UNLV has received notification that the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges has reaffirmed accreditation of the entire university, UNLV President Carol C. Harter announced Thursday (July 13).

"This is exciting news for UNLV," Harter said. "It confirms our belief that UNLV is making substantive progress in reaching its goal of becoming a premier urban university. We are delighted about this development and would like to acknowledge all of the hard work the campus has done to make it happen."

Harter said the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges' Commission on Colleges recognized -- and was impressed by -- UNLV's ability to meet the challenges presented by the university's tremendous growth and its attendant pressures.

She said the commission commended the university for pursuing its goal of "becoming more student-focused, as exemplified in strong interactions with faculty and staff."

"They also praised us for initiating a planning process that emphasizes participation by all campus groups and for being increasingly responsive to the needs of our local and regional communities, and thus contributing to the economic, social, educational, and cultural vitality of the community and the region," Harter said.

She added the commission also noted the university's impressive record of recruiting and retaining an increasingly diverse and highly qualified number of new faculty members who "join a dedicated and engaged faculty and staff, whose adeptness in dealing with the effects of rapid change and inadequate infrastructure is impressive."

Among the recommendations of the commission are that the university should work closely with the Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada, the governor, and the Legislature in the review of the funding formulas for revisions that take into account new conditions, responsibilities, and aspirations; that the university should continue in its efforts to institutionalize and coordinate planning processes that involve all segments of the campus; and that the university should continue its efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of the institution and its programs.

Every 10 years UNLV, like other universities and colleges, is reviewed for accreditation in what is called a "full-scale visit." In this year's visit, which occurred in late April, a 15-member team of professors and administrators from other institutions across the United States examined all aspects of the university to assess its quality and effectiveness.

Before this spring's visit, UNLV last hosted a full-scale visit in 1990.