Change and growth are two things that when uttered tend to inspire fear in the heart and dread in the mind. Apprehension is a natural reaction to displacement on any scale-- from a young adult leaving their childhood home for college to simply not wanting to get up from the couch, human complacency and the fearful desire to stay put are instincts we all have in place. Human instinct may keep us grounded, but the spirit that some possess to traverse boundaries and to create come not out of requirements, but of an unnecessarily necessary need. The University of Nevada at Reno has admittedly had slow beginnings. Historically, the notable economic sources of Nevada were the mining and tourism industries, with public education and education in general being mostly pushed aside as an afterthought, so funding was originally very scarce for the university. After the recessions over the past sixteen or so years, the tourism and gambling industries of Reno have been slipping, so city officials and planners have turned to the university to be the forefront of the economy (Hidalgo). The university has expanded greatly and has even greater plans for its future, both in physical structures and educational plans. Growth of the university is also projected to affect the surrounding communities and businesses, creating some potentially unwanted pressure on locals but ultimately aiming to improve the economy and beautify the area.
When looking towards the future, it’s important to take into consideration the past and history of a place. The University of Nevada was formally started with the birth of the state, whose constitution provided to have a land grant university, which was originally located in Elko, located several hours east of its final home. In 1886, the university was reopened in Reno as a preparatory school in Morrill Hall, now overlooking the quad, which was later built in 1908. In 1957, after several years of growth, a southern branch of the university which would eventually become the University of Nevada, Las Vegas was opened in Paradise, Nevada. The thirty year period following the separation was a time of significant growth for the northern Nevada university, with completion of Fleischmann Planetarium, several well known buildings such as Ansari Business and Laxalt engineering, and the naming of Joe Crowley as President of the university. The university celebrated its centennial in 1986, and with the turn of the coming century, even more changes in infrastructure and academic developments were taking place. The Joe Crowley Student Union was completed in 2007 and was shortly followed by the completion of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center and the opening of the Davidson Academy (UNR). In the most recent decade, the opening of the Center for Molecular Medicine, William N. Pennington Student achievement center, and the Davidson Math and Science Center signify great educational growth for the university and a greater change for Reno as well.
Reno, like many other cities across our nation, is currently going through a transitory period full of change in both culture, economy, and education. At the heart of this transition is the University, located right on Virginia street. The University has grown significantly since its inception in 1874, as evidenced by historic brick buildings seated by shining glass structures, and has grown at an even greater pace still since the turn of the century-- looking at the timeline of UNR, the amount of structures we now consider core to the sciences and the students built after the year 2000 such as the Joe Crowley Student Union and Davidson Math and Science are far greater than those built previously. Reno as a town has has also grown alongside the university, and in recent years have been connecting in a way greater than before, thanks to the campus master plan published in 2015. The explanation for this growth has to do mainly with the economy of Nevada. Gambling, once at the forefront of the Nevada economy, has taken a hit with recent recessions such as the one in 2008 (Horváth). Ever since then, the importance of casinos to the Reno economy has lessened, and both city planners and citizens have started to recognize Reno’s future as a college town. While growth of the university was and is certainly influential in an introspective sense, it does have a greater impact on the surrounding communities in Reno.
With such confidence placed by the state of Nevada placed on the UNiversity, the roadmap planned must be effective and beneficial for the students and therefore Nevada as a whole. The plans set by UNR emphasize the importance of educational growth and an increased quality of staff. In a plan outlined in a 2014 document by the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), the vision set out by both the university and the NSHE Board of Regents is organized and explained in terms of what they wish to accomplish and how they are planning on doing so. The mission set out in the plan has three central themes-- Learning, discovery, and engagement (NSHE 27). The learning theme has to do with producing graduates who can compete globally with the skills they learned in undergraduate and graduate school. This plan is and will be achieved by “Grow[ing] faculty primarily through hiring tenure track faculty with outstanding… credentials,” implementation of the Silver Core Curriculum (a list of objectives intended to prep students in all educational aspects), promotion of an educational culture of learning and competition, and constantly updating existing degree programs. The university also intends to expand the diversity of the student body, ensure timely graduation rates, and fully prepare students for life beyond college.
