University of Nevada, Reno

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University of Nevada, Reno
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Motto Omnia Pro Patria (Latin)
Motto in English All for our Country
Established 1874
Type Public Land-Grant
Endowment $185 Million [1]
President Dr. Milton D. Glick
Provost Marc Johnson
Faculty 999
Students 16,862[1]
Undergraduates 11,962
Postgraduates 3,184
Location Reno, Nevada, United States
Coordinates: 39°32′45″N 119°49′00″W / 39.54583°N 119.8166667°W / 39.54583; -119.8166667
Campus Urban
290 acres (Template:Rnd/b-0.4 m2)
Colors          Blue & Silver[2]
Nickname Wolf Pack
Mascot Alphie and Wolfie Jr.
Athletics NCAA Division I
Western Athletic Conference
Website http://www.unr.edu

The University of Nevada, Reno (commonly UNR or Nevada) is located in Reno, Nevada, USA. It includes programs in agricultural research, journalism, animal biotechnology, mining-related engineering, business administration, and natural sciences such as Seismology. It is the land grant institution for the state of Nevada and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Education as a Comprehensive Doctoral Research University with medical and/or veterinary medicine.

The university is home to the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, which has produced six Pulitzer Prize winners.[3] The university is also home to the University of Nevada School of Medicine, which was founded in 1969. The school includes 16 clinical departments and five nationally recognized basic science departments.[4] Within the College of Business at the University of Nevada, the part-time MBA program is ranked 21st in the United States by BusinessWeek as of 2009.[5] The University of Nevada is also home to the only Judicial College in the United States, founded in 1963.[6]

Contents

History

Manzanita Lake in the southwestern part of the campus.
Manzanita Lake in the southwestern part of the campus.
The University of Nevada was established by the Nevada State Constitution, and was founded in Elko, Nevada in 1874. In 1885, the University of Nevada was moved from Elko to its current home in Reno.[7]

After nearly a century of quiet prominence in Nevada and around the western U.S., the University of Nevada made large strides toward becoming the modern institution it is today with the opening of the Desert Research Institute in 1960 and a medical school in 1967. The University of Nevada remained the only four-year academic institution in the state of Nevada until 1965, when the Nevada Southern campus (now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas) was separated to become its own university.

Today the University of Nevada, Reno is one of the best funded universities in the country. According to The Education Trust, UNR's per pupil spending ranked 62nd out of 553 public universities, spending $30,290 per pupil in 2006.[8] Despite the high level of spending, UNR only graduates 46.7 percent of its students within 6 years, ranking 259th out of 553 public universities.[9][10]

The University of Nevada, Reno has currently been affected by the growing economic crisis, which is resulting in the cutting of several programs, being called "streamlining" by the university president. It is uncertain how this will impact future enrollment, tuition increases, or accreditation.[11][12]

Nevada or UNR?

There is now controversy over whether the university should be called UNR or Nevada.[13] However, some claim that since it was the first university in the state, its historical name should be its official designation, as it is in many other multi-campus public university systems such as the University of Michigan. Several of the university's institutions retain the institution's traditional name: "University of Nevada," including the alumni association, the student government, and the athletics department (which refers to the university's teams simply as "Nevada," a practice held since the late 1800s). When the University plays in sports against in-state rival, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the school's name is decided by the home team. When the game is held in Reno, it reads UNLV vs Nevada, however, if held in Las Vegas it reads, UNLV vs UNR.

Academics

The fountain located in the University of Nevada Honor Court
The fountain located in the University of Nevada Honor Court

University of Nevada, Reno is ranked 191 amongst national universities nationwide as a Tier 1 University.[14]

Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs are offered through:

Colleges

Schools

Centers

Nevada sponsors a center dedicated to Basque studies (Including Basque language) due to the large Basque population in northern Nevada.

In addition, the university maintains and sponsors many centers, institutes & facilities.

Libraries

The university and surrounding community is served by several campus libraries. The libraries are:
  • Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center (main library). Opened on August 11, 2008 it was a $75.3 million project which began in September 2005. It replaced the Getchell library.
    • Basque Library (housed in separate section of the Knowledge Center)
  • DeLaMare Library (engineering, computer science, mining, and geology)
    • Mary B. Ansari Map Library
  • Savitt Medical Library

Campus

An older picture showing part of the campus in the foreground
An older picture showing part of the campus in the foreground
The campus is located just north of downtown Reno overlooking Truckee Meadows and the downtown casinos.

