The start of any academic year on university campuses is often paired with new and high-tech programs and initiatives. And UNLV is no exception.

But one of UNLV’s most in-demand new offerings has less to do with the latest tech trend and instead focuses squarely on a facet of life that keeps a growing number of Americans up at night: financial security. 

With debt a rising concern nationwide among college students and recent graduates – and the startling fact that more than 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck – it’s imperative that financial literacy becomes a core part of the curriculum throughout higher education.

That’s why UNLV this fall launched a new Institute for Financial Literacy and Wellness, a campus-wide initiative that brings together more than a dozen academic, service, and administrative units and a host of community partners. We’re embedding elements of financial literacy beginning with new student orientation and throughout our undergraduate and graduate academic journeys. It’s also a growing focus of onboarding and professional development programming for our employees. 

A cornerstone of the program is delivery of finance courses – open to all majors – that provide students a roadmap for financial independence and success. More than 700 students are already enrolled in these courses, and demand continues to grow. We're also planning for non-credit microcredentials open to all on financial wellness and, eventually, a student-run credit union. 

Financial health is a core component of overall wellness, and it’s a charge I take very seriously as UNLV’s president. I invite you to read about just some of the ways that UNLV is going all-in to help our students get on the path to financial success, and I look forward to engaging more with you on this topic in the months to come. 

Warm regards,

Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D.
President, UNLV