FLC graduates will access mentorship, dedicated advising, and early research opportunities, reducing barriers and creating clearer routes into advanced degrees in hospitality, STEM.
Fort Lewis College (FLC) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) are entering into a historic partnership to forge pathways to post-baccalaureate graduate programs in the sciences, engineering, technology, gaming, and hospitality.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunity, strengthening persistence, and investing in the next generation of scholars and leaders. FLC graduates will be guided toward structured pathways into graduate programs at UNLV, supported by dedicated advising, early research opportunities, and coordinated mentorship. Together, the institutions will bridge their top-tier academics for students from a broad range of backgrounds, including rural students, first-generation college students, and students from Tribal communities.
Leaders from both institutions emphasized that the collaboration is designed not only to expand access, but ensure long-term student success. “We are building infrastructure that turns access into real pathways to graduate school —and into meaningful contributions to communities and society”, said Alyssa Crittenden, vice provost for Graduate Education and dean of the Graduate College at UNLV. 
”This partnership represents a shared vision for student success that extends well beyond graduation,” said FLC president Heather Shotton, president of Fort Lewis College. “By aligning graduate education preparation, research experience, and culturally responsive support, we are creating pathways that help students become scholars and leaders. These are the kinds of collaborations that strengthen student success, foster belonging, and open doors to advanced degrees and meaningful careers.”
“Our ‘Pathway to PhD’ initiative is not based on academics alone,” said Tammi Tiger, director of Tribal Education at UNLV. “FLC’s sense of place and culture has created a campus where students feel at home. For many students, especially those from Tribal communities, being seen, valued, and understood makes all the difference. At UNLV, we’re dedicated to building on that foundation and helping them continue their studies with confidence.”
A signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) took place on April 8, 2026. Students will be eligible to participate in programming as early as summer 2026.
Together, FLC and UNLV are advancing a model of higher education that is connected, intentional, and responsive to the communities they serve—one that expands opportunity to students who are taking the next step in their academic and professional journeys.