The second theme, discovery, deals with creating new knowledge through research, art, and scholarship in fields relevant to both the state of Nevada and the whole world. This effort is planned to happen through more specialized faculty members and by focusing on relevant fields such as agriculture, communications, health sciences, and environmental studies. The third theme, engagement, has to do with engaging and improving the lives of local Nevada citizens, organizations, and governments through mutually beneficial partnerships and outreach programs. As seen in previous examples, expansion into the surrounding community is a clear goal of the university, with the surrounding Reno area standing to gain economically and the university population having the opportunity to gain educationally as well. The university has loosely outlined potential projects such as access to education, mental and physical health services, and government involvement opportunities that include university services and students (NSHE 12-14.) Through this plan, the community benefits from services provided, and students can gain valuable experience in a variety of fields and interests.
Of course, as with anything in life, great plans of growth are bound to create positive repercussions in the community in which it is contained. Universities, especially larger public ones, are often the largest employers for the surrounding area and are often so large they can create communities in the town as a whole. The effects that universities can have on surrounding areas are great, and the paths through which they can have an effect are equally diverse. A collaboration by Wim Wiewel and Gerrit-Jan Knaap combines the information from various experts on university’s presences in their respective towns, and mentions the various ways universities can influence and are influenced by the surrounding businesses and authorities. There are many examples that apply to every higher education entity in the United States. Collaborations with professional organizations give professional experience and opportunities to students with local corporations. Local governments can collaborate with universities for community development and even governmental policy on a state or federal level, and smaller organizations such as charities or non profits stand to gain increased support and connections from a larger university backing. Universities tend to have a symbiotic relationship with these outside organizations; by using them to gain a better image and more influence in town, their students can gain more experience, become better workers, and later go on to influence both the reputation of the school and its surrounding area. One example would be the Student Outreach Clinic at the Medical School-- This clinic’s goal is to provide medical care to the uninsured members of the Reno community. Patients are not charged for care, and medical students at the school receive valuable experience diagnosing and dealing with patients (Student Outreach Clinic). The goal of the clinic to aid those in need who can’t afford it is an example of how the university in specific is affecting the community in a positive way while also benefitting with more experienced students.
In one example given by Wiewel and Knaap, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), through an urban development effort with a local neighborhood association, managed to take a neighborhood in decline and transform it into a “more secure prosperous environment” (12) full of new university housing buildings, home owner incentives, and an overall more secure environment. These examples of community change and involvement are representative of the idea of smart growth-- smart growth is a concept coined by Wiewel and Knaap and characterized by planned development that makes an attempt to diversify cities and increase living conditions. The principles of this type of plan can be roughly characterized as efficient land use, revitalizing the economy and culture of communities, and active citizen participation (12-13). All of these aspects are generally catered around the one central goal of having the highest level of human satisfaction and happiness for the most amount of people in the most efficient way. As evidenced in a study by April Woolnough, there is commonplace fear on urban campuses. The wide range and spread of social problems all across America is a linking commonality that many college towns face, so the “smart growth” principles outlined above show relevance towards many social issues such as poverty or crime. It can be seen even locally in Reno how having a University can have such a large impact on the surrounding area.
Like previously stated, the concept of “smart growth” is a widely accepted concept to better urban areas through community involvement and revitalization of business in the area. In an article by John Trent, the president of the University of Nevada, Marc Johnson, commented on some of both his own personal and the university's plans for economic growth and impact in the surrounding Reno area and even the world. While not the school’s main goal, diversifying a growing Nevada economy is certainly an intended effect. President Johnson promised that the University of Nevada has planned projects that “align with Nevada’s economic diversification goals” (3). Producing valuable workers to the state in key areas such as engineering and pharmaceuticals is a stated very important goal to the university to achieve. Even in other areas of the university, various professors are stating support and showing initiative for growth. The article introduces Sudeep Chandra, a nationally recognized associate professor of biology at the University, and he states that the growth and reach for innovation the university is attempting is something that most don’t even try for. Chandra and several other UNR colleagues are the founders of the Global Water Center, a collaboration with faculty members from three other colleges. Chandra says that without the support from the administration of UNR, the project would not exist, and seeing the impact that UNR can have on the world makes him optimistic for the future-- “We’re pushing things right now as an institution, and I love it” (5). In the closing paragraphs of the paper, President Johnson’s words are brought back up to reiterate how important community and state relations are to the expansion of UNR. He believes that “Our ultimate success is going to be in how well our people connect the impact of the actual products they produce… I don’t see any reason why we can’t contribute, as a high impact research university, to the progress of our state” (5).
