UVSC adjuncts in decline as school hires more full-time faculty

You may remember that The Pipeline reported last month that UVSC adjunct army was getting a slight bump in pay. Over the weekend an article in the Daily Herald looked closer at that pay raise and the declining percentage of adjuncts teaching classes.


UVSC adjunct professors face unsure future (Daily Herald, April 20 2008)

There were a few interesting nuggets in the article, the first being that the school's adjunct faculty organization was disbanded earlier this year over fears that it was acting as a union. God forbid (and so does state law) that these poor folks rally around a common cause like getting paid a living wage. With the pay raise, adjuncts will be making a whopping $1750 per three-credit class taught. If the average adjunct teaches between two and three classes per semester that figures to a bimonthly paycheck of just over $600. No adjunct can teach more than 4 classes a semester. Try scraping out a living on that while paying back grad school loans. Also remember that adjuncts receive no benefits. They would probably be better off managing a Burger King.

But The Pipeline's favorite quote came from adjunct accounting prof (and deposed leader of the now-defunct adjunct "union") Gary Petersen who said, "Most adjuncts won't even know that they've had a raise. Their six or seven paychecks through a semester may go up $10 each. It's a great gesture from the college and all the adjuncts appreciate it. It's just 5 percent of a very small amount -- it doesn't amount to very much."

In other words, even the guy who used to fight for adjunct rights is so used to being pushed around by the school that when a few extra crumbs fall from the table all he can say is "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

Adjuncts keep the academic gene pool fresh and diverse, usually bringing real-world experience and the latest trends in their disciplines. As the school diminishes their role there should exist a stringent hiring process that weeds out the slackers and rewards the productive. Adjuncts should make a wage that is competitive to what a professional of their caliber makes in their respective industries.

Baloney with Bill

Tuesday Big Bill Sederburg held his annual "Sandwiches with Sederburg" in the Grande Ballroom. No big surprises: sandwiches, cookies, a Power Point presentation, and plenty of courtesy laughs.


Sandwiches and optimism at UVSC (Deseret Morning News, April 9 2008)

Sandwiches with Sederburg event celebrates UVSC budget (Daily Herald, April 9 2008

Bill made a big deal about all the money the school is getting nowadays, which is impressive but still seems woefully inadequate considering the new mission of the school.

One of the few interesting nuggets Bill dropped is the fact that the school is hoping to earn the Carnegie Foundation's Community Engagement Classification. It beats trying to get a football team.

By the way UVSC employees, when you laugh at Big Bill's jokes it only encourages him.

Unattended candle may have caused apartment fire at College Terrace

Ask apartment managers in the greater Provo-Orem area what their greatest fear is and most will tell you it isn't keggers or panty raids--it is the dreaded scented candle. While college housing supers elsewhere are cleaning up puke and doobies, local apartment managers are cutting candle wax out of carpets. And every now and then they have an even bigger headache--fires.

Fire breaks out at College Terrace Apartments (Daily Herald, March 31 2008)

Next time, reach for the Febreeze.

Regents give final approval to UVU's first graduate degree program

Though there was never much doubt, it has finally been made official. Utah's Board of Regents have approved UVU's very first graduate program. Starting this fall students wanting a Master's in Education have a new choice.

UVSC moves by leaps and bounds toward university status (Salt Lake Tribune, March 23 2008

Regents OK master's for UVSC (Daily Herald, March 23 2008)

UVSC gets OK for first master's (Daily Herald, March 23 2008)

This first year the education master's program will only accept anywhere from 20-30 students.

UVSC finishing up Habitat for Humanity project

Students from UVSC are putting the finishing touches as they build a home for Habitat for Humanity. In addition to providing an affordable home to a needy family the nine-month project has also serves as a working lab for UVSC construction students.

UVSC students work on community home
(Daily Herald, March 19 2008)

Utah's 2008 Election: The candidates

The Daily Herald has provided a comprehensive list of the candidates vying for positions in the upcoming election in Utah.

Candidates who filed for Office (Daily Herald, March 18 2008)

In the coming months The Pipeline will be taking a look at some of these folks and how this election might affect UVU.

Smokeless campus: Will USU's recent vote inspire UVU to ban tobacco

Student Government leaders at Utah State University have recently voted to ban smoking and all tobacco products on campus. If administrators approve the ban USU will join another hundred or so smokeless college campuses in the nation.

