Getting Started with Claude at UNLV

Summary

This article goes over the basics of Claude, UNLV's enterprise AI tool. It covers what Claude is and what it can do, in addition to the types of modalities (i.e., "access points") available.

Body

What is Claude?

Claude is an AI assistant built by Anthropic. Claude is designed less as a chatbot or search engine, however, and more as a "thinking partner." It is a tool you can work through problems with, draft and refine content alongside, and ask to reason with you, rather than just answer you. It is...

  • A starting point for drafts and analysis, not an authority that can verify its own outputs
  • A tool that adapts to your direction, not an autonomous system that works without your oversight
  • Capable of handling complex, nuanced tasks, not a replacement for your expertise and judgment

At UNLV, Claude is available to the entire campus community as part of our enterprise AI rollout. As a campus tool, you have support within UNLV IT, and it has been vetted and aligned with university expectations for responsible use. Whether you are researching, teaching, learning, or an administrator here at UNLV, Claude can be used to support your everyday work and study.

What Can Claude Do?

Claude is able to support your work in multifaceted ways. Here are just some of the primary ways you can utilize it.

  • Writing and Content: Draft, edit, and refine emails, reports, course materials, and more. Claude takes direction on tone and style.
  • Research and Analysis: Synthesize documents, explore research angles, and surface insights across hundreds of pages in a single conversation.
  • Coding: Write, debug, and explain code across multiple programming languages. One of Claude's greatest strengths.
  • Reasoning: Work through complex problems, multi-step analysis, strategic thinking, and ambiguous situations.
  • Learning Support: Claude adapts to your learning style and pace -- useful whether you are a student or exploring a new domain.
  • Organization: Summarize, structure, and make sense of large amounts of information quickly.

Accessing Claude AI

Collaborating with Claude is not limited to your browser. There are four primary "access points" where you can use it.

Where You Can Use Claude
Access Point How to Use Features of Interest
Web Browser Use Google Chrome, Apple Safari, or another web browser to visit claude.ai.Links to an external site.
  • Access to Claude Chat
  • Access to Projects, Artifacts and Skills
  • Ability to adjust account settings
Desktop App Download the desktop appLinks to an external site. for Windows or macOS to use Claude directly on your device.
  • Access to Claude Chat, Cowork, and Code
  • Access to Projects, Artifacts and Skills
  • Ability to adjust account settings
Mobile App Download the mobile app on the Play Store for AndroidLinks to an external site., or the App Store for iOSLinks to an external site..
  • Access to Claude Chat
  • Ability to adjust basic account settings
Command Line Interface (CLI)

After downloading the Claude desktop app, you can launch Claude in your CLI using commands, like "claude."

Find a complete reference list at Claude Code Docs: CLI ReferenceLinks to an external site..

  • Work directly with Claude Code in a more detailed fashion than in the desktop app

Logging In

Once you've chosen how you'll access Claude, here's how to log in:

  1. Go to claude.ai.
  2. Enter your UNLV Mail (@unlv.edu) or RebelMail (@unlv.nevada.edu) address.
  3. Choose Continue with SSO and sign in with ACE.

🔴 UNLV Guideline: Always log in with SSO, not the "Log in with email" magic link option. SSO ensures your account is properly connected to UNLV's systems and that you have access to the correct features. Signing in with a magic link can result in a disconnected or limited account.

For access tiers, requesting Premium or Max, personal account migration, and data/responsible use guidelines, see the Claude at UNLV: Quick Start Guide.

Details

Details

Article ID: 2330
Created
Wed 8/5/26 4:27 PM
Modified
Wed 9/2/26 5:20 PM