November 20, 2025 

Government Engagement

That’s a Wrap – UNLV & the 36th Special Session

After seven days of deliberations and surprises, the 36th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature came to a close on Wednesday, November 19th.

There were several positive outcomes from the Special Session for UNLV. SB4, a bill which will provide $68.5 million for the construction of a new building for UNLV’s Lee Business School, passed both houses and is now heading to the Governor’s Desk for his signature. SB4 reflects the continuation of work which began during the 83rd Legislative Session, at which time the university received an appropriation for the planning costs for a state-of-the-art building to serve one of UNLV’s biggest schools and help shepherd the business workforce for the next generation.

Meanwhile, the long-awaited Nevada Studio Infrastructure and Workforce Training Act (AB5) fell short by one vote in the Senate, failing to become law after a long week. It is unclear if AB5 will be brought back at a future legislative session. If so, UNLV will continue to support the bill in order to increase opportunities for students and faculty, while also helping to diversify our community’s workforce and economy.

Two other bills UNLV supported during the 36th Special Session also passed. AB1 establishes a statewide Security Operations Center and Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline which will help grow a workforce in cybersecurity and help position UNLV as a leader in this increasingly technology-reliant world. SB5 was also passed and will create the State Health Care Access and Recruitment Program. This program includes a $60 million competitive grant that could help the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV work with partners to address gaps in local healthcare.

UNLV thanks the Governor and the Legislature for their hard work during the 36th Special Session. Their support of these bills will benefit our students and the many communities throughout Nevada. 

Rebels in Action - 36th Special Session

UNLV Day at the City of Las Vegas City Hall

November 19th was UNLV Day at the City of Las Vegas City Hall.

The day, which got underway in the Now Café, enabled Rebels, including UNLV President Chris Heavey, members of the Las Vegas City Council, and City employees, to connect with each other and celebrate their Rebel pride.

Concurrently, a UNLV Resource Fair took place to highlight a variety of UNLV offerings and resources, and to gather information about needs and opportunities for partnership. The UNLV Mariachi band was also on-hand to welcome visitors to City Hall as they made their way to the City Council Chambers for the morning’s Council meeting.

During the City Council meeting, President Chris Heavey gave a presentation highlighting the many ways UNLV serves as an anchor institution, including its impact on the region, the state, the country, and the world.

Following the President’s presentation, City of Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley and members of the City Council presented a Proclamation to the President in recognition of UNLV Day and the many ways the university improves the quality of life for those who live and work in Las Vegas.    

Dec. 6th Gathering for Remembrance & Healing

The UNLV and greater Southern Nevada community is invited to join university and student leaders for an event on Dec. 6, 2025, to solemnly memorialize the colleagues, teachers, and mentors we lost on that day nearly two years ago – professors Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Naoko Takemaru. We will also honor the resilience of the many lives forever impacted that day, and the strength that exists within our university community. The Gathering for Remembrance and Healing event will be held at…(more)

Last Chance! CCSD Destination District Survey Closes Soon

CCSD, a UNLV community partner, is setting a bold vision for the future: becoming the Destination District — a place where students thrive, families feel connected, and employees are proud to belong. Since Superintendent Ebert took the helm this spring, District leadership has been listening, learning, and laying the groundwork for this shared vision.

Now, it’s your turn to share what matters most to you.

Your input will help guide District planning, communications, and decision-making as CCSD continues to build momentum toward the future. The survey is open through November 26th, is available in multiple languages, and takes less than five minutes to complete.

Before You Go

Rebel Recovery Program

Since the December 6th tragedy, the Rebel community continues to experience kindness, support, and encouragement from so many. We would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for all those who have helped and inspired us as we continue our recovery process. Don’t forget to check-in for the latest updates as we continue to progress on our Rebel Recovery Program. Please visit the UNLV Strong website to learn more. 

Support Our Work

Great universities and great communities go together, and this is certainly true for UNLV and Nevada. The needs in our communities are many and there is more we can do together. But, we cannot do it without you. Please consider supporting our work by making a donation. Visit the website, enter the amount, and then select “Community Engagement” from the drop-down menu under the “General Campus Funds” option. Thank you!