USU tries to snuff out campus smoking (The Daily Herald, February 7 2008

If the ban does indeed pass muster with the administration don't be surprised if other campuses in the state consider the move. And with UVSC having the highest percentage of LDS students of any public college in the world a tobacco ban seems to make a lot of sense.

Will there be a fight with the more liberal elements on campus if such a ban was considered by student government at UVSC? No doubt. If student leaders act unilaterally (like USU did) by not asking for a student referendum you could bet there will be a fierce battle. But those same liberal elements might not want to have it put to a full school vote, because there is little doubt that a tobacco ban would be approved by the majority.

And if such a ban was approved at UVSC you could count on Campus Police enforcing the letter of the law with all due diligence.

UVSC gets big donation to start youth theater program

Local philanthropist Tye Noorda (widow of the late Novel CEO Ray Noorda) has given an undisclosed amount to UVSC to establish a regional youth theater program.

Noordas give youth theater to UVSC
(Daily Herald, January 8 2008)

UVSC receives major gift for theater arts
(Deseret Morning News, January 8 2008)

Noorda has asked the school not to release the actual dollar amount of her donation, but The Pipeline has heard from numerous sources that the gift might be as high as $10 million. The school did say that it is the largest single payment gift it has ever received.

UVU Transition Update

This morning's Daily Herald featured an article outlining the status of UVSC's transition to UVU.

UVSC edges closer to university debut
(Daily Herald, January 6 2007)

Gun Charges dismissed in Yohannes Case

Former UVSC student Kiddus Yohannes had two charges of providing false information on a background check dismissed by Fourth District court over the Holiday break.

Student's gun charges dismissed
(Daily Herald, January 3 2008)

Felony gun charges dropped
(Deseret Morning News, January 3 2008)

Neither article mentions if Yohannes is still being held in county jail.

New leads in murder case of UVSC Hockey coach

It has been over a week since UVSC assistant hockey coach Ken Dolezsar, and his killer is still on the loose. But Sandy police have some "good and promising" leads in the case.

New leads in slaying of UVSC hockey coach
(Deseret Morning News, November 27 2007)

Students produce Spanish version of campus news

Veronica Lopez is the executive producer of UVSC's student broadcast team, and this year she has added the occaisional Spanish news show. There is a very nice story about it in today's Herald

UVSC launches Spanish language broadcast
(Daily Herald, November 26 2007)

Particularly interesting are the multitude of anti-immigration, and some downright xenophobic, posters in the Herald's forum.

The Salt Lake Tribune picked up an AP version of the story:

UVSC launches spanish language television broadcast
(Salt Lake Tribune, November 26 2007)

Wolverine works with dogs

Here is a nice little human interest story about a UVSC sophomore, Megan Stewart, who raises guide dogs for the blind.

UVSC student raises guide dogs
(Daily Herald, November 19 2007)

Remembering Ken Dolezsar

UVSC's club hockey team is mourning the loss of their assistant coach Ken Dolezsar, who was shot and killed outside a restaurant in Sandy on Thursday.

A rink in mourning
Daily Herald, November 17 2007)

Building a High-speed data link between Utah collleges

Utah State University and the University of Utah are discussing the possibility of building a high-speed data link between the two schools. The link would allow for greater collaboration and data sharing and would be a step closer to connecting all of Utah's public colleges and universities forming a "Utah Grid".

Data link proposed for Utah State, University of Utah
(Daily Herald, November 13 2007)

The Utah Education Network will be asking the state legislature for funding to start the program, but as of yet hasn't released any more details.

From Kabul to Orem

If you travel the halls of UVSC for any length of time chances are you will run into Najib Niazi. Right after 9-11 he worked as a teenage interpreter for journalist Scott Carrier in his home country of Afghanistan. Fast forward six years and both Niazi and Carrier find themselves at UVSC.

Escaping the atrocities of war
(Daily Herald, November 11 2007)

If you get a chance, stop by the Integrated Studies office and strike up a conversation with Najib.

For a much more in-depth article on Najib Niazi and Scott Carrier check out this City Weekly article from earlier this year:
Stranger in Zion
Najibullah Niazi helped a journalist get the story of his career. Four years later, that story put a target on Niazi’s back.
(Salt Lake City Weekly, January 25 2007)

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.

Big Bill gets big award

Bill Sederburg is being recognized by the Salt Lake and Utah County chapters of the Public Relations Society of America as Communicator of The Year for his work in guiding UVSC from college to university during his short tenure.

UVSC president honored as Communicator of the Year
(Daily Herald, October 26 2007)

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.

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.