UCAT seeks real degrees, will this sink UVSC trades?

Once again top administrators at the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) are asking the state legislature's higher ed committee to consider giveing them the ability to grant credit-bearing trades degrees, and thus be able to offer more applied associate degrees.

UCAT campuses seek degrees with credit
Higher-ed official says that would create overlap with what is already being offered (Slat Lake Tribune, May 20 2008)

Last summer the state's Board of Regents rejected a UCAT proposal to grant such degrees citing the fact that the system's eight campuses don't offer transferable credits. Now UCAT is asking the Higher Education and Applied Technology Governance Committee to circumvent the Regents decision.

This of course does not sit well with interim Regent chief David Buhler, who fears that a credit-bearing UCAT would compete with the state's traditional schools. Of course UVSC would be at the top of that list. For the past several years UVSC has lost market share as more and more Utah County trades students have chosen to get training at Mountainlands Applied Technology Center (MATC) located just across the street. If MATC started offering the same degree programs it would not be long before trades at UVSC would go the way of the Dodo.

Scholarships for all

The legislature recently signed a bill that will set aside scholarship money for every 8th grader in the state. If the students get good grades, take college prep classes, and attend an accredited college in Utah (public or private), then they are eligible for $1000 scholarship.

Good grades in high school? Fund would help with college (Salt Lake Tribune, February 20 2008)

Is anyone surprised that the only Senator who didn't vote for the bill was Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper? It seems there has never been a higher ed bill he didn't hate...and that includes the bill that changed UVSC to UVU.

Bill would offer college scholarships to every high school student in Utah

Richard Kendell may have stepped down from his position as Utah's commissioner of higher education, but that hasn't stopped him from spearheading a campaign to get more high school students into college.

Good grades, the right college prep classes may net $1,350
(Salt Lake Tribune, January 9 2008)

Kendell is helping Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, navigate the bill through the legislature. The annual session begins later this month. The bill calls for each 8th grader to receive a letter from the Board of Regents saying that a $1000 scholarship is already in their name and gaining interest. All students need to do is graduate with a B average and take a set college prep courses while in high school. It is expected that of the 35,000 8th graders currently in the state about 7,000 would qualify.

Sure, $1350 would hardly pay for a single semester at UVSC (especially in 5 years!) but at least it is something.

Today On Campus: Thursday • 11/15/07

5TH ANNUAL HUNGER BANQUET
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Grande Ballroom
$5

AUTOMOTIVE CAR CARE CLINIC
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sparks Automotive Building
Free

UVSC CHESS TOURNAMENT
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
SC 213b
Free

PEACE AND JUSTICE STUDIES PROGRAM PRESENT: "WHY WE NEED A DEPARTMENT OF PEACE"
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
SC 206C
Free

EXECUTIVE LECTURE SERIES PRESENTS: LEW CRAMER, PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER OF UTAH
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Ragan Theater
Free

ART FOR LIFE EXHIBITION AND AUCTION
11:00am - 7:00pm
Woodbury Art Museum, 2nd Floor University Mall
Free
http://www.uvsc.edu/museum

Each weekday during the fall and spring semesters The Pipeline publishes "Today on Campus" which outlines events at UVSC. To notify us of an event send details to uvscpipeline@gmail.com

Culinary arts instructor named Chef of the Year

UVSC culinary arts instructor Tony Wilson was named Chef of the Year by the Utah chapter of the American Culinary Federation.

UVSC instructor takes the cake as Chef of the Year
(Deseret Morning News, November 14 2007)

UVSC student Hilary Gillette was also honored as Junior Member of the year

UVU's first graduate program gets greenlight from Trustees

Last night, members of UVSC's board of Trustees approved the school's first graduate program.

UVSC board OK's master's degree plan
(Deseret Morning News, November 8 2007)

UVSC trustees approve first proposal for master's degree
(Daily Herald, November 8 2007)

UVSC approves first master's degree for UVU
(Salt Lake Tribune, November 8 2007)

As expected the first master's degrees will be in education, and if the proposal gets approval from the State Board of Regents the program could start in the August of '08. Classes would be at night to allow current teachers to continue working while earning their degrees. The school also plans heavier workloads for graduate students during the summer.

It is expected that the UVU will accept between 20-30 new students into the Master's of Education program each year.

Today On Campus: Wednesday • 11/7/07

SERVICE LEARNING 101
11:30am - 1:00pm
LC 243
Free
For more information click here

PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR GRAD SCHOOL WORKSHOP
4:00pm - 5:00pm
LC 424
Free
For more information click here

ART FOR LIFE EXHIBITION AND AUCTION OPENING RECEPTION
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Woodbury Art Museum, 2nd Floor University Mall
Free
http://www.uvsc.edu/museum

Each weekday during the fall and spring semesters The Pipeline publishes "Today on Campus" which outlines events at UVSC. To notify us of an event send details to uvscpipeline@gmail.com

Today On Campus: Thursday • 11/1/07

MEN'S BASKETBALL VS. MESA STATE (EXHIBITION)
5:00pm - 7:00pm
McKay Events Center
$2 with UV ID

