The 5 things UVSC should do to really become a university

While the big transition from UVSC to UVU is just a few months away, one wonders if the name change will really transform the school. Here are The Pipeline's top five things we think the school could (and should) do to really become a university:

1. Live up to Global Engagement promise: With such a high percentage of returned LDS missionaries, UVU has one of the most bilingual college populations in the country. UVU should capitalize on this advantage by making foreign languages part of the core curriculum. Every student graduating from UVU should be encouraged to be proficient in another language.

But how do you get students to enroll in these time intensive classes? At BYU students can use language credits to satisfy math requirements. Imagine how many students would take 12 credits of a language in order to avoid passing Math 1050.

2. Tell Trades to go green or go home: This is an idea that The Pipeline has suggested before, so for full details click here. But basically we need to exercise some tough love when it comes to our trades program. With the MATC across the street already providing nearly redundant trades offerings, UVU should focus on programs that are worthy of the university name. Other schools have adapted to the burgeoning Green economy and are training their students to lead the way when it comes to responsible and sustainable construction and green automobile technology. Let the trades schools take care of traditional trades programming, UVU should be doing the work of a university and be pushing the limits of green research and development.

3. Do something amazing with the Wasatch Campus: UVU's Wasatch Campus in Heber City has been serving the surrounding community for a few years now. But most people would agree that enrollments have been disappointing. UVU should take advantage of the campus's unique location and turn the Wasatch Campus into a world renowned destination. Minutes from some of the world's best outdoor areas the Wasatch Campus could provide outstanding programming that students from all over the world would pay top dollar for. Hospitality management, recreation management, or even a top notch film school (with Sundance just down the road) would thrive in the location. It would take vision, and a lot of money, but it could very well put UVU on the map. Otherwise that special location will continue to languish.

4. When it comes to academics, focus on what you do best: There has been a lot of speculation as to what kind of graduate programs the newly minted University should offer. As many of you know, a graduate program in education begins this fall with advanced degrees in nursing and business to follow. These three areas will certainly address current market demands and will most likely be successful and valuable programs.

But UVU should also study some of the school's more unique undergraduate programs and look for ways to develop new highly specialized master's programs that focus on practicality and shy way from heavy research. We think the aviation department's unique position as one of the best online flight programs in the country could be a springboard for a unique graduate program that takes advantage of that web positioning. UVU also has one of the largest deaf populations outside of Gallaudet. This unique position could be a selling point when attracting students interested in furthering deaf studies at UVU. UVU also has an extremely high percentage of LDS students for a state school. Having that resource along with good academic freedom policies would provide an excellent environment for Mormon Cultural Studies. Why should Claremont University lead the Mormon academic movement?

5. Respect the past, Restore The Bunnell Pioneer Home We couldn't help sneaking this one in, as it is a pet project of The Pipeline. To learn more about efforts to reclaim and restore one of the campus's hidden treasures click here. No university is complete without a little culture, and we think transforming this 115-year-old farmhouse into a working student cafe will help UVU establish an identity and foster creative work and discussion.


So there it is. Five suggestions that would really help UVU earn the title of university. Please tell us what you think of our ideas? What do you think UVU needs?

UVSC prof announces bid for state legislature

Boyd Peterson has been an important figure around UVSC campus for several years now. His introspective scholarship in Mormon Cultural Studies has inspired many students and faculty to examine faith in a greater context.

Nowadays Peterson splits his time teaching at UVSC and BYU and is still very active in the Mormon Studies scene, most recently taking the reins of UVSC's annual Mormon Studies conference.

But on top of all that he is now running as a socially conservative Democrat for the District 64 seat in state legislature. He will be facing incumbent Becky Lockhart in a no doubt up-hill climb in perennially Republican Utah County.


Candidate promises to restore sanity (Deseret Morning News, February 7 2008)

Big property management company loses BYU-approved status

Total Propert Management, which runs some 50 or so properties throughout Provo, has lost its BYU Housing Approved status.

TPM Loses BYU Approval
(ProvoPulse.com, October 16 2007)

Any student who lives in Provo around the BYU campus knows this is a big deal. Single BYU students not living at home or in the school's dorms must live in BYU Approved housing unit. This designation insures that the property follows a strict housing policy that includes enforcing BYU's honor code. UVSC students who also live in BYU Approved apartments (which is just about every student apartment complex in Provo) also need to follow BYU's honor code; which outlaws smoking, drinking, and sex.