Students and citizens of reno of course serve to benefit from UNR’s growth, but the impact that the university has on the environment is certainly influential as well. Even from the earlier years of the university, the growing importance of environmental sciences show how there was always a scientific and environmental connection, starting in 1905 with James Edward Church bringing recognition to the university through his snow surveying techniques and systems to local Reno mountain ranges. Later on in history, the Desert Research Institute, founded in 1959 as a part of the university, has also been involved with numerous environmental efforts in the desert area, including cloud seeding, atmospheric monitoring, and other conservation and environmental efforts (Hulse). In 1985, the university was declared a state arboretum by the Nevada legislature (UNR), showing further significance to both the environment of Nevada and the connection between the surrounding area and the university itself.
Obviously, the plans for university expansion are very heavily tied to the Nevada economy and communities, and these connections can already be seen in both future and established physical plans. The Davidson Academy of Nevada is a free, public high school open to “profoundly gifted students,” located on the Nevada campus and open to all who meet its intellectual requirements. Many graduates of the Mackay School of Mines more often go to work at local or regional mines in Nevada. Future plans such as studying and improving the environment of the Lake Tahoe area show an attempt to improve the surrounding environment, an important component in the “smart growth” philosophy. Other efforts, such as the planned gateway district, intend to develop the economy of businesses south of campus.
It’s quite clear to see the physical growth at the University of Nevada just by listening to the buzzing of construction projects or by looking at the growing list of faculty members. Many people both in and around the university are aware of new buildings gracing the skyline with grand steel and brick visages and of new class sections opening up, but what most people don’t realize is the years of planning and forethought that goes into each physical and educational development. The growth of UNR is something that has been in place ever since the school was founded, and neither economic nor physical setbacks can fully upset the plan set forth by many architects and developers both independent and in the university.
In a ten year master plan published by UNR in 2015, one can see how many developments are planned by the university to serve not only academics, but to cull a specific type of educational and influential campus with a carefully engineered feel harkening to a small campus experience. Beginning with their plans for physical buildings, there are currently many completed, ongoing, and planned construction and renovation projects, all serving a diverse range of interests and fields. One prominent example of a recently completed building serving the school population as a whole is the Pennington Student Achievement Center, a modern, steel and glass building with support systems for students with disabilities, tutoring centers, study rooms, and numerous computer labs and classrooms. The E.L. Wiegand Fitness center, set to open early in 2017, is a gymnasium free to undergraduates that is set to overtake the existing Lombardi gym as the center for student and faculty fitness. Other developments include new dorms to keep up with overwhelmingly large incoming freshman numbers, including the completed Peavine hall, the upcoming Great Basin hall, and and a future unnamed hall (UNR).
Looking beyond these actually physically building, there are also educational campus precincts planned to be set by the University. Including sectors such as Health science, physical fitness, agricultural, and residential, these neighborhoods are being engineered to create a “unique character… to provide a strong sense of identity and diversity… while ensuring that they are a part of the larger University community” (NSHE 40). The university’s master plan shows efforts towards improved transportation infrastructure as well, both internally and between the surrounding area. Transportation is one aspect that that university is planning to have control over, but other areas such as urban design and streetscapes are something that the university wishes to have influence over as well. The University Regional Center Plan (URCP) is a plan amended by the city council in 2009 that creates a “University Sphere of Influence to establish the intent of the City of Reno to encourage University uses… well beyond the boundaries of the URCP” (NSHE 3.)
Several examples of this increased influence would have to be the University District and the gateway precinct. The town “gateways” will be located between the already existing area of the university and interstate 80, and will be a mixed use area consisting of both university infrastructure and various modes of city transportation. The transportation aspect includes new bus stops and an increased connection with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). This more connected system is intended to increase the flow of students with the surrounding area south of campus-- with more students venturing out, businesses will receive more customers and bolster the economy. The university district is a planned area generally confined from 9th street to downtown Reno and North Virginia Street and Evans Avenue. This district is intended to harbor residential buildings, commercial space, community oriented infrastructure such as parks and childcare, and “innovation centers,” hubs for technological advancements and other startups. This district is planned with the intended effect of blurring the lines between the university and Reno, subsequently increasing the economy of both (NSHE 20).
It’s obvious that the leaders of the University have grand plans and great intentions for the expansion of the university, but just like the conservation of matter, something cannot just be created without also taking something away. UNR wishes to expand, but to do so, it must get the land from the surrounding area. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of university growth is the fact that it needs to take surrounding land to be able to expand, and the area in which it is hoping to revitalize currently houses businesses and a number of historical motels (NSHE 32). Walking down Virginia Street, the gray buildings are contrasted with the pastel aesthetic of these motels, with their neon signs and antique architectures. The area and whole atmosphere of these hotels is known by students as an area to not walk down alone (or at all) at night, an aspect of the surrounding area that UNR is trying to fix. Despite the graying facades, some argue that these motels have historical value and should be treated as testaments to the past, and when you look at any of these motels, you can’t deny that they look the straight of the retro 60’s. Some local casinos, such as Circus Circus Reno, are also standing in the way of potential additions. All businesses between the University and above I-80 have the potential to be affected, and who decides on whether or not that’s a good thing depends on the level of cooperation between the university and the citizens.