WOMEN"S VOLLEYBALL VS. UTAH STATE
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Shurian Activity Center
$2 with UV ID

FIRST LADY OF GUATEMALA LECTURE
3:45pm - 5:00pm
Ragan Theater
Free

NUTRITION CHECK
10:00am - 2:00pm
Hall of Flags
Free

Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences Career Options Event
10:00am - 2:00pm
SC206 and SC213
Free

UVSC THEATER DEPARTMENT PRESENTS: "AH, WILDERNESS!"
7:30pm - 9:45pm
Ragan Theatre
$6 for UVSC students
$8 For UVSC faculty
$10 General Admission


Each weekday during the fall and spring semesters The Pipeline publishes "Today on Campus" which outlines events at UVSC. To notify us of an event send details to uvscpipeline@gmail.com

UVSC's Digital Media brings home Student Grammies

UVSC students returned home recently from the annual Student Grammy awards in New York City with some very nice mantel pieces.

http://resource.uvsc.edu/pressreleases/2007/29oct07b.html
(UVSC Press Release)

The awards are twice as sweet because UVSC beat out some top programs that have been around for years and enjoy tremendous funding.

Today On Campus: Thursday • 10/25/07

W Grade for Withdrawn Classes Begins for 2nd Block Classes

HEALTH RISK APPRAISALS
12:00am - 2:00pm
SC206a
$15
For more info click here

FEAR FACTOR
Noon
Student Center
Free

AMBASSADOR OF TAJIKISTAN LECTURE
10:00am - 11:00am
LA107
Free


UVU GRAD FAIR 2007
9:00am - 3:00pm
Grande Ballroom
Free
For more info click here


UVSC THEATER DEPARTMENT PRESENTS: "AH, WILDERNESS!"
7:30pm - 9:45pm
Ragan Theatre
$5 for UVSC students
$8 for UVSC faculty
$10 General Admission

Each weekday during the fall and spring semesters The Pipeline publishes "Today on Campus" which outlines events at UVSC. To notify us of an event send details to uvscpipeline@gmail.com

Today On Campus: Monday • 10/22/07

$5 ADD Card Begins for 2nd Block Classes
$100 LATE FEE Begins for 2nd Block Classes

HEALTH CHECKS
10:00am - 2:00pm
Hall of Flags
Free

STUDENT ABSTRACT WRITING WORKSHOP
11:00am - 11:50am
LC424
Free

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL VS. UTAH
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Shurian Activity Center

FEAR FACTOR
Noon
Student Center
Free


Each weekday during the fall and spring semesters The Pipeline publishes "Today on Campus" which outlines events at UVSC. To notify us of an event send details to uvscpipeline@gmail.com

It's Official: Woodbury's give UVSC $20 million for Business School

After a week or so of UVSC administrators refusing to comment, the details of the largest donation in the school's history was finally made official last Friday when it was announced that the School of Business has been renamed the Woodbury School of Business in recognition of the $20 million donation made by the Woodbury family.


UVSC gets $20 million gift
Donation by Woodburys given to business school
(Deseret Morning News, October 20 2007)

Funny that the Daily Herald, the paper that had actually scooped this story a week ago, didn't have an article about Friday's announcement. Perhaps the editors felt they didn't need to after getting right the first time.

No details were announced on how UVSC might use these new funds, which will be paid out of a trust for the next 10 years, but it makes sense that at least some of the money will be used to establish the MBA program they have been talking since being granted university status.

And no word yet if Arizona philanthropist Ira Fulton will match the Woodbury donation.

Today On Campus: Monday • 10/22/07

Grades available for Fall 1st Block classes
Tuition Deadline for Fall 2nd Block Classes

OPEN MIC NIGHT
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Center Stage
Free

UNITED PEACE AND JUSTICE CLUB: "HOW POLITICIANS AND PUNDITS KEEP SPINNING US TO DEATH"
12:00pm - 1:30pm
LA008
Free

Each weekday during the fall and spring semesters The Pipeline publishes "Today on Campus" which outlines events at UVSC. To notify us of an event send details to uvscpipeline@gmail.com

UVSC Prof collects Iraqi refugee stories in Jordan

UVSC English professor Laura Hamblin is currently in Jordan documenting the stories of Iraqi women refugees, and now you can catch up on her research at her blog:

womeninthedesert.blogspot.com

Hamblin, who received the first Ethics Faculty Fellowship, plans to produce a documentary about her research, and will give a presentation on her work next September.

Is Academics headed for a major change?

The Pipeline has been hearing rumblings from various corners of campus about a major shake-up in Academics for months now. There had been whispers about departments moving around, departments getting split up, and whole schools being overhauled. But nothing was ever definite....all just rumor and conjecture.

Well it still isn't official yet, but now at least there is a concrete document from VP of Academics Liz Hitch's office that lays out some of the plans. If even half of this stuff actually happens (it looks like it probably will) it will be the biggest change the campus has seen in many years. Check it out:

Organizational Redesign for Academic Affairs (doc)

The document is dated October 8 but the footer at the bottom of each page says September 20. We know that Hitch sent an e-mail to some faculty and staff that included this link recently.

