Mission Statement
At Nevada State, excellence fosters opportunity. Excellence in teaching leads to innovative, technology-rich learning opportunities that promote the acquisition of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. Quality, affordable degree programs open doors to career success and an enhanced quality of life for a diverse population of students. Our graduates, in turn, foster the greatest opportunity – the promise of a stronger community and a better future for all of Nevada.
University Values and the Exchange of Ideas
The modern state university fosters the acquisition of knowledge and the distribution of newly discovered information. It enlivens curiosity, cultivates critical judgment, and encourages the contribution of its informed students to the development of American society. Nevada State University is committed to these goals and to the maintenance of an academic environment which advances the free exchange of ideas.
While prohibition of certain kinds of speech can have a chilling effect on the free and open exchange of ideas, a policy of civility and tolerance can protect the environment, which is free of intimidation to promote open debate.
Personal verbal harassment of one individual by another is uncivil behavior, which can taint or pollute the learning climate and discourage open expression of ideas on legitimate academic subjects.
The university is committed to an orderly learning environment, which protects the right of free speech and rejects personal intimidation of any kind.
More information regarding free speech is provided in AD 6: Free Speech Policy.
Nevada State University Purpose Statement
Nevada State was created to deliver relevant degrees for the new majority. We boldly name the new majority as first-generation students, adult learners, students of color, Dreamers, immigrants, and anyone looking for the opportunity to lift themselves and their family out of poverty. Our purpose is to create and expand the new majority’s participation in higher education, while at the same time, increasing income mobility and wealth for all Nevadans. We will act with intention to design, redesign, and reinvent our campus as necessary to break down historic barriers that prevent learning. We do this by focusing on great teaching, transformative student experiences, empowering employees, and creating strategic alliances that advance our mission. We will continue to be a community where anyone can belong. We will protect our people, our culture, and live out our values in the work we do. Nevada State will make an audacious bet on the future of education in Nevada, by Nevadans, and for Nevadans, and the responsibilities that come with it. We Are Bold. We Are Great. We Are State.
History of Nevada State University
As the only four-year, comprehensive public college in the state of Nevada, Nevada State University places a special emphasis on the advancement of a diverse and largely underserved student population. In this role, the college emphasizes high-quality instruction, exemplary service, engaging learning experiences, and innovation as a means to more efficient, effective outcomes in all corners of the campus.
NSU has achieved remarkable success in furthering its mission and core-values.
Milestones
Enrollment Growth. Since its inception, NSU’s enrollment has grown from 177 students in 2002 to over 7,600 students today, making it the fastest-growing institution within the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Degree Programs. The college has grown to offer more than 30 majors and 25 minors, including predominant areas of study such as business, biology, psychology, education, criminal justice, and nursing. In addition, Nevada State University offers a Master of Education program in Speech-Language Pathology, Education Specialist program in School Psychology, and a Master of Science in Nursing program in Nursing Leadership.
Alumni. May of 2004 marked a momentous occasion for NSU, as the college celebrated its first commencement ceremony with a class of 13 graduates. Since 2004, Nevada State University has graduated over 5,400 students. Over half of NSU’s alumni have graduated with degrees in teaching and nursing.
Campus Growth. NSU’s developing 509-acre campus is located in the southeast corner of the City of Henderson, on the sloping foothills of the McCullough Mountain range. Opening in 2008, the Liberal Arts & Sciences building was the first structure built on the campus and houses labs, classrooms, the Writing Center, the Nepantla program, along with other academic programs. In 2015, two new buildings, the Kasner Academic Building and a student center and administrative building (the Rogers Student Center) opened their doors. Together, the buildings added approximately 110,000 square-feet of new space to the campus. The Kasner Academic Building houses several anatomy labs, over a dozen classrooms, a large auditorium, faculty and staff offices, and a cutting-edge media center. The Rogers Student Center features the Marydean Martin library, food services, career services, disability services, and the new student lounge. The Raker Student Success Center, opened in 2018, houses essential student support services in a convenient, one-stop location. The university's first residence halls opened in fall 2020, allowing students to live on campus.
The Christenson Education Building and the Engelstad Health Sciences building (shared at CSN, Henderson), opened in fall 2021. The Christenson Education building is 65,000 square feet, allowing us to create new programs and to accept more students into our School of Education programs. The building includes a Speech-Language Pathology Lab and an Early Childhood Education Center, both offering our students hands-on learning while we also serve the community.
NSU’s Campus Master Plan, which was approved in 2010 by the NSHE Board of Regents and the City of Henderson, provides an innovative framework for the campus. The plan calls for the seamless, sustainable integration of academic and academic support uses with its surrounding environment. The full campus build-out will accommodate 25,000 – 30,000 students with roughly six million square feet of academic, residential, industry, retail and cultural space.
Diversity. Nevada State University’s campus community – the students, faculty, and staff – is one of the most diverse populations in Nevada. Over 60% of NSU’s students and over 40% of its full-time faculty and staff belong to an ethnic or racial minority group. In 2015, Nevada State became the second four-year Hispanic Serving Institution in Nevada; since then, the university has received two U.S. Department of Education Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Title V Program grants, worth $2.7 million and $2.8 million.
Accreditation
Nevada State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation.
Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution. The criteria for NWCCU Accreditation can be found here.
Inquiries regarding an institution's accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue N.E., Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 558-4224
www.nwccu.org
State Approvals
School of Education
The School of Education has full approval of the Nevada State Board of Education.
School of Nursing
The Nursing program has full approval from the
Nevada State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Contact Information
BE CONNECTED 702.992.2000
BE HERE 1300 Nevada State Dr., Henderson, NV 89002
BE INFORMED Visit nevadastate.edu for campus news and program information.
Nevada State University is one of the eight institutions within the Nevada System of Higher Education. The main campus is located in the City of Henderson, in the Las Vegas Valley.