Cooperation of the local citizens and business owners is essential to achieve one of the main points for emphasis in the UNR master plan, the development and beautifying of campus gateways and university districts. Given this emphasis, there might not be space for seedy motels or gambling in the mix. The university’s goal is to buy the land in the area and expand student housing, something sorely needed by the university’s growing freshman population. The nearby motels such as the Sundance or Capri motels will most likely be demolished rather than renovated, though Fred Turnier, a community development Director for Reno, says that “The best way is to buy the land but there are many other ways to implement the plans” (Trent), namely cooperation by the business owners. In a personal interview with Jagat Singh, the owner of the Sundance motel, he indicated that he was willing to sell his motel if he was offered a good price, stating that he can always move. Mr. Singh has owned the motel since he bought it in 1994, and while he could not say much for the history of the motel previous to his purchase, he did say that he was offered to sell it around eight years ago. The most interesting thing he said was that he would be happy if the university bought the land the motel is on, saying that he feels that UNR can expand the city through bettering the students. Mr. Singh’s viewpoint is different than the staunch historical standpoint that I expected him to have, but it was very refreshing to see the community support in the University, even if it is only for a good deal.
While the small independent motels are feeling threatened, even larger entities still have a large reason to feel threatened. Circus Circus Reno, one of the more prominent casinos in the area, is within the boundaries that UNR plans to expand into. The university has had talks about converting one of the casino towers into housing, something that obviously raised staunch opposition on Circus Circus’ part. Tony Mavrides, vice president of Circus Circus Reno, explained that "While we are supportive of ... connecting the university experience with the downtown area ... we do not wish to see any changes to our current property use designation." (Hidalgo). While Mr. Mavrides is less cooperative with potential future plans than Mr. Singh, he does show parallels with the motel owner. Mr. Mavrides expresses support for both the University and the Reno economy, and shows that he understands how the economy of Reno is shifting towards a more education oriented economy.
Reno is changing, a fact evident to anyone who strolls through midtown or sees the campaign put forth by the city to beautify and diversify Reno as a whole. The increased resources and efforts put into the University of Nevada, Reno serve as a sign as to how Reno, the town and the university, are maturing. Universities in general often heavily influence (mostly for the better) the surrounding communities and areas, something that UNR is definitely putting efforts into. The constant construction, no matter how much of a nuisance it may seem, is a testament to this fact, and even the almost invisible educational advancements put forth are making an impact and will continue to do so for years to come. Along with diversifying the economy by taking over the economic slump left over from recessions, the university is impacting the surrounding areas by planning communities that integrate the actual city of Reno with the university, creating blurred communities that benefit off of one another. Although this growth is taking over historical businesses and local land, the general consensus is that what the university is doing is for the benefit of all of Reno, signaling the community involvement and greater change that all in Reno and in Nevada serve to benefit from.
Works Cited
Kenney, Martin, and David Mowery. Public Universities and Regional Growth: Insights from the University of California. Stanford University Press, 2014.
Knowles, Anne. "UNR Master Plan: Expand Campus, Services." Sierra Sun. 18 Sep. 2014. 01 Nov. 2016.
Horváth, Csilla, and Richard Paap. “The Effect of Recessions on Gambling Expenditures.” Journal of Gambling Studies, vol. 28, no. 4, 2011, pp. 703–717. doi:10.1007/s10899-011-9282-9. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.
Hidalgo, Jason. "Higher Cred: Behind Reno's Gambit to Become a University Town." Reno Gazette Journal, 06 Oct. 2014. http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/10/04/reno-wants-become-university-town-scaling-back-gambling/16675805/. Accessed 01 Nov. 2016.
Hulse, James W. The University of Nevada: A Centennial History. U of Nevada, 1974.
NSHE Board of Regents. Strategic Plan- 2015 to 2021. University of Nevada, 2014.
"Student Outreach Clinic." University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, http://med.unr.edu/soc. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.
Singh, Jagat. Personal Interview. 9 November 2016.
Trent, John. "A High Impact Research University, Powered by Knowledge." Nevada Silver & Blue, 2016 Fall, pp. 2-5.
“UNR Timelines.” University of Nevada, Reno Timelines. http://knowledgecenter.unr.edu/univarch/timeline.aspx. Accessed 01 Nov. 2016.
