Nevada System of Higher Education officials are expected to release a report today on 10 members of the first UNLV dental school graduating class the administration found to have cheated and allowed to graduate in May.

"I'm making numerous recommendations. I'm going to be detailing more facts about the allegations and what did and what didn't occur," said Bart Patterson, deputy chief counsel heading up the investigation.

He wouldn't elaborate on the report's contents until after the Board of Regents reviews it. But he said it won't include the identities of the students. System officials have said the federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act prevents them from releasing the names.

Dental school students, local members of the dental community and some faculty members have called for the 10 students' names to be released to ensure other UNLV dental school graduates are not tainted by a few students' actions.

The Review-Journal obtained their names through several anonymous sources. According to the sources, the students are:

• Brent Adams

• Matthew "Speedy" Bahen

• William Curtis

• Arin Lousig-Nont

• Jeremy Ludlow

• Ryan Payne

• Steven Peterson

• Peter Ray

• Peter Smith

• Gregory Trapnell

Trapnell and Payne refused to comment for this story. The Review-Journal was unable to reach any of the others.

After an audit of the graduating classes' academic records, the university found 10 of the 71 students in the class had electronically forged the signature of a part-time faculty member on patient records, transcripts and other university documents, according to sources.

Typically, every aspect of patient care is approved by a supervising faculty member.

No other students were involved, one source said.

"We've looked at anyone in a clinical setting and everybody, except 10 students, have been cleared," said a UNLV official. "It was a very thorough audit."

According to sources, Richard Carr, the interim dean of the dental school, ordered each of the students to complete 1,500 hours of community service over five years. The punishment was thought to be too stringent by some of the accused students and some faculty, who argued the students did complete their work.

Those service hours are to be supervised by Marshall Brownstein, the dental school's associate dean of student affairs. Brownstein did not return calls Thursday.

At least three of the students are leaving the state to do residencies in Indiana, Texas and Florida. Their academic records will show a 30-day suspension, which could impact their license applications.

The state Board of Dental Examiners has requested the names of the students from UNLV, but has not received them, said John Hunt, the attorney representing the board.

The board launched its own investigation to determine how many of the UNLV grads applying for licenses in Nevada accurately report actions taken against them by the school to ensure licensees have high moral character.

Numerous higher education officials, students, faculty and community dentists have argued for the names to be made public. The public has a right to know whether a future dentist violated procedures and ethical standards in school, they said.

"If it's at all possible without violating FERPA, I think people have a right to know. This school is supported by taxpayer dollars," said Regent Steve Sisolak, who called upon the chancellor to launch an investigation earlier this month. "If you don't do it, it will be a real disservice to the people who obtained the degree legitimately."

Carr and other university officials have maintained patient care was never compromised and that the matter is best handled internally.

Brian Bohman, 26, a recent graduate of the dental school, said he had heard the names of most of the 10 students and they were smart and well-respected.

Their identities and actions are widely known on campus.

"If they didn't know all 10 of them, they knew a handful," Bohman said of the student body. "It was a stupid mistake on their part, but I don't think the image of all the students who did not cheat should be tarnished."

Kelley Dunay, also a recent graduate, called for the release of the names because she didn't want her $120,000 degree impugned by the actions of a few.

At least six of the 10 students have made rounds to classrooms this month to apologize for their behavior, an act school administrators requested as part of their punishments.

According to a source, Payne is the "least guilty" of the offending students. His records showed he had one forged signature, which he didn't initiate.

"Another student authorized it before he could stop him," the source said. "He didn't use it in a clinical setting."

Payne received the sanctions because he never reported the incident to university officials, according to the source.

Payne's wife confirmed her husband's minimal involvement Thursday but wouldn't comment about any other aspect of the incident.

The first graduating class has already taken their regional exams, and those hoping to practice in Nevada have submitted or are submitting applications for licenses, Hunt said.

Rick Thiriot, the Board of Dental Examiners' secretary treasurer, will review students' academic histories to determine whether to grant or reject their license applications. Calls to Thiriot were not returned.

If rejected, students can appeal his decision to the full board.