As for what is going to happen, we will let you read the document yourself. But if you are really lazy here is the list of substantial changes listed in the report:


1. Aviation, Emergency Services, Fine and Performing Arts, Social Sciences, and Health Science become schools reporting to a dean.

2. There are no substantial changes in the School of Education.

3. Forensic Science moves to Biology.

4. The School of Business will divide the Department of Management into two smaller groups.

6. The School of Business will send Criminal Justice faculty to the department of Anthropology/Sociology in the School of Language and Social Sciences.

7. The School of Business will assume Culinary Arts faculty in hospitality management.

8. The College of General Academics will be renamed “University College.”

9. University College will include remedial programs as well as programs for high academic achievers, such as Honors, Debate, Integrated Studies and Humanities.

10. Speech Communication faculty from the current Communication Department will be assigned to the University College as a core academic skill. The debate program will be housed in or near Honors.

11. Honors will be in University College.

12. A centralized Graduate Office will be formed in the VPAA office.

13. ESL goes to the School of Adult and Continuing Education.

14. Turning Point, Wee Care, Women in Technology, and other appropriate programs that provide student services go to Student Services.


In other words...big changes. There is way more to this story, but we'll save that for future posts.

Dreams of a green campus

The Pipeline is not much for sentimentality so when we decided to participate in this year's Blog Action Day it was because we had something very specific in mind.

This year's theme is the environment and it just so happens that The Pipeline has been researching some ideas that would make UVSC a leader in Green Technologies, and at the same time revitalize the school's diminishing Trades program.

Imagine a construction program that featured the latest resources in Green technology, LEED certification, and hands-on experience in environmental projects. Imagine an automotive department that valued MPG over MPH.

For the past five years the administration has been pushing the trades program to look more like a college and less like a trade school. All the while UVSC's traditional trades programs, such as welding, have diminished; losing market share to cheaper alternatives like the Mountainlands Applied Technology Center.

It is is time to cut off programs that refuse to innovate, and replace them with programs that feature green technologies. UVSC's trades graduates would be in high demand in an expanding industry that is in desperate need of qualified LEED craftsmen. Why not prepare students for this opportunity?

And what better place for students to practice using these new materials and techniques than right here on campus. Many colleges across the country have completed retrofitting projects that have brought their facilities up to LEED's gold standard. Why not UVSC? Students from our programs could work side by side with contractors, learning these techniques and gaining valuable hands-on experience.

USA Today and Deseret Morning News get trial run on campus

UVSC news junkies have been enjoying their free copies of the New York Times for over two years now, and now USA Today and the Deseret Morning News will join the battle for students' attention.

Starting this Monday and for the next four weeks (though we have also heard it might be six weeks) students will be able to pick up free copies of both papers. Students will be surveyed and the school will decide if it wants to foot the bill on a regular basis.

Not everyone is thrilled about USA Today's colorful coverage...one dean equated it to Marvel Comics. But serious news watchers will be happy to know that the Times will still be around.

One administrator said he is hoping that the costs of all these publications (perhaps even the Wall Street journal for business students) will be added to the school's general budget. Right now the subscription fee is rolled into student fees.

Now all we need is a better recycling system for all these newspapers.

School of Business to get new name and a load of money

While no one on campus is willing to go on record, it seems everyone is flapping their lips about a huge donation coming to UVSC's business school next week.

Large gift to UVSC's school of business
(Daily Herald, October 12 2007)

The Herald is reporting that the gift will be between $15-20 million, and come courtesy of the Woodbury family. As part of the donation the School of Business will change it's name, probably to something like the Woodbury School of Business. Again, no one on campus is being quoted on the particulars here, so we will probably have to wait until the official announcement on October 19.

The School of Business currently resides in the Woodbury Business Building on campus. No word yet if some of the donated money will be allocated to improving the aging structure, but the school's master plan does indicate eventual expansion.

The Woodbury's have also donated space at their University Mall for the Woodbury Art Museum.

No word if uber-philanthropist Ira Fulton will match this huge gift. The Arizona homebuilder has matched other major gifts this year, including Brent Brown's $1 million donation for the school's baseball facility, and just last week he matched the $1 million donation from Clyde Companies Inc.

Today On Campus: Wednesday • 10/10/07

DR. CARL BLACK SEMINAR FOR HEALTH PROFESSION STUDENTS
12:00pm - 1:00pm
SC 213b
Free

BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE (B.A.C.A.)
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Grande Ballroom
Free

COUNTRY DANCE
9:00pm - Midnight
UVSC Ballroom
$3 w/college ID
Ladies FREE until 9:30pm


THE CLOTHESLINE PROJECT
8:00am - 8:00pm
Grande Ballroom
Free
Clothesline


Each weekday during the fall and spring semesters The Pipeline publishes "Today on Campus" which outlines events at UVSC. To notify us of an event send details to uvscpipeline@gmail.com

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).