Wiewel, Wim, and Gerrit-Jan Knaap. Partnerships for Smart Growth: University-community Collaboration for Better Public Places. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2005.
Woolnough, April D. "Fear of Crime on Campus: Gender Differences in use of Self-Protective Behaviours at an Urban University." Security Journal, vol. 22, no. 1, 2009, pp. 40-55, ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection, http://unr.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/230359576?accountid=452.doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/sj.2008.11. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.
When looking towards the future, it’s important to take into consideration the past and history of a place. The University of Nevada was formally started with the birth of the state, whose constitution provided to have a land grant university, which was originally located in Elko, located several hours east of its final home. In 1886, the university was reopened in Reno as a preparatory school in Morrill Hall, now overlooking the quad, which was later built in 1908. In 1957, after several years of growth, a southern branch of the university which would eventually become the University of Nevada, Las Vegas was opened in Paradise, Nevada. The thirty year period following the separation was a time of significant growth for the northern Nevada university, with completion of Fleischmann Planetarium, several well known buildings such as Ansari Business and Laxalt engineering, and the naming of Joe Crowley as President of the university. The university celebrated its centennial in 1986, and with the turn of the coming century, even more changes in infrastructure and academic developments were taking place. The Joe Crowley Student Union was completed in 2007 and was shortly followed by the completion of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center and the opening of the Davidson Academy (UNR). In the most recent decade, the opening of the Center for Molecular Medicine, William N. Pennington Student achievement center, and the Davidson Math and Science Center signify great educational growth for the university and a greater change for Reno as well.
Reno, like many other cities across our nation, is currently going through a transitory period full of change in both culture, economy, and education. At the heart of this transition is the University, located right on Virginia street. The University has grown significantly since its inception in 1874, as evidenced by historic brick buildings seated by shining glass structures, and has grown at an even greater pace still since the turn of the century-- looking at the timeline of UNR, the amount of structures we now consider core to the sciences and the students built after the year 2000 such as the Joe Crowley Student Union and Davidson Math and Science are far greater than those built previously. Reno as a town has has also grown alongside the university, and in recent years have been connecting in a way greater than before, thanks to the campus master plan published in 2015. The explanation for this growth has to do mainly with the economy of Nevada. Gambling, once at the forefront of the Nevada economy, has taken a hit with recent recessions such as the one in 2008 (Horváth). Ever since then, the importance of casinos to the Reno economy has lessened, and both city planners and citizens have started to recognize Reno’s future as a college town. While growth of the university was and is certainly influential in an introspective sense, it does have a greater impact on the surrounding communities in Reno.
With such confidence placed by the state of Nevada placed on the UNiversity, the roadmap planned must be effective and beneficial for the students and therefore Nevada as a whole. The plans set by UNR emphasize the importance of educational growth and an increased quality of staff. In a plan outlined in a 2014 document by the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), the vision set out by both the university and the NSHE Board of Regents is organized and explained in terms of what they wish to accomplish and how they are planning on doing so. The mission set out in the plan has three central themes-- Learning, discovery, and engagement (NSHE 27). The learning theme has to do with producing graduates who can compete globally with the skills they learned in undergraduate and graduate school. This plan is and will be achieved by “Grow[ing] faculty primarily through hiring tenure track faculty with outstanding… credentials,” implementation of the Silver Core Curriculum (a list of objectives intended to prep students in all educational aspects), promotion of an educational culture of learning and competition, and constantly updating existing degree programs. The university also intends to expand the diversity of the student body, ensure timely graduation rates, and fully prepare students for life beyond college.
The second theme, discovery, deals with creating new knowledge through research, art, and scholarship in fields relevant to both the state of Nevada and the whole world. This effort is planned to happen through more specialized faculty members and by focusing on relevant fields such as agriculture, communications, health sciences, and environmental studies. The third theme, engagement, has to do with engaging and improving the lives of local Nevada citizens, organizations, and governments through mutually beneficial partnerships and outreach programs. As seen in previous examples, expansion into the surrounding community is a clear goal of the university, with the surrounding Reno area standing to gain economically and the university population having the opportunity to gain educationally as well. The university has loosely outlined potential projects such as access to education, mental and physical health services, and government involvement opportunities that include university services and students (NSHE 12-14.) Through this plan, the community benefits from services provided, and students can gain valuable experience in a variety of fields and interests.
