UVSC bumps summer pay for full-time faculty

Professors who choose to work the summer semester are in for a nice surprise: administrators have approved a raise.


UVSC boosts pay for summer
More students creating bigger faculty workload
(Deseret Morning News, April 29 2008)

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.

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.

Big Bill named CEO of the year

Folks who fear the continuing corporatization of public education have more fuel for the fire now that UVSC president Bill Sederburg has been named one of eight recipients of Utah Business Magazine's CEO of the year.

Business magazine honors UVSC chief (Deseret Morning News, March 21 2008)

Has anyone else noticed an increased corporate presence on campus, like the billboard for Brent Brown or the cars from Kent Garff?

Will UV-Uphoria compete with Stadium of Fire

The Des News ran a story today about UV-Uphoria (the big event celebrating the official transition to Utah Valley University) and how it might conflict with BYU's perennial powerhouse Stadium of Fire.


Utah Valley's big enough for 2 shows
UVSC fireworks 4 days before Stadium of Fire
(Deseret Morning News, March 18 2008)

When I imagined the two-day festivities marking UVSC's right of passage into univeristyhood, I thought there was going to be a lot of chanting, incense burning, and blood sacrifice. Turns out it is going to be a bunch of Country music (provided by "recognizable names" says Val hale), and a fireworks display that can only be described as "(not) on the scale of Stadium of Fire" by Freedom Festival organizer Paul Warner. Sounds like a rockin' good time!

Pity...I really could have used a crazy orgy of bacchanal proportions this summer. Maybe we should hold our own. Start pouring the libations!

Big Surprise! Tuition and Fees to increase again

UVSC's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a 6.3 percent tuition increase for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year year, along with an $18 increase in student fees.

Students at UVU to pay $188 more per year (Deseret Morning News, March 14 2008)

In other words a 12 credit semester (with student fees) at UVU will run in-state students $1876. For non-residents a semester will set you back $5757.

Costs for UVU's new graduate program will have also been released. Those entering the school's masters of education program will be paying $179 per credit hour.

As other public colleges approve their increases (and there are always increases) The Pipeline will make a comprehensive comparison of what a college education goes for in the Beehive State.

Huntsman to speak at last UVSC graduation

Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr. will speak at UVSC's graduation this April, which will be the college's last graduation under that name.

Governor to speak at UVSC's commencement (Deseret Morning News, March 14 2008)

The governor, along with United Way of Utah County president Bill Hulterstrom and president of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Lane Beattie, will receive honorary degrees from UVSC. And after July 1st they can turn in their crappy UVSC honorary degrees for swank UVU honorary degrees.

UVSC offers a diploma upgrade (Deseret Morning News, March 9 2008)

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.

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.

MATC grabs more trades students

As UVSC transitions to a university the founding (and floundering) trades program continues to lose market share to Mountainlands Applied Technology Center. And now UVSC is ceding a significant portion of its apprenticeship program to the much cheaper MATC.


Apprentice programs rewired
MATC partnering with UVSC to train students
(Deseret Morning News, November 25 2007)

According to the article, UVSC has surveyed local trades employers and found that most could care less about whether their employees have associates degrees or not. Why would students pay more money and take superfluous classes to get a degree that won't matter to their employers?

Taxes on Texts

Student government leaders from across Utah presented a plan to end the sales tax charged for text books to legislators yesterday.

Students seek a textbook tax break
(Deseret Morning News, November 15 2007)

Students lobby for tax-free textbooks
(Daily Herald, November 15 2007)

State Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper, will sponsor the bill that would end sales tax on textbooks during the upcoming session.

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.

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.

Dental Hygiene bachelor proposal goes to Regents

UVSC's Dental Hygiene program has been offering 2-year associate degrees for almost ten years. Earlier this month the school's Board of Trustees approved a new 4-year bachelor's program.


UVSC degree options open wide
College sends plan for a bachelor's in dental hygiene to state board
(Deseret Morning News, October 17 2007)

Currently in Utah only Weber State offers a bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene. Of course the state's Board of Regents will need to give the final word on UVSC's proposal. There is a Regents meeting scheduled for October 24 at Utah State...no word if this item will be on the agenda yet, but we assume it will be

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.

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).

Big bucks on the way

Clyde Companies Inc has given $1 million to UVSC and uber-donor Ira Fulton has matched that gift dollar for dollar.

Orem construction company donates $1M to UVSC
(Daily Herald, October 4 2007)

UVSC to get $1 million donation from Clyde Companies
(Deseret Morning News, October 4 2007)

Part of that dough will go toward creating a four-year bachelor's program in construction management that focuses on highway and heavy railroad construction. The newly upgraded soccer field will get $300,000.

Former UVSC dance instructor's slip is showing

A weird little story in today's papers tell the tale of Mark Baker, a former dance instructor at UVSC, who was caught red-handed with dresses missing from the school's inventory.

Southern Utah University dance instructor faces 2nd charge
(Deseret Morning News, October 3 2007)

SUU instructor charged with stealing UVSC costumes
(Daily Herald, October 3 2007)

The best part is that Baker had the ball(gown)s to feature the stolen gear in an online video production (man, we hope it was only a dance video) which was seen by someone at UVSC, who recognized the stuff and notified the authorities.

Baker, who has been suspended from his job as the director of SUU's ballroom dance company, will be in court later this month.

UVSC Trustee to challenge Cannon for 3rd district seat

Former BYU place-kicker and current UVSC Trustee Jason Chaffetz announced today that we will run against Chris Cannon for the republican nomination for Utah's 3rd district congressional seat.

UPDATE: Governor's former chief of staff to run against Cannon
(Daily Herald, October 1 2007)

Chaffetz announces bid to unseat Cannon
(Deseret Morning News, October 1 2007)

Jason Chaffetz, David Leavitt
Two Republicans challenge Congressman Chris Cannon
(Salt Lake Tribune, October 1 2007)

While there was no announcement on what this will mean for his responsibilities at UVSC , we have to speculate that he might be stepping down. This much is for sure, Big Bill would love to have a former trustee (even a former Cougar) in Washington.

You can check out Chaffetz's website here:

http://www.jasonforcongress.com

Status of the transition

With the July 1st deadline looming, folks at UVSC are scrambling to get all things university in order.


UVSC transition under way
School will officially become a university on July 1, 2008
(Deseret Morning News, September 28 2007)

There are a lot of things that need fixin' on campus, just check out the comments section in the article above and you'll find folks bitchin' about things like the Math Department and student services. And how can you blame them?

But the best part of the article was this little nugget from our friends in the Athletics:

"Basically, our response is, we're ready to go through Division I transition," said Megan Kennedy, an assistant athletic director, explaining how UVSC is in its fifth of six years of provisional Division I status with the NCAA.


First of all, the move from college to university has nothing to do with the NCAA or Division I status. UVSC could start a Ph.D program tomorrow and it wouldn't change the fact that the school is not in a conference, and it is no closer to getting in a conference than it was five years ago.

Much like a certain war, UVSC Athletics has never come up with an exit strategy for when it fails to get into a conference next year. Will the school continue to be an independent? Can it afford to operate without conference funding, not to mention a far-flung travel schedule? Will fans support a team that will never develop rivalries with other conference schools? Will athletes sign scholarship agreements knowing that they have little to no chance of participating in national championships?

Yet the Athletic department says "We are ready!"