TPM has had a bad rap amongst students for several years, with most complaints coming from the way the company upkeeps their properties and charges fees.

BYU students currently living in TPM managed properties will need to make arrangements after December. Word on the street is that other management companies are swooping in to take over these properties.

Local big wigs discuss the future of UVSC

This past Monday UVSC hosted a pow-wow with leaders from the state and local government , as well as business leaders and educators from throughout Utah County.


Leaders look at role of UVSC
Identity issues involving school, region discussed
(Deseret Morning News, October 9 2007)

One of the most interesting facts brought up during the meeting was this one:
For instance, Hispanic students are the majority in seven of Provo's 11 elementary schools, said RaDene Hatfield, president-elect of the Provo Council PTA.

A few months back there was an article in the Daily Herald said that all of UVSC's recruitment material was also available in Spanish. There were some in the community who complained that students should be able to speak English before going to college.

More minority students going to college
(Daily Herald, August 4 2007)

Clearly if UVSC is going to continue to meet the needs of the community it will need to reach out to Hispanic students and their parents (for who the Spanish recruitment material was intended for).

October's Ethics Forum could provide fireworks

Right now in Utah there is hardly an issue bigger than school vouchers. Sure, polygamy is getting all the national attention, but now that Warren Jeffs is headed for the pokey vouchers will be front and center once again. And UVSC's Ethics Center is going to capitalize on all hubbub with a public forum next month.

So if you are on campus the night of October 3, say around seven-ish, swing on by the Faculty Seminar room (LC243) and check out the action. Guests include State Board of Education Chair Kim Burningham, Chairman of the Board & CEO of Overstock.com Patrick Byrne, Former Utah State PTA Education Commissioner Marilyn Kofford, and Paul T. Mero President of the Sutherland Institute.



If Mero's name seems familiar it might be that you caught his recent essay that he paid to put in local papers. Here it is if you missed it:

Vouchers, Vows, and Vexations: The Historic Dilemma over Utah’s Education Identity. (PDF, www.sutherlandinstitute.org)

That's right, it is part 4 of 6. Paul Mero is like the R. Kelly of conservatives and this is his "Trapped in the Closet". Put this guy in a room with a bunch of radical god-less liberal professors and watch the feathers fly! It is going to be fun.

Former UVSC student fights to survive (a television show)

Former UVSC student Todd Herzog is one of the contestants on the latest season of CBS's hit show Survivor. As a self-described "openly gay Mormon" Herzog will surely stir up controversy in the local papers...Daily Herald letters section, we are counting on you!

Todd Herzog's profile
(CBS website)

Culture Vulture: 'Survivor' trots out its latest 'gay Mormon'
(Salt Lake Tribune)

Utah dead last in per-student spending

If you ask people in Utah they will tell you that children are a blessing. But sometimes the little buggers can be a curse, especially when it comes time to educate them. A confluence of forces have kept Utah's education funding in the toilet, and now the Beehive State has come in dead last in per-student spending.

Utah still last on ed funds
(Deseret Morning News, September 12 2007)

Take a state with a monolithic republican legislature that is hell-bent on tax cuts, add millions of acres of federal land that can't be taxed, and add a religion that promotes vociferous reproduction and you have a recipe for anemic education funding.

To learn more on the subject check out the Utah Foundation and check out their latest report

UVSC prof gets book deal with Oxford University Press

UVSC's own Brian Birch, a professor in the Philosophy and Humanities department has agreed to a deal with the acclaimed Oxford University Press to publish his book about the relationship between Mormonism and mainstream Christianity.

Professor's book on LDS faith to be published
(College Times, September 10 2007)

Birch is currently on sabbatical and will take the next year finishing his book, entitled Mormonism and Christian Thought and completing revisions. He expects it to be published in late 2008.

UVSC names LDS Institute director to head new program

Though he has been hinting at it for months, UVSC president Bill Sederburg finally made it official today when he hired LDS Institute director Jack Christianson to head a new program called the Community of Engaged Learners Initiative. Here is the press release that went out with Big Bill's e-mail announcing the appointment:

Jack Christianson to Lead Newly Created UVSC Department

In April, Utah Valley State College President William A. Sederburg unveiled a plan – now known as the Communities of Engaged Learners Initiative – for the institution to become more engaged in the community as it transitions to university status. Sederburg today announced that Jack R. Christianson has accepted an offer to become the Executive Director of Communities of Engaged Learning at UVSC.

