UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 28,000 students, more than 7,000 of whom are graduate/professional students. The university is ranked in the category of “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Nearly 120 graduate degree programs are offered, including 36 doctoral and professional degrees. UNLV offers a broad range of respected academic programs and is increasingly recognized as a premier metropolitan research university.

Awards

In FY2007, UNLV received approximately $106.8 million in external award funding with nearly $74.8 million supporting research, including significant support from a number of federal agencies:

• Department of Energy: $20.4 million
• Department of Education: $17 million
• Department of Interior: $10.9 million
• Department of Defense: $3.7 million
• National Science Foundation: $3.2 million

Top Five Academic Areas Receiving Research- Related Award Funding in FY2007

• Research and Graduate Studies: $18.9 million
• Sciences: $18 million
• Engineering: $14.8 million
• Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies: $13.9 million
• Education: $5.8 million

Award Funding By Sponsor Type in FY2007

• Federal: $70.1 million
• Federal Pass Through: $30.8 million
• State: $3 million
• Local: $1.9 million
• Foundation/Corporate: $1 million

Expenditures

Research expenditure data—the amount of funding expended for the purpose of research—is the gold standard for measurement of research activity in higher education. It indicates the amount of external funding spent by faculty and staff to conduct research; hence, it accurately reflects the productivity of funded researchers. Sponsored program expenditure data reflects activity on all types of sponsored program projects, including those dedicated to instruction or public service, as well as research. Hence, research expenditures are a subset of total sponsored program expenditures.

As the graph below indicates, UNLV faculty and staff expended $104.9 million in sponsored program funding in FY2007, including $53.8 million in research expenditures. This represents a 14 percent increase in sponsored program funding over FY2006 and a 12 percent increase in research funding over the same period.