NSHE could take lesson from UNLV

If it weren‘t clear already that Nevada has serious higher education issues, news from the past couple of weeks certainly provided such clarity.

First, the Review-Journal‘s Bethany Barnes reported June 27 that Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich whitewashed a commissioned review last year that was highly critical of the bureaucracy that sits atop the state’s public colleges and universities. Then, on July 6, the R-J‘s Ana Ley reported on an external review that recommended an overhaul of the school of journalism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Fortunately, that‘s where the bulk of the similarities between the two studies end. Chancellor Klaich sent his report to the rewrite department of the firm that produced it -- the Colorado-based National Center for Higher Education Management Systems -- to get a more glowing study, which he received and then only released as an internal memo. The public paid for the study, then got shafted on the results at a time when lawmakers, local governments and the business community were advancing a dialogue on how Nevada’s governance of community colleges could be improved. The initial study recommended more local control, which would have stripped Mr. Klaich of authority over community colleges. And he couldn‘t have that.

UNLV, on the other hand, actually plans to address the pointed criticism in the journalism school study. The university hasn‘t been entirely upfront, either -- it received the study more than two months ago and still hasn‘t made it public. The findings were released only because the Review-Journal obtained a copy and reported from it. But at least UNLV isn‘t requesting a do-over. The report, written by journalism professors Marianne Barrett from Arizona State University and Dorothy Bland from the University of North Texas, says the biggest obstacle facing UNLV’s Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies is students’ inability to finish their degrees within six years. (Here‘s a wild thought: How about within four years?)

Further, Ms. Ley reported that the study is especially critical of program Chairman Lawrence Mullen, who “seems to lack an understanding of the key metrics related to enrollment, retention, graduation and budget.”

UNLV has produced many standout journalists, including several current and former Review-Journal staffers. Still, there are clearly some problems, and Robert Ulmer, dean of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs, said he and Mr. Mullen are assembling a plan to carry out the study‘s recommendations.

That‘s exactly as it should be. Taxpayers paid for the review. They should know about it, and the university should be open about its response to the review‘s recommendations.

UNLV‘s response should be instructive to Chancellor Klaich.