UNLV chief outlines changes for university Smatresk says budget cuts will continue - RICHARD LAKE, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

UNLV President Neal Smatresk expanded on that theme Tuesday in his annual State of the University address. The university wants to change what it charges students in high-demand programs. It wants state lawmakers to change how the state's universities and colleges are funded. And it expects to change into a smaller, better institution. Smatresk, who has been president since June 2009 after serving two years as provost, said the last several years had been challenging. He said the university was down $50 million in state funding, a full 27 percent of its budget, since 2007. "It's not over," Smatresk told a crowd of several hundred faculty, staff and students gathered on campus. He said cuts probably will continue through the next two years. "We hope there will be a light at the end of the tunnel after that," he said.