[wrendog]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=846922

[SLC Projects]

Good deal. :tup:

[i-215]

I still liked UVSU so we could call it "Utah Valley State" but UVU has a nice ring to it too.

[jedikermit]

What's next, Salt Lake Community University?

[wrendog]

What's next, Salt Lake Community University?

umm.. no...

Westminster or Dixie are next in line for University status

[jedikermit]

LOL...was just KIDDING...

One of those internet things that gets lost in translation.

Good for UVU!

I would have liked UVSU better too.

[delts145]

http://www.uvsc.edu/images_homepage/campus_shot2.jpg

http://www.smaworks.com/licensing/clients/images/UVSC_002.gif

"GO UVU WOVERINES!!"




Sederburg is now lobbying Legislature for status change

By Laura Hancock
Deseret Morning News
OREM — The message is getting a massage.
William Sederburg Just months ago, Utah Valley State College President William Sederburg was touting the benefits for Utah County of the school having university status.
At Tuesday's "State of the College" address, Sederburg played up the benefits for the state.
"Utah needs this university," Sederburg said as he wrapped up his annual address to about 400 faculty members and students. "The population is growing dramatically. This is not an issue of Utah County. This is an issue for the entire state of Utah."
After the address Sederburg said that 2,000 of UVSC's 23,000 students are from Salt Lake County. As the population in south Salt Lake County booms, UVSC is nearby to provide students an education, he said.
"You're right, the sales pitch is more statewide," Sederburg said, adding that he is reminding members of the Utah Legislature who are not from Utah County that thousands of students commute to the Orem campus from areas they represent.
Sederburg is lobbying on Capitol Hill for SB70, a bill that would make UVSC a university and provide $10 million a year in additional funding to start graduate programs.
But Bruce Handley, chairman of the Faculty Senate at Weber State University, notes that enrollment in Utah's public colleges and universities is down, and the necessity for a "Utah Valley University," isn't immediate.
"I think it would be a really hard sell in northern Utah if money comes out of the appropriations for Weber State and Utah State universities," he said.
For the majority of the address, Sederburg argued that UVSC is prepared to become a university, based on increases to the number of bachelors' degrees offered (51), the school's cooperation with state higher education leaders in working toward university status and a new library under construction that could facilitate graduate-level research.
Sederburg is proposing masters' degrees in education, nursing education and business administration.
"Now, I hear rumors from time to time that all sorts of people are putting together master's degrees (in other disciplines)," he said as audience members laughed. "Don't send us your proposals."
Sederburg also promised "we are absolutely committed in maintaining the trades."
Just weeks ago a former UVSC president voiced concern that university status would diminish courses in trades and technology.
If UVSC receives the additional $10 million in funding, some of the money will go to hiring additional faculty to reduce the burden on current teachers.
Faculty at most community colleges teach about 30 credit hours a year. UVSC faculty loads average 27.5 credit hours a year, Sederburg said.
But faculty at Weber and Southern Utah universities average 24 credit hours a year — a number UVSC would like to match, Sederburg said, since UVSC is proposing a teaching-oriented mission similar to Weber and SUU.
"We also need to reduce the number of adjunct (faculty) to 45 percent ... We need to add 62 faculty positions and it would cost $5.4 million."

[delts145]

'UVU' clears first hurdle

Senate education panel moves measure forward

By Erin Stewart
Deseret Morning News
Utah Valley University cleared its first legislative hurdle Tuesday despite concerns about whether the Utah County school will sacrifice its current role and exactly how much the transformation will cost.

http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/3703859.jpg
Scott G. Winterton, Deseret Morning News
Utah Valley State College may become a master's degree university.

The Senate Education Committee moved forward SB70, sponsored by John Valentine, R-Orem, to turn Utah Valley State College into a master's degree university starting July 1, 2008. The school would continue to offer two-year programs and an expanded array of bachelor's degrees but would also begin offering several graduate programs including education and nursing.
"This offers us a fantastic opportunity to have more options for our young people and to keep our kids in state," said Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay. Jones jokingly added, "I would vote for anything that makes Utah County citizens smarter."
But Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, said although he'd like to see the school become a university, he's not ready to sign on. In particular, he's concerned the school will lose its place as Utah's "low-cost" school with a local industry focus.
"We haven't had a dearth of students coming to that institution. We haven't had to advertise to get more kids coming to those slots. It's a system that has worked," said Stephenson, who voted against the measure in the 5-1 vote. "I'm troubled by this approach of wanting to make it look like the other institutions."
Higher Education Commissioner Rich Kendell, however, said the UVSC model is only working on the backs of students. UVSC's tuition has gone up by 130 percent in the past 10 years and has the highest percentage of student funding of any school. While most Utah universities cover about 35 percent of faculty compensation with tuition dollars, UVSC funds about 51 percent of those costs with student money.
A $10 million infusion of state money could help bring UVSC more in line with its peers, and help reduce the number of courses taught by adjunct faculty, increase advisers and lessen the teaching load. About $1.1 million of the $10 million state investment would go toward new graduate degrees, with the remainder strengthening current undergraduate offerings, UVSC President William Sederburg said.
"The reason we've had to go to higher tuition is the underfunding per student. From our students' point of view, they feel they should get the same amount of money," Sederburg said.
Kendell has assured legislators that the $10 million in ongoing funds included in Valentine's bill will be the only state investment needed to get UVSC on the road to becoming UVU. But Stephenson said he's not convinced school leaders won't be back for more state money.
"I'm troubled by some of the direction I'm hearing. Commissioner Kendell has said this one-year bump is all that is needed. I don't doubt his sincerity, but I doubt the accuracy," he said.
Kendell did say UVSC will need more money — a total estimated at $20 million to $25 million annually — to be on par with its national peers, but that will come from natural enrollment growth. Routine operational funding will also help fund the gap over the next few years, he added, but not in one large sum like the $10 million asked for this year.
"I think there's been a little misunderstanding about would this $10 million be a down payment and there will be a request for another bump. The answer to that is no," he said. "Quite candidly, it's a ways away from its peers, but this $10 million will make a major difference in its ability to look like the other universities."
Valentine's legislation, which now heads to the full Senate for debate, would make UVSC a Type II university, putting it on the same level as Weber State University and Southern Utah University. It would not be a research university.
Valentine also told committee members that the name — Utah Valley University — is only a working name and could be changed by the Legislature.

[DevdogAZ]

As an alum of UVSC, I'd love to see this get pushed through. I think the valley can definitely support two universities, and it will enhance the stature of the valley.

[GeorgeLV]

What's next, Salt Lake Community University?

It's a national sensation. Community College of Southern Nevada and Western Nevada Community College want to drop the "community" from their official names because they now offer some bachelor's degrees.