Early construction

The university's first building, Morrill Hall, was completed in 1887 and still stands on the historic quad at the campus' southern end. The hall is named after U.S. Senator Justin Morrill, author of the 1862 Land-Grant College Act.[15]

Lincoln Hall (all-male residence) and Manzanita Hall (all-female residence) were both opened in 1896.

The Quad

The Quad is located in the southern part of the campus, surrounded by Morrill Hall and the Mackay School of Mines. This quadrangle is modeled after Thomas Jefferson’s at the University of Virginia. The northern end of the Quad contains a statue of John William Mackay (namesake of Nevada's Mackay School of Mines, later renamed the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering), created by Mount Rushmore designer Gutzon Borglum. The Quad and the original campus buildings surrounding it have a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

View of the Quad, looking north
View of the Quad, looking north

Arboretum

Across the campus of the university exists the University of Nevada, Reno Arboretum, which was established in 1985, contains a collection of trees, shrubs, flowers, ornamentals and native flora, including over 60 genera and about 200 species of trees, many with several cultivars present. Thirty-six mature elm trees line the Quad.

Mackay Stadium

Main article: Mackay Stadium
The football team plays at Mackay Stadium, The modern Mackay Stadium was completed in 1965 with a seating capacity of 7,500. The facility has been expanded several times in the last 15 years and now seats 29,993.

Sustainability

Since its creation in the Fall of 2008, the University of Nevada, Reno's Sustainability Committee has been gathering information on various aspects of campus sustainability and beginning the development of a plan for creating a more sustainable campus.[16] The University's Food Services has made a commitment of 1% of the meal plan revenue to go towards funding sustainable initiatives on campus.[17] In order to reduce energy use, UNR has installed solar panels on the Joe Crowley Student Union and built its first LEED accredited building.[18] The University of Nevada, Reno has been ranked among the nation's most sustainable colleges,[19] receiving an overall grade of "B+" on the Sustainable Endowment Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2010.[20]

Student government

Associated Students of the University of Nevada

The Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) represents the undergraduate population at the university. ASUN has three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) represents the graduate student population at the University of Nevada. The GSA consists of 25 Council Members and a 3 member Executive Council. The Council Members are elected from all of the colleges and schools throughout the university with graduate programs. The Executive Council includes the GSA President, Vice President of Internal Affairs, and Vice President of External Affairs, which are elected by the GSA Council Members.

Athletics

Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack
Nevada Wolf Pack logo
Nevada Wolf Pack logo
Though often referred to as UNR within the state, the university prefers to be called simply Nevada for athletics purposes. Its sports teams are nicknamed the Wolf Pack (always two words). They participate in the NCAA's Division I (FBS for football) and in the Western Athletic Conference.

Men's basketball

Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball

In March 2004, the Wolf Pack Men's basketball team qualified for the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history. The team earned a repeat trip in 2005 and beat Texas in the first round before falling to eventual national runner-up Illinois. The team returned for 2006 as a #5 seed but was upset in the first round by former Big Sky Conference rival Montana. They began the 2006-07 season ranked #24. The Pack's major star during this recent period of success was Nick Fazekas. In 2007, Nevada was ranked #9 in men's basketball, which is the highest ranking that Nevada has ever held. Coach Mark Fox took over after Trent Johnson left in 2004 to coach at Stanford University. On April 3, 2009 it was announced that David Carter would replace Fox who decided to leave Nevada for the same position at the University of Georgia.

Football

Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack football

The football team plays at Mackay Stadium. The modern Mackay Stadium was completed in 1965 with a seating capacity of 7,500. The facility has been expanded several times in the last 15 years and now seats 29,993.

Other notable sports

Further information: Nevada Wolf Pack
Other notable successes have come in boxing (four collegiate champion teams), Rifle shooting, baseball, soccer, women's softball, swimming and diving, rugby and lacrosse.

Rivalries

Annually, Nevada's football team plays its primary rival, UNLV, for the Fremont Cannon in the Battle for Nevada. Nevada is currently enjoying a 20-15 lead in the series, after beating UNLV in 2009, 63-28, in Reno. Nevada also plays UNLV once a year in basketball, with UNLV currently leading the series 51-19. Nevada's two out-of-state rivals, particularly in football, are Boise State and Fresno State.

Mascot

The Wolf Pack's mascot is an Anthropomorphized wolf named Alphie, who took over the duties of cheering from his uncle, Wolfie, in 1999. In 2007, Alphie was joined by his younger brother, Wolfie Jr.

Conference affiliations

Nevada has been a member of the WAC since 2000.

