Latest news with #Heavey
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Las Vegas students protest against Trump's immigration policies
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Protesters gathered at UNLV on Thursday in a demonstration targeting the Trump administration's immigration policies. The protest follows the revocation of four UNLV international student visas in early April. Those students' identities remain unknown due to federal privacy laws. Three more students had their visas revoked this week, totalling seven. 'Reinstate their visas. Make sure student safety is a top priority,' protest organizer Stephanie Gentry said. For other protesters, the concern is larger than the revoked visas but also the bigger picture for other international students. Students, UNLV alumni and even students from other universities took part in the protest. 'We've had a lot of students that have to basically leave and flee because they don't have any good immigration standing,' UNLV student Raymond Behnke told 8 News Now. 'They can be deported if they stay, so they can't finish their spring semester here. They need to already go home.' Benke said he is impressed overall with the university's response to student concerns, even crediting some professors who canceled class in solidarity with protesters. 'This is so close to exam season, and there's all these different scheduling issues that they had. It's even 'Bring Your Kid to Work' day, right? Despite all that, they still wanted to show support for this protest and rally, which I'm really happy about,' he said. But he also criticized how the university is handling concerns. Behnke said phrases like 'this is something unfortunate that has occurred' and 'I'm sorry, we're doing our best,' feel too passive. 'I do think there needs to be a little bit more of an active language, like, 'Here's what we're doing in order to show support,' in order to increase our programs that relate to this, such as the immigration clinic,' he explained. Chris Heavey, the officer in charge following UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield's exit, issued the university's initial statement in early April. On Thursday, university regents approved hiring Heavey as interim president by vote of 11-1. Heavey's statement read as follows: 'We have learned that four of our international students have had their visas revoked by federal immigration authorities. We will not identify the students in accordance with federal privacy laws. We recognize that this news may be difficult for some. Unfortunately, similar circumstances are affecting many universities and colleges across the country, and so we were prepared for this possibility. We are offering support and guidance to the students during this difficult time, including helping those in need to fulfill requirements necessary to complete their spring semester. UNLV remains steadfast in our commitment to helping all of our students achieve their academic goals, and we will approach any similar future situations with the same mindset and support. Finally, we are grateful the university has immigration resources for those in need. For example, the UNLV Immigration Clinic's University Legal Services program, part of the Boyd School of Law, offers free immigration legal services, including DACA assistance, to current students, faculty and staff, and their families. The clinic also helps students and others navigate immigration laws and processes. The University Police Department has created a Q and A document as a helpful resource to understand rights and responsibilities related to federal immigration. If anyone is in need of support services following this news, we urge you to please utilize our mental health and wellness resources, or talk to a friend or colleague. We are here for one another.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UNLV prepares to open Sands Chinese cultural center
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — In a few months, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is set to open its Sands Institute for Chinese Language and Culture. UNLV Officer in Charge Chris Heavey said the university is launching new programs for students exploring the country's philosophy and history. 'We've always believed that the connection between Las Vegas specifically and China have been extremely strong from the tourism industry but also the convention business,' Heavey explained. 'We've actually had our first language course launch about a week ago where people can come in to learn conversational Mandarin for free at the language and cultural institute.' Students can also have the opportunity to study abroad, immersing themselves in China's contemporary society while enhancing their academic and professional skills. UNLV's faculty staff spent the last two summers traveling to China establishing relationships. 'One of the lead partners in the Sands Chinese Language and Cultural Institute will be Sun Yat-sen University which is located in Guangzhou China. It's a major research university,' Heavey added. Jenny Koo, president of Nevada's Chinese Association, said this center will help showcase China's rich heritage. 'I also think it's a good time to share more about our culture like most people know about Chinese dance or instruments and we can do more cultural stuff like more in-depth like this tea bowl is 800 to 1,000 years ago like when you see it maybe you didn't know about that,' Koo said. With a growing Chinese population in the Las Vegas valley, Koo said she's proud to see so many people sparking interest in Chinese culture. 'We can do more economics and business so I think that's good for us in the community to see everything that is growing to be a bridge for the tourists and the community,' Koo said. The institute will be located at UNLV's Maryland administrative building on Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road. The Las Vegas Sands donated $15 million to help sponsor these classes and events. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal immigration authorities revoke 4 UNLV international students' visas
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Four international students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas had their visas revoked by federal immigration authorities, the university announced Friday evening. Officer in Charge Chris Heavey made the announcement in an email to the campus community stating, 'We have learned that four of our international students have had their visas revoked by federal immigration authorities. We will not identify the students in accordance with federal privacy laws.' Heavey acknowledged that the news may be difficult for some on campus and that similar instances have affected several universities and colleges across the country. Heavey went on to say that the university was 'prepared for this possibility.' The university has offered support and guidance to students including helping those in need to fulfill the requirements necessary to complete their spring semester. Heavey's statement read in full: We have learned that four of our international students have had their visas revoked by federal immigration authorities. We will not identify the students in accordance with federal privacy