Of course, as with anything in life, great plans of growth are bound to create positive repercussions in the community in which it is contained. Universities, especially larger public ones, are often the largest employers for the surrounding area and are often so large they can create communities in the town as a whole. The effects that universities can have on surrounding areas are great, and the paths through which they can have an effect are equally diverse. A collaboration by Wim Wiewel and Gerrit-Jan Knaap combines the information from various experts on university’s presences in their respective towns, and mentions the various ways universities can influence and are influenced by the surrounding businesses and authorities. There are many examples that apply to every higher education entity in the United States. Collaborations with professional organizations give professional experience and opportunities to students with local corporations. Local governments can collaborate with universities for community development and even governmental policy on a state or federal level, and smaller organizations such as charities or non profits stand to gain increased support and connections from a larger university backing. Universities tend to have a symbiotic relationship with these outside organizations; by using them to gain a better image and more influence in town, their students can gain more experience, become better workers, and later go on to influence both the reputation of the school and its surrounding area. One example would be the Student Outreach Clinic at the Medical School-- This clinic’s goal is to provide medical care to the uninsured members of the Reno community. Patients are not charged for care, and medical students at the school receive valuable experience diagnosing and dealing with patients (Student Outreach Clinic). The goal of the clinic to aid those in need who can’t afford it is an example of how the university in specific is affecting the community in a positive way while also benefitting with more experienced students.
In one example given by Wiewel and Knaap, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), through an urban development effort with a local neighborhood association, managed to take a neighborhood in decline and transform it into a “more secure prosperous environment” (12) full of new university housing buildings, home owner incentives, and an overall more secure environment. These examples of community change and involvement are representative of the idea of smart growth-- smart growth is a concept coined by Wiewel and Knaap and characterized by planned development that makes an attempt to diversify cities and increase living conditions. The principles of this type of plan can be roughly characterized as efficient land use, revitalizing the economy and culture of communities, and active citizen participation (12-13). All of these aspects are generally catered around the one central goal of having the highest level of human satisfaction and happiness for the most amount of people in the most efficient way. As evidenced in a study by April Woolnough, there is commonplace fear on urban campuses. The wide range and spread of social problems all across America is a linking commonality that many college towns face, so the “smart growth” principles outlined above show relevance towards many social issues such as poverty or crime. It can be seen even locally in Reno how having a University can have such a large impact on the surrounding area.
Like previously stated, the concept of “smart growth” is a widely accepted concept to better urban areas through community involvement and revitalization of business in the area. In an article by John Trent, the president of the University of Nevada, Marc Johnson, commented on some of both his own personal and the university's plans for economic growth and impact in the surrounding Reno area and even the world. While not the school’s main goal, diversifying a growing Nevada economy is certainly an intended effect. President Johnson promised that the University of Nevada has planned projects that “align with Nevada’s economic diversification goals” (3). Producing valuable workers to the state in key areas such as engineering and pharmaceuticals is a stated very important goal to the university to achieve. Even in other areas of the university, various professors are stating support and showing initiative for growth. The article introduces Sudeep Chandra, a nationally recognized associate professor of biology at the University, and he states that the growth and reach for innovation the university is attempting is something that most don’t even try for. Chandra and several other UNR colleagues are the founders of the Global Water Center, a collaboration with faculty members from three other colleges. Chandra says that without the support from the administration of UNR, the project would not exist, and seeing the impact that UNR can have on the world makes him optimistic for the future-- “We’re pushing things right now as an institution, and I love it” (5). In the closing paragraphs of the paper, President Johnson’s words are brought back up to reiterate how important community and state relations are to the expansion of UNR. He believes that “Our ultimate success is going to be in how well our people connect the impact of the actual products they produce… I don’t see any reason why we can’t contribute, as a high impact research university, to the progress of our state” (5).
Students and citizens of reno of course serve to benefit from UNR’s growth, but the impact that the university has on the environment is certainly influential as well. Even from the earlier years of the university, the growing importance of environmental sciences show how there was always a scientific and environmental connection, starting in 1905 with James Edward Church bringing recognition to the university through his snow surveying techniques and systems to local Reno mountain ranges. Later on in history, the Desert Research Institute, founded in 1959 as a part of the university, has also been involved with numerous environmental efforts in the desert area, including cloud seeding, atmospheric monitoring, and other conservation and environmental efforts (Hulse). In 1985, the university was declared a state arboretum by the Nevada legislature (UNR), showing further significance to both the environment of Nevada and the connection between the surrounding area and the university itself.
