UNLV is committed to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and sustainability. In today’s educational landscape, it’s essential that we continuously strive to improve the quality of our services to faculty, staff, students, and others we interact with. By adopting a mindset of continuous improvement, UNLV is empowered to evolve, thrive, and better meet the needs of our vibrant and diverse academic community.
About the UNLV Operational Excellence Council
The Operational Excellence Council (OEC) serves as an agent of change, supporting the university’s mission of teaching, research, and public service by advancing strategies to streamline and enhance its operations. As a champion of operational integrity and organizational performance, the OEC works alongside colleges, schools, units, and departments at UNLV to guide the identification, creation, and execution of sustainable initiatives aimed at elevating organizational effectiveness and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Drawing upon its collective knowledge of the multifaceted campus landscape, the OEC serves as an advisory body to the university’s executive leadership, reviewing matters of operational policy and strategy and providing recommendations and solutions. The OEC leverages its insights into various institutional functions to monitor challenges, bridge gaps, and facilitate the implementation of best practices.
The Operational Excellence Council plays a central role in streamlining and innovating UNLV's operations. The Council’s primary responsibilities include:
- Identifying operational challenges and proposing solutions to bolster performance and efficiency.
- Developing and overseeing strategic operational initiatives that conform with the university’s broader goals.
- Conducting research on best practices in higher education operations and leading their implementation at UNLV.
- Creating and managing policies to enhance operational transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
- Collaborating with other institutional task forces, councils, and committees.
- Encouraging unit-level initiatives, including the formation of unit-based subcommittees for operational excellence.
- Cultivating an environment that values diverse perspectives and fosters inclusivity.
- Improving internal communication for transparent and effective sharing of information among stakeholders.
- Supporting agile and adaptable work environments.
- Leveraging technology and data to inform decision-making and optimize operations.
- Advancing training and upskilling initiatives for administrators, faculty, and staff.
- Executive Vice President and Provost
- Vice President for Business Affairs & Chief Financial Officer
- Vice President for Digital Transformation & Chief Information Officer
The Operational Excellence Council consists of representatives from key administrative units or groups across the university, each playing a vital role in operational functionality. In addition to contributing expertise and resources, each member acts as a link between the Council and their respective unit/group, facilitating communication and synchronizing efforts. Represented units/groups include:
- Office of the President
- Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
- Division of Business Affairs
- Office of Information Technology
- Division of Human Resources
- Division of Research
- Division of Student Affairs
- Office of Academic Affairs
- Office of Decision Support
- Office of Integrated Marketing and Branding
- Deans
- Faculty Senate
What is Continuous Improvement?
Continuous improvement is a systematic and ongoing effort to enhance processes, products, or services within an organization. At its core, it involves identifying opportunities for improvement, implementing changes, and regularly reviewing and adjusting these processes. As a philosophy, it encourages a proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving and growth.
Operational excellence is part of continuous improvement and involves striving for the highest standards of performance and effectiveness across all operational areas in order to enhance the productivity, reputation, and overall impact of the institution. It is defined as the efficient management and continuous enhancement of university operations to fulfill its core mission, including:
- Establishment of a culture of collaboration that removes organizational silos and synchronizes processes, policies, and systems across colleges, departments, and units. This includes creating a shared understanding of roles and functions in accomplishing the university’s strategic goals.
- Stewardship of all university resources, including people, equipment, technology, materials, and information, to eliminate redundancies and avoid waste.
- Delivery of outstanding, cost-effective services and products to campus constituents, including students, faculty, and staff, and continuous evaluation of the quality and return on investment of programs and initiatives. This includes continuous evaluation of the quality and return on investment of programs and initiatives.
- Creation of a data-driven environment that encourages decision-making and continuous assessment based on empirical data.
Read more about continuous improvement on the EAB website.
The Importance of Continuous Improvement for a University
Quality Enhancement
By regularly reviewing and refining university processes, we can elevate the quality of our educational and administrative services.
Adaptability and Innovation
The education landscape is constantly evolving. Embracing continuous improvement allows the university to adapt quickly to technological advancements, innovations, and changing student needs/expectations. This adaptability ensures that we stay at the forefront of educational excellence.
Efficient Resource Utilization
Identifying and eliminating inefficiencies in university operations not only streamlines processes but also ensures that resources are used effectively. This can result in cost savings and a more sustainable use of institutional resources.