laws. We recognize that this news may be difficult for some. Unfortunately, similar circumstances are affecting many universities and colleges across the country, and so we were prepared for this possibility. We are offering support and guidance to the students during this difficult time, including helping those in need to fulfill requirements necessary to complete their spring semester. UNLV remains steadfast in our commitment to helping all of our students achieve their academic goals, and we will approach any similar future situations with the same mindset and support. Finally, we are grateful the university has immigration resources for those in need. For example, the UNLV Immigration Clinic's University Legal Services program, part of the Boyd School of Law, offers free immigration legal services, including DACA assistance, to current students, faculty and staff, and their families. The clinic also helps students and others navigate immigration laws and processes. The University Police Department has created a Q and A document as a helpful resource to understand rights and responsibilities related to federal immigration. If anyone is in need of support services following this news, we urge you to please utilize our mental health and wellness resources, or talk to a friend or colleague. We are here for one another. Officer in Charge Chris Heavey In March the the Education Department announced it is investigating more than 50 colleges — including UNLV — over what it called 'racial preferences' in academics or scholarships, a move that comes amid the Trump administration's wider crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The department said 45 schools were under investigation for partnering with the Ph.D Project, which it says is 'an organization that purports to provide doctoral students with insights into obtaining a Ph.D. and networking opportunities, but limits eligibility based on the race of participants.' Three former UNLV professors — including one who died in the fatal on-campus shooting on Dec. 6, 2023 — participated in the program. UNLV, in a statement, acknowledged its professors' involvement in the Ph.D project. Slain UNLV professor part of program under federal DEI probe 'UNLV is aware of the federal investigation,' the statement said. 'Three former UNLV professors were participants in the mentoring program known as the PHD Project. Navarro Velez, one of the professors cited in UNLV's statement about the federal investigation, died in the December 2023 shooting on UNLV's campus in which three faculty members died. Known as 'Pat,' Navarro Velez was a beloved member of the UNLV accounting and Lee Business School community and family, Dr. Jason Smith, Department of Accounting chair and professor at Lee Business School said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UNLV, UNR funding would dip under new formula presented to Nevada lawmakers
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A rebuilt funding formula for the state's colleges and universities became a target for officials Tuesday during a budget hearing in Carson City. Lawmakers and leaders from the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), seemed to agree on one thing: The formula doesn't do much more than shift money around in ways that don't satisfy anyone. And not enough money, according to some officials. Gov. Joe Lombardo's proposed budget for NSHE in the 2026-27 biennium is $2.7 billion. Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, a Las Vegas Democrat, questioned whether lawmakers should approve NSHE's proposed formula. 'Based upon your answers today, that what we have is a funding formula that is not working for two of the largest institutions here in the state,' she said. UNLV and UNR would lose a combined $42.5 milllion that would go to smaller schools. Patty Charlton, interim chancellor at NSHE, responded, 'I would agree that — and I think if the presidents were all to come up they would say — that the funding formula didn't work for any of them as a whole.' Charlton argued for the opportunity to tweak the budget formula going forward, while Cannizzaro asked if it would be better to just get the formula right from the start. Looking to add context, Charlton described the formula as it exists now as a distribution model that has changed over the years. Charlton was part of the 2013 effort to change the formula, and it resulted in the elevation of UNR and UNLV to R1 research institutions, she said. 'Yes, this needs to be a work in progress. We need to continue to work with your staff and with the institutions to really define where we need to go as a state,' Charlton said. Cannizzaro invited leaders from UNLV and UNR to weigh in, and that led to comments on existing funding levels. 'The net funding per FTE (full-time equivalent student) in Nevada is the lowest in the country,' UNLV interim leader Chris Heavey said. 'And so essentially all of our institutions are working on a shoestring budget.' Heavey stepped into the role when UNLV President Keith Whitfield resigned on March 3. The statistics he cited show Nevada funds higher education at about 63% of the national average, based on FTE funding. 'It is a struggle. We're in national competition to hire faculty and to retain our faculty and it is sometimes a struggle for us to compete with other R1 institutions,' according to Jeff Thompson, executive vice president and provost at UNR. Heavey added, 'We often say we are R1 institutions funded at an R2 level.' UNLV is about $120 million short of budgets at other R1 institutions, Heavey said. Even so, he acknowledged the need for more funding at the state's community colleges. 'The two-year institutions are more underfunded than the four-year institutions,' he said. NSHE is the governing body for: UNLV UNR Desert Research Institute Nevada State University College of Southern Nevada (CSN) Great Basin College Truckee Meadows Community College Western Nevada College NSHE's budget challenges don't stop with problems with the formula. The Board of Regents increased student fees at all the state's colleges and universities by 5% recently to help pay for cost-of-living raises for employees who were left out when the state doled out pay raises in 2023. NSHE also delayed raises to help cover the cost. Now, they have to pay for those raises going forward, and they want the state to kick in. No one on either side of the aisle in the Nevada Legislature is happy about that. Republican Minority Floor Leader Assem. Gregory Hafen II remarked, 'Aren't you guys your own branch of government now?' His sentiment matched comments by the majority Democrats. 'I want to understand why those decisions were made and now, why they are coming back to us to fill the hole that basically they created,' Hafen said. Budgets for capital projects were not included in Tuesday's hearing. NSHE cited a backlog of $376 million in maintenance projects for campus facilities. The budget is expected to allocate $15 million. Another $50 million is needed for safety/security equipment to improve all the state's campuses in the wake of the December 2023 shooting at UNLV that left three faculty members dead. Only a fraction of that amount is expected to be approved in the budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
