Comments on: UVU too big, too fast?

By: Brad Plothow

Brad Plothow — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:57:06 +0000

Seems like we’ve had this discussion before, Tyler. Methinks UVU is a wrong choice as your White Whale. Here’s why:

- Even after receiving funding for university status, UVU still receives the fewest state dollars per student among all USHE institutions.

- Some USHE schools are state-funded as much as 85% of their total budgets. UVU is below 50%, meaning students and donors bear a proportionally higher burden for the cost of education. I have a hard time understanding why UVU is the problem. If you want a culprit, look to the dead weight.

- Where were the cries of shortsightedness when the Legislature approved USTAR? UVU’s $10 million pales in comparison to USTAR’s $250 million.

- UVU returns $6 to Utah’s economy for every state dollar it receives, and it serves a market three times the size of Cache County. (BYU’s admissions are increasingly out of state and international.)

- University status for UVU is not the impetus for USU’s problems, or any other state-funded school for that matter. Every USHE institution was cut.

- UVU is the furthest thing from a generic school among all the USHE institutions. It’s focus on hands-on learning fills a critical need — employers across the state look to UVU grads as career-ready.

By: Grumpy

Grumpy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:45:54 +0000

Eric,

That’s exactly right. And what both the schools and Utah fail to realize is that they’d be much better off tailoring the school to fill a niche, which is what UVSC WAS doing already. Few states if any are in a position financially to fund 5+ “Universities” that can get any student any degree they please…and a quality one at that.

By: EricF

EricF — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:50:50 +0000

The problem with UVU (and to some degree Weber State and Dixie College at one time) is that they want to be all things to all people. Utah is not in a position financially to be able to do that.

Additionally, as long as BYU remains in Provo, and as its admission standards continue to increase based on demand, there will always be a place for UVU. Is is a natural spill over for people who want the BYU experience but can’t/don’t want to attend BYU.

By: Grumpy

Grumpy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:13:42 +0000

Tyler you really hit the bullseye with this…this is exactly what I’ve been saying regarding all UVU posts on here for a while.

UVU is nothing more than 13th grade for a growing number of SL and Happy Valley high school graduates. Degrees from there are garbage, as is the education.

…and in the end, that makes sense. U of U and USU are the (at least officially) flagship public education institutions of the state. USU being the land-grant option. These are institutions that should and deserve to be placed at a higher budgetary priority.

And now, what a surprise the poorly planned vision of UVU is collapsing under the negligence and stupidity that propped it up.

…Bah. I guess I’m living up to my moniker on this topic.