LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — College of Nevada, Las Vegas President Keith Whitfield introduced his resignation from that submit Monday night, the 8 Information Now Investigators have realized in a statement sent to the students.
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 evening. Whitfield is the primary African American president in UNLV’s historical past, in line with the college’s web site.
Whitfield stated his departure was as a consequence of household points, stating, “Now, I’ve to take my very own recommendation and care for some household points. Household is a vital a part of our lives. Extra of my consideration is required to assist my mom and ensure she has one of the best care potential. I additionally wish to spend extra time with certainly one of my grandsons who at the moment has some well being challenges of his personal. These commitments would require extra of my time and vitality and forestall me from being your president.”
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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 Schooling couldn’t “affirm or deny” whether or not Whitfield was resigning. Subsequent emails after Whitfield’s announcement weren’t instantly answered.
“I do know this information – and the timing of it in the course of the semester and state legislative session – could come as a shock to a few of you, however this can be a resolution I’ve been contemplating for some time now. As soon as my resolution to go away was last, it didn’t appear truthful to the college or any of you to attract out my departure. I’ve shared my resolution with our senior management group at UNLV and imagine they may rise to the event with no loss within the momentum we at the moment take pleasure in,” Whitfield stated in his assertion.
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At UNLV’s State of the College deal with on Jan. 30, Whitfield boasted an enrollment of slightly below 33,000 college students, an all-time excessive and 6 p.c greater than the earlier college 12 months. He additionally set a objective of 40,000 by 2030. Whitfield stated he expects UNLV so as to add new buildings on the Maryland Parkway campus to accommodate its objective of changing into a extra prestigious analysis college.
Whitfield’s assertion stated partially:
“Since day one and each 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 realizing that the inspiration of UNLV has dramatically improved during the last 5 years. It has been an honor to function your president and be part of this superb group.
“I want all of you the best possible and thanks on your work, collaboration, and friendship. I all the time will probably be a Insurgent!“
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 stated commencement charges elevated beneath Whitfield’s management and he targeted on eradicating pointless roadblocks in pupil companies, optimizing monetary assist, and enhancing the enrollment course of. NSHE additionally stated he made “important strides” in selling campus range, contributing to financial and workforce improvement, and fostering interdisciplinary analysis.
The web site Clear Nevada signifies Whitfield earned $488,500 per 12 months, with advantages that enhance his compensation to a complete of $564,766.
Whitfield stated in his assertion that the management transition is already in progress and Nevada System of Greater Schooling Chancellor Patricia Charlton is ready to make an announcement on Tuesday.
The Nevada Board of Regents convenes for its quarterly assembly on March 6-7.
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Within the wake of President Trump’s govt order outlawing Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion initiatives for any U.S. enterprise or tutorial establishment that receives federal funding, Whitfield defended his college’s hiring practices. Below questioning from the 8 Information Now Investigators after Whitfield’s State of the College deal with, he stated that job descriptions requiring faculty to “demonstrate support for diversity, equity and inclusiveness” and a doc offering steering on hiring various 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 range statements of potential school hires, the 8 Information Now Investigators realized.
Whitfield’s relationship with the Board of Regents has had a rocky historical past. 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 obligation to take heed to all pupil and school voices. I feel turning a blind [eye] would possibly trigger extra battle between teams concerned within the battle in Gaza. Nonetheless, it is rather unlucky that our current dialogue with SJP was erroneously reported.”
Emails reveal conflict at NSHE over response to alleged antisemitism at UNLV
The SJP stands for College students for the Justice of Palestine. They organized at the very least three protests at UNLV, they usually’re rallying cry was for the college to reveal and divest from any investments with Israel.
Whitfield additionally despatched a memo to the board, detailing how he met with the coed activists and said, “I made no dedication to this, however I did say, we might communicate with the Funding Committee of the UNLV Basis to raised perceive our funding methods, and asset holdings.”
His memo drew a pointy rebuke from Board of Regents member Byron Brooks who advised the board in response “I’m bewildered why he would invite the propaganda recruiting wing of a international terrorist group into his workplace, and decide to ‘proceed working with their group.”
He has additionally met with campus Jewish pupil teams, and each time protests occurred on campus, Whitfield responded with “UNLV soundly rejects antisemitism and islamophobia.”
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