UNLV's College of Liberal Arts will receive an extraordinary gift and pledges from local business leader Glenn Schaeffer, according to UNLV President Carol C. Harter. The announcement was made at Harter's State of the University Address, held today (Sept. 12) at the Judy Bayley Theatre on the UNLV campus.

The donations and pledges provided by Schaeffer will create an Institute of Modern Letters and will help UNLV establish one of the finest creative writing programs in the country.

"Mr. Schaeffer's generous contribution will be matched, in part, by corporate and university resources to allow us to craft one of those very special niches in the field of creative writing that will attract some of the finest writers to Las Vegas and UNLV," Harter noted.

Included in the multi-million-dollar pledge is a $2 million endowed chair designed to attract internationally known, prize-winning writers to UNLV's faculty. In addition, fellowships for superb writing students, a lecture series, prizes to be awarded to politically repressed artists, and programs at UNLV for local high school teachers and talented high school students will be provided as part of Schaeffer's vision and partnership with UNLV. Also, Schaeffer's gift and pledges will provide for the renovation of a facility and the creation of a fine arts press.

"We are also pleased to announce that Wole Soyinka, African dramatist, poet, essayist, and winner of the Nobel Prize in 1986, has accepted our offer to become the inaugural occupant of the first Endowed Chair of Creative Writing," Harter announced. Soyinka is believed to be the first ever Nobel Laureate to join a faculty in Nevada. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by UNLV in May 2000.

Schaeffer, who is president of Mandalay Resort Group, is a lover of books and modern letters. He is a graduate of the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop and understands the importance of supporting the liberal arts and letters.

"I believe very strongly in developing a long-term relationship with UNLV in the creation of this Institute of Modern Letters and the Endowed Chair in Creative Writing," Schaeffer said. "A strong liberal arts program is crucial as UNLV moves forward as a sophisticated university."

During the State of the University Address Harter also announced a record five-year fund-raising total of more than $116 million. This total is the most raised during any five-year period in the university's history.

"I can only express our deepest appreciation to Glenn and all those donors -- past and present -- for contributions that mold the character of this university and consequently shape the future of the community in which we live," Harter concluded.