UNLV President Carol C. Harter has received the President's Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA).

The President's Award is a special recognition given to a college or university president who has, over a sustained period of time, advanced the quality of student life on campus by supporting student affairs staff and programs.

She received the national award recently in Denver at the organization's 86 th annual awards luncheon.

Those nominated for this award must show evidence of direct involvement in enhancing the quality of student life on campus, active attempts to involve students and student life staff in governing the institution, and demonstrable contributions to the profession that have an impact beyond an individual campus.

Harter has long emphasized the importance of students at UNLV. Her first and foremost

strategic goal B one among eight such goals developed through a campus-wide institutional planning process B is to "create and sustain a student-centered learning environment."

With Harter's support and guidance, UNLV has undertaken extensive assessment of services to students and has reorganized and/or redirected resources in order to enhance those services. Her administration has worked to increase financial assistance to students, as well as to improve academic support and co-curricular opportunities. During her tenure, Harter has overseen expansion of residential life facilities that will nearly double UNLV's student housing capacity by fall 2004, and a new student recreation center and an expanded student union are currently in the planning stages. Her emphasis on campus life has also led to greater student participation in campus activities and traditions.

Harter is the seventh president of UNLV, a post she assumed in July 1995. Previously, she served as president of the State University of New York at Geneseo for six years. Before assuming her first presidency, Harter spent more than 19 years at Ohio University , where she served in two vice presidential roles and was a faculty member and ombudsman.

Under Harter = s leadership, UNLV has created 88 new degree programs (19 at the doctoral level), established Nevada = s only law and dental schools, built 17 new facilities and acquired three more, renovated seven buildings, and granted more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees.

NASPA provides professional development, promotes exemplary practices, and is a leader in policy development. NASPA helps senior student affairs officers and administrators,

student affairs professionals, faculty, and other educators enhance student learning and development. NASPA promotes quality and high expectations; advocates for students; encourages diversity; and excels in research and publication. NASPA has more than 8,000 individual members and more than 1,175 member campuses.