Previous conference memberships include:

[2]

Student media

Nevada's editorially independent, weekly student newspaper is called The Nevada Sagebrush. It comes out every Tuesday afternoon, and employs more than 40 people, 25 full-time. Prior to 2004, the newspaper called itself simply the Sagebrush.

The newspaper took home Pacemakers in 2008 and 2009 at the Associated Collegiate Press conferences in Kansas City and Austin, Tex.[21] It was also a finalist for a Pacemaker at the 2006 and 2007 ACP student journalism awards. It has won the best of show award at the fall 2005, 2006 and 2007 ACP national conferences in its category (weekly broadsheet at a four-year university). It was also nominated for an online ACP Pacemaker in 2008. It's new web site, [www.nevadasagebrush.com], which launched in the fall of 2007, has also been recognized by the Center for Innovation in College Media for it breaking news packages, podcasts, videos and general innovation and Web presence. Many of The Nevada Sagebrush's former editors go on to work and take internships at newspapers and news organizations such as The Washington Post, The Oregonian, USA Today, The Miami Herald, The Arizona Republic and the Associated Press as well as dozens of local newspapers around the country.

Insight Magazine is the only student-run magazine at the University of Nevada, Reno. Formerly Nevada's yearbook for nearly 100 years, Insight Magazine, has evolved into the second major publication circulating at the university. The first edition of Insight Magazine was published in September 2008. It presents itself as a theme-based monthly magazine, providing photography, stories and graphics, in contrast to the weekly, newspaper-style of The Sagebrush. It is put out both in print and online. The online version, UNRINSIGHT.com, provides both support for the published stories and independent content.

In its sophomore year, Insight Magazine has received national attention from major college media organizations, such as the Associated College Press and the College Media Advisers. Insight placed fifth for headline presentation in Best of Collegiate Design 2009 by the "College Media Advisers". At the 2009 ACP Conference in Austin, Texas, Insight placed fifth in Best of Show for an audio podcast.

Nevada's literary arts journal Brushfire was created by a group of students in 1950. It is released once a semester and publishes original poetry, literature, and art by students and some faculty and community members.

There are other independent student publications on campus (although they have stopped publishing regularly since 2006), including The Nevada Blue and the Pack Patriot.

Greek life

Interfraternity Council

Panhellenic Council

Multicultural Greek Council

Secret Societies

Former Fraternities & Sororities

  • Alpha Tau Omega, suspended for two years, until 2010, "student conduct office found ATO guilty of hazing pledge members during recruitment last semester[22]"
  • Pi Kappa Alpha, university charter revoked, new rushing member "Albert Santos drowned in Manzanita Lake."

Notable alumni & faculty

Main article: List of people associated with the University of Nevada, Reno

Film history

The University of Nevada's classically-styled campus has served as the setting for many movies, including:[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.unr.edu/nevadanews/templates/details.aspx?articleid=5247&zoneid=15
  2. ^ http://www.unr.edu/bluekit/fonts-colors/
  3. ^ http://journalism.unr.edu/about-us/
  4. ^ http://www.medicine.nevada.edu/
  5. ^ http://www.business.unr.edu/grad/part-time-program/index.html
  6. ^ http://www.judges.org/about.html
  7. ^ http://www.unr.edu/traditions/
  8. ^ LasVegasNow.com
  9. ^ http://npri.org/docLib/20091012_2007_Higher_Ed_grad_rates.pdf
  10. ^ http://www.nevadabusiness.com/issue/1009/27/2119
  11. ^ http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100228014
  12. ^ http://chronicle.com/article/In-Many-States-Public-Higher/64620/
  13. ^ http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2007/09/25/the-coming-of-the-comma/
  14. ^ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/reno-nv/university-of-nevada-2568
  15. ^ http://www.unr.edu/traditions/history/
  16. ^ "Sustainability Committee Information". University of Nevada-Reno. http://www.unr.edu/sustainability/committee/index.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
  17. ^ "Campus Sustainability: Food". University of Nevada- Reno. http://www.unr.edu/sustainability/campus/food.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
  18. ^ "Campus Sustainability: Energy". University of Nevada- Reno. http://www.unr.edu/sustainability/campus/energy.html. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
  19. ^ http://www.unr.edu/nevadanews/templates/details.aspx?articleid=5202&zoneid=13
  20. ^ "College Sustainability Report Card 2010". Sustainable Endowments Institute. http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2010/schools/university-of-nevada-reno. Retrieved 2009-10-14. 
  21. ^ http://www.rgj.com/article/20081219/NEWS02/812190496/
  22. ^ http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2008/02/19/ato-found-guilty-of-hazing/
  23. ^ http://www.delamare.unr.edu/CampusOnAHill/

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