Obviously, the plans for university expansion are very heavily tied to the Nevada economy and communities, and these connections can already be seen in both future and established physical plans. The Davidson Academy of Nevada is a free, public high school open to “profoundly gifted students,” located on the Nevada campus and open to all who meet its intellectual requirements. Many graduates of the Mackay School of Mines more often go to work at local or regional mines in Nevada. Future plans such as studying and improving the environment of the Lake Tahoe area show an attempt to improve the surrounding environment, an important component in the “smart growth” philosophy. Other efforts, such as the planned gateway district, intend to develop the economy of businesses south of campus.
It’s quite clear to see the physical growth at the University of Nevada just by listening to the buzzing of construction projects or by looking at the growing list of faculty members. Many people both in and around the university are aware of new buildings gracing the skyline with grand steel and brick visages and of new class sections opening up, but what most people don’t realize is the years of planning and forethought that goes into each physical and educational development. The growth of UNR is something that has been in place ever since the school was founded, and neither economic nor physical setbacks can fully upset the plan set forth by many architects and developers both independent and in the university.
In a ten year master plan published by UNR in 2015, one can see how many developments are planned by the university to serve not only academics, but to cull a specific type of educational and influential campus with a carefully engineered feel harkening to a small campus experience. Beginning with their plans for physical buildings, there are currently many completed, ongoing, and planned construction and renovation projects, all serving a diverse range of interests and fields. One prominent example of a recently completed building serving the school population as a whole is the Pennington Student Achievement Center, a modern, steel and glass building with support systems for students with disabilities, tutoring centers, study rooms, and numerous computer labs and classrooms. The E.L. Wiegand Fitness center, set to open early in 2017, is a gymnasium free to undergraduates that is set to overtake the existing Lombardi gym as the center for student and faculty fitness. Other developments include new dorms to keep up with overwhelmingly large incoming freshman numbers, including the completed Peavine hall, the upcoming Great Basin hall, and and a future unnamed hall (UNR).
Looking beyond these actually physically building, there are also educational campus precincts planned to be set by the University. Including sectors such as Health science, physical fitness, agricultural, and residential, these neighborhoods are being engineered to create a “unique character… to provide a strong sense of identity and diversity… while ensuring that they are a part of the larger University community” (NSHE 40). The university’s master plan shows efforts towards improved transportation infrastructure as well, both internally and between the surrounding area. Transportation is one aspect that that university is planning to have control over, but other areas such as urban design and streetscapes are something that the university wishes to have influence over as well. The University Regional Center Plan (URCP) is a plan amended by the city council in 2009 that creates a “University Sphere of Influence to establish the intent of the City of Reno to encourage University uses… well beyond the boundaries of the URCP” (NSHE 3.)
Several examples of this increased influence would have to be the University District and the gateway precinct. The town “gateways” will be located between the already existing area of the university and interstate 80, and will be a mixed use area consisting of both university infrastructure and various modes of city transportation. The transportation aspect includes new bus stops and an increased connection with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). This more connected system is intended to increase the flow of students with the surrounding area south of campus-- with more students venturing out, businesses will receive more customers and bolster the economy. The university district is a planned area generally confined from 9th street to downtown Reno and North Virginia Street and Evans Avenue. This district is intended to harbor residential buildings, commercial space, community oriented infrastructure such as parks and childcare, and “innovation centers,” hubs for technological advancements and other startups. This district is planned with the intended effect of blurring the lines between the university and Reno, subsequently increasing the economy of both (NSHE 20).
It’s obvious that the leaders of the University have grand plans and great intentions for the expansion of the university, but just like the conservation of matter, something cannot just be created without also taking something away. UNR wishes to expand, but to do so, it must get the land from the surrounding area. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of university growth is the fact that it needs to take surrounding land to be able to expand, and the area in which it is hoping to revitalize currently houses businesses and a number of historical motels (NSHE 32). Walking down Virginia Street, the gray buildings are contrasted with the pastel aesthetic of these motels, with their neon signs and antique architectures. The area and whole atmosphere of these hotels is known by students as an area to not walk down alone (or at all) at night, an aspect of the surrounding area that UNR is trying to fix. Despite the graying facades, some argue that these motels have historical value and should be treated as testaments to the past, and when you look at any of these motels, you can’t deny that they look the straight of the retro 60’s. Some local casinos, such as Circus Circus Reno, are also standing in the way of potential additions. All businesses between the University and above I-80 have the potential to be affected, and who decides on whether or not that’s a good thing depends on the level of cooperation between the university and the citizens.