As executive director, Christianson will collaborate with UVSC’s academic community to help create opportunities for service and engagement within the region. He will report directly to the president, but collaborate and coordinate with the divisions of both academic and student affairs.

Christianson completed a doctorate in 2006 working with Dennis O’Keeffe from the University of Buckingham (United Kingdom) where he wrote a dissertation titled, “School and the Literate Order.” Some of his research identified key learning strategies faculty can use to engage students and increase community benefit.

“The Communities of Engaged Learners Initiative will accomplish real learning – not just book learning, but learning by doing,” Christianson said. “Therefore, the student can then become the teacher, and the teacher always learns most. I’m not sure we really grasp it until we can teach it to someone.”

Christianson brings 30 years of experience in education, most recently as director of the Orem LDS Institute of Religion adjacent to UVSC’s campus. He is currently a faculty member at Brigham Young University. He is a native of Utah County, and well known as a speaker in the community.

“It’s a marvelous opportunity for me because I’m well connected with the community, I know many of the faculty, staff and administration, and I know the students just about as well as anybody,” Christianson said.

In the coming weeks more will be shared about the UVSC Community of Engaged Learners Initiative. Christianson will be establishing an advisory board of academic and student affairs leaders as well as community representatives to oversee a $400,000 fund available to UVSC faculty and staff engaged in student-centered, regionally-focused research.

Similar programs have been very successful at other regional state universities. This is an opportunity for UVSC to enhance the quality of teaching and student learning experience while becoming more relevant to its sponsoring communities.

“Dr. Christianson’s research on engaging students in learning activities that are meaningful and relevant will be an excellent foundation for launching UVSC’s Communities of Engaged Learners Initiative as the institution transitions to university status,” said William A. Sederburg, UVSC president. “His extensive, first-hand knowledge of the region will also be key.”

Does anyone else get the feeling that Community of Engaged Learners Initiative sounds like it was named by some random business buzzword generator? It will be interesting to see if anything comes of a program that seems, at least at first glance, to be quite nebulous.

Huntsman makes it official, college to become a university

In a longer than necessary ceremony Utah governor Jon Huntsman signed SB 70 that will give UVSC an extra $8 million in continuing funds that will transform the state college into a level II university come July of 2008.

The Pipeline won't bore you with all the pomp and circumstance, will let The Herald, Des News, and Salt Lake Trib take care of that, but we did want to share some observations that perhaps might shed some light on this very interesting time at UVSC.

All lot of folks have made a big deal about who attended Monday's celebration, but it was some notable absences that got our attention; namely faculty members. Make no mistake, this was a packed event with all the chairs full, and plenty of folks standing on the sides of the Grande Ballroom. But we didn't see a lot of faculty members. Perhaps it was because it was right in the middle of Monday classes, but it seemed strange that there were more faculty at last month's Ira Fulton celebration then at this one.

With Mormon leader Thomas Monson on hand there was plenty of references to the LDS church and its role at UVSC...one of the strangest came from UVSC president Bill Sederburg. While announcing some dignitaries he said "We have Linda Walton here and she is....what is she again? (looking to his right-hand man Cameron Martin for help with Walton's title) Oh yes, she is the campus chaplain. We also have Reverend Jackson here too...so we have balance with the LDS influence here." It was a tiny awkward moment that seemed to speak volumes about how Sederburg is always walking the fine line of the LDS community issue.

Of course no one is more awkward then "UVSC's Biggest Fan" and lone voice on the Board of Regents Marlon "No High School Diploma" Snow who at one point reduced the program to a Friar's Club Roast with a series of lame jokes, back slaps, and a demeanor that said that this whole transition was "Good Ol' Boy" approved.

Which makes one wonder how much UVSC had to give away to get so much so fast from the state legislature. One of the first speakers on the program was Rep. Dave Clark from St. George, you was one of the most vocal proponents of the bill in the House. Why on earth would a Washington County guy speak up for UVSC, when Utah County has such a tight hold on legislative leadership? Perhaps Clark sees the day when he will need to call in a favor on behalf of Dixie. Or maybe he is just a nice guy.

The Pipeline spoke to a reporter who worked on the hill during the recent legislative session, and he got the impression that UVSC had made assurances to key conservative leaders that it would not follow the liberal path of the University of Utah. It is still much too early to tell if UVSC's promotion to university status will be paid for with increased scrutiny from Utah County's powerful conservative caucus. But higher ed usually finds a way to get people like Sen. Margaret Dayton in a huff. It is only a matter of time.