains into an adaptive, intelligent ecosystem.

The UNLV School of Nursing celebrates 60 years of nursing excellence, marking its legacy since 1965. What began with just 27 students in its first associate degree cohort grew into one of the nation’s leading nursing programs. The school transitioned to offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and launched its Master of Science in Nursing in 1984. Over the decades, UNLV Nursing has earned national recognition for its programs, expanded its online and graduate offerings, and strengthened clinical partnerships and simulation-based learning. The school also played a vital role in Nevada’s COVID-19 response, providing frontline care, testing, and vaccination support. Today, UNLV Nursing continues to advance the profession and celebrate six decades of excellence in nursing education, research, and community service.

Barbara Roth, chair and professor of anthropology, received the Byron Cummings Award from the Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society. Roth has made significant contributions to the knowledge of hunter-gatherer adaptations, the transition to agriculture, household social structures, and gender identities from the Mojave Desert of California and Nevada to the Mimbres Valley of New Mexico. The award is given for outstanding research and contributions to knowledge in anthropology, history, or a related field of study pertaining to the Southwestern U.S.

UNLV Athletics announced a $1 million donation by the UNLV Rebel Football Foundation to support the Rebel Up campaign. This major donation is earmarked to enhance the nutritional needs of the Rebel football program. With a fundraising goal of $150 million, the campaign is designed to enhance many areas within UNLV Athletics, including the student-athlete experience, provide funding for new facilities, elevate current facilities, and build a stronger endowment program.