Cooperation of the local citizens and business owners is essential to achieve one of the main points for emphasis in the UNR master plan, the development and beautifying of campus gateways and university districts. Given this emphasis, there might not be space for seedy motels or gambling in the mix. The university’s goal is to buy the land in the area and expand student housing, something sorely needed by the university’s growing freshman population. The nearby motels such as the Sundance or Capri motels will most likely be demolished rather than renovated, though Fred Turnier, a community development Director for Reno, says that “The best way is to buy the land but there are many other ways to implement the plans” (Trent), namely cooperation by the business owners. In a personal interview with Jagat Singh, the owner of the Sundance motel, he indicated that he was willing to sell his motel if he was offered a good price, stating that he can always move. Mr. Singh has owned the motel since he bought it in 1994, and while he could not say much for the history of the motel previous to his purchase, he did say that he was offered to sell it around eight years ago. The most interesting thing he said was that he would be happy if the university bought the land the motel is on, saying that he feels that UNR can expand the city through bettering the students. Mr. Singh’s viewpoint is different than the staunch historical standpoint that I expected him to have, but it was very refreshing to see the community support in the University, even if it is only for a good deal.
While the small independent motels are feeling threatened, even larger entities still have a large reason to feel threatened. Circus Circus Reno, one of the more prominent casinos in the area, is within the boundaries that UNR plans to expand into. The university has had talks about converting one of the casino towers into housing, something that obviously raised staunch opposition on Circus Circus’ part. Tony Mavrides, vice president of Circus Circus Reno, explained that "While we are supportive of ... connecting the university experience with the downtown area ... we do not wish to see any changes to our current property use designation." (Hidalgo). While Mr. Mavrides is less cooperative with potential future plans than Mr. Singh, he does show parallels with the motel owner. Mr. Mavrides expresses support for both the University and the Reno economy, and shows that he understands how the economy of Reno is shifting towards a more education oriented economy.
Reno is changing, a fact evident to anyone who strolls through midtown or sees the campaign put forth by the city to beautify and diversify Reno as a whole. The increased resources and efforts put into the University of Nevada, Reno serve as a sign as to how Reno, the town and the university, are maturing. Universities in general often heavily influence (mostly for the better) the surrounding communities and areas, something that UNR is definitely putting efforts into. The constant construction, no matter how much of a nuisance it may seem, is a testament to this fact, and even the almost invisible educational advancements put forth are making an impact and will continue to do so for years to come. Along with diversifying the economy by taking over the economic slump left over from recessions, the university is impacting the surrounding areas by planning communities that integrate the actual city of Reno with the university, creating blurred communities that benefit off of one another. Although this growth is taking over historical businesses and local land, the general consensus is that what the university is doing is for the benefit of all of Reno, signaling the community involvement and greater change that all in Reno and in Nevada serve to benefit from.
Works Cited
Kenney, Martin, and David Mowery. Public Universities and Regional Growth: Insights from the University of California. Stanford University Press, 2014.
Knowles, Anne. "UNR Master Plan: Expand Campus, Services." Sierra Sun. 18 Sep. 2014. 01 Nov. 2016.
Horváth, Csilla, and Richard Paap. “The Effect of Recessions on Gambling Expenditures.” Journal of Gambling Studies, vol. 28, no. 4, 2011, pp. 703–717. doi:10.1007/s10899-011-9282-9. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.
Hidalgo, Jason. "Higher Cred: Behind Reno's Gambit to Become a University Town." Reno Gazette Journal, 06 Oct. 2014. http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/10/04/reno-wants-become-university-town-scaling-back-gambling/16675805/. Accessed 01 Nov. 2016.
Hulse, James W. The University of Nevada: A Centennial History. U of Nevada, 1974.
NSHE Board of Regents. Strategic Plan- 2015 to 2021. University of Nevada, 2014.
"Student Outreach Clinic." University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, http://med.unr.edu/soc. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.
Singh, Jagat. Personal Interview. 9 November 2016.
Trent, John. "A High Impact Research University, Powered by Knowledge." Nevada Silver & Blue, 2016 Fall, pp. 2-5.
“UNR Timelines.” University of Nevada, Reno Timelines. http://knowledgecenter.unr.edu/univarch/timeline.aspx. Accessed 01 Nov. 2016.
Wiewel, Wim, and Gerrit-Jan Knaap. Partnerships for Smart Growth: University-community Collaboration for Better Public Places. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2005.
Woolnough, April D. "Fear of Crime on Campus: Gender Differences in use of Self-Protective Behaviours at an Urban University." Security Journal, vol. 22, no. 1, 2009, pp. 40-55, ProQuest Social Sciences Premium Collection, http://unr.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/230359576?accountid=452.doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/sj.2008.11. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.