LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — College of Nevada, Las Vegas President Keith Whitfield introduced his resignation from that put up Monday night, the 8 Information Now Investigators have discovered in a press release despatched to the scholars.
Whitfield, who presided over the lethal taking pictures on the UNLV campus in December 2023, started his tenure there in August 2020.
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He made the announcement on the college’s annual basis dinner on the Bellagio Monday night time. Whitfield is the primary African American president in UNLV’s historical past, in line with the college’s web site.
Whitfield mentioned his departure was as a result of household points, stating, “Now, I have to take my own advice and take care of some family issues. Family is a crucial part of our lives. More of my attention is needed to help my mother and make sure she has the best care possible. I also want to spend more time with one of my grandsons who currently has some health challenges of his own. These commitments will require more of my time and energy and prevent me from being your president.”
The Nevada Board of Regents convenes for its quarterly assembly on March 6-7.
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The 8 Information Now Investigators requested a UNLV spokesman for a touch upon Whitfield’s future within the hours earlier than the announcement, however that e mail was not returned. Monday afternoon, a spokesman for the Nevada System of Greater Training couldn’t “confirm or deny” whether or not Whitfield was resigning. Subsequent emails after Whitfield’s announcement weren’t instantly answered.
“I know this news – and the timing of it in the middle of the semester and state legislative session – may come as a shock to some of you, but this is a decision I have been considering for a while now. Once my decision to leave was final, it did not seem fair to the university or any of you to draw out my departure. I have shared my decision with our senior leadership team at UNLV and believe they will rise to the occasion with no loss in the momentum we currently enjoy,” Whitfield mentioned in his assertion.
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At UNLV’s State of the College tackle on Jan. 30, Whitfield boasted an enrollment of slightly below 33,000 college students, an all-time excessive and 6 p.c increased than the earlier faculty yr. He additionally set a objective of 40,000 by 2030. Whitfield mentioned he expects UNLV so as to add new buildings on the Maryland Parkway campus to accommodate its objective of turning into a extra prestigious analysis college.
Whitfield’s assertion mentioned partially:
“Since day one and every single day since, I really feel blessed to have been afforded the chance to steer our nice college and be part of the Insurgent household. A lot progress has been made as a result of we took on challenges by working collectively. It’s immensely rewarding to go away understanding that the inspiration of UNLV has dramatically improved over the past 5 years. It has been an honor to function your president and be part of this superb group.
“I wish all of you the absolute best and thank you for your work, collaboration, and friendship. I always will be a Rebel!”
Whitfield’s four-year contract was renewed in March 2024.. NSHE cited Whitfield’s dealing with of the Dec. 6 shootings on the campus. He created a Insurgent Restoration Program to assist information UNLV’s response. The Board of Regents additionally lauded Whitfield’s dedication to pupil success and group engagement.
NSHE officers mentioned commencement charges elevated below Whitfield’s management and he centered on eradicating pointless roadblocks in pupil providers, optimizing monetary support, and enhancing the enrollment course of. NSHE additionally mentioned he made “significant strides” in selling campus variety, contributing to financial and workforce improvement, and fostering interdisciplinary analysis.
The web site Clear Nevada signifies Whitfield earned $488,500 per yr, with advantages that improve his compensation to a complete of $564,766.
Whitfield mentioned in his assertion that the management transition is already in progress and Nevada System of Greater Training Chancellor Patricia Charlton is ready to make an announcement on Tuesday.
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Within the wake of President Trump’s government order outlawing Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion initiatives for any U.S. enterprise or educational establishment that receives federal funding, Whitfield defended his college’s hiring practices. Underneath questioning from the 8 Information Now Investigators after Whitfield’s State of the College tackle, UNLV’s prime boss mentioned that job descriptions requiring college to “demonstrate support for diversity, equity and inclusiveness” and a doc offering steering on hiring numerous candidates – with a rating sheet – don’t correctly articulate the college’s recruitment course of.
UNLV later eliminated a scoresheet from its human assets webpage meant to supply steering for evaluating the variety statements of potential college hires, the 8 Information Now Investigators discovered.
Whitfield’s relationship with the Board of Regents has been rocky as emails obtained by 8 Information Now revealed a battle between a board member and Whitfield centered round his response to antisemitic incidents on campus.
An e mail Whitfield despatched to the Board of Regents wrote, “It’s our/my responsibility to take heed to all pupil and school voices. I believe turning a blind [eye] may trigger extra battle between teams concerned within the battle in Gaza. Nonetheless, it is vitally unlucky that our current dialogue with SJP was erroneously reported.”
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The SJP stands for College students for the Justice of Palestine. They organized at the least three protests at UNLV, they usually’re rallying cry was for the college to reveal and divest from any investments with Israel.
Dr. Whitfield additionally despatched a memo to the board, detailing how he met with the coed activists and said, “I made no commitment to this, but I did say, we would speak with the Investment Committee of the UNLV Foundation to better understand our investment strategies, and asset holdings.”
His memo drew a pointy rebuke from Board of Regents member Byron Brooks who instructed the board in response “I am bewildered why he would invite the propaganda recruiting wing of a foreign terrorist organization into his office, and commit to ‘continue working with their group.”
UNLV’s president has additionally met with campus Jewish pupil teams, and every time protests occurred on campus, Dr. Whitfield responded with “UNLV soundly rejects antisemitism and islamophobia.”
