Utah Valley State College

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A Panoramic view of the UVSC campus
A Panoramic view of the UVSC campus

Utah Valley State College or UVSC, is a publicly-funded college located in Orem, Utah. Although the college has many courses of study, including an increasing number of bachelor's degree programs, it still retains many of its trade/technical school roots. The college currently offers 51 bachelor degrees and more than 270 career-preparation programs. The college’s Wasatch Campus in Heber City, Utah, also offers bachelor degrees in business management and secondary education as well as associate degrees in accounting, behavioral science, business management, elementary education and general education. US News and World Report has ranked UVSC among the top comprehensive public institutions in the West. It is currently in the process of becoming a university, effective July 1, 2008, after which it will be known as Utah Valley University.

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[edit] Accreditation

UVSC was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Northwest Association of Schools and in 1969, and has since been renewed in 1984, 1995, and 2005. Vocational accreditation was also granted UVSC in 1976 and renewed in 1990 and 1995 by the Utah State Office of Vocational Education. The college is currently seeking accreditation in connection with its university status.

[edit] History

UVSC was founded in the fall of 1941, when the Utah State Vocational Office consolidated federal work program classes into one campus in Provo. At this time the school was known as the Central Utah Vocational School. Growth brought many changes to the College. The name of the college changed several times to reflect its changing role. In 1963 the name was changed from Central Utah Vocational School to Utah Trade Technical Institute. In 1967 the name became Utah Technical College at Provo as the College was first given the authority to confer associate degrees. In 1977, it began moving to its present location beside I-15 in Orem. In 1987 it became Utah Valley Community College until 1997, when it became a state college. It wasn't until 1997 that it became Utah Valley State College and began awarding four-year degrees. The Utah legislature approved renaming it as a university in February 2007, allowing it to begin offering master's degrees, although the school's emphasis would remain its two-year degree programs.

[edit] Extracurricular Activities

The school mascot is the Wolverine, and the colors are green and gold.

The Wolverines play their home basketball games in the 8,500 seat McKay Events Center and the baseball team plays in the 2,500 seat Wolverine Stadium, which opened on March 25, 2005.

The athletic program is attempting to move from the NJCAA to NCAA Division I status. UVSC is in the fourth year of a 6-year process to complete this. Most teams compete as independents, and the school is currently attempting to gain a conference affiliation. The most likely candidate appears to be the Mid-Continent Conference, which includes fellow Utah school Southern Utah University.[citation needed]

The student-produced newspaper is The College Times.

[edit] Digital Learning Center

The new 180 thousand square foot Digital Learning Center that will replace the current 35 thousand square foot Losee Center library, which stands northeast of the Liberal Arts building, began construction in September 2006 and is projected to be completed by fall of 2008. UVSC President William A. Sederburg has hired Cooper, Roberts, Simonsen and Associates and Layton Construction as the design/build team for the new Digital Learning Center, with acclaimed New York architect Jacob Alspector as lead architect. “We chose the design we’re going with because it was an exceptional design that still kept a lot of the same features of our current campus. So it looks like it’s supposed to be there yet it stands out,” said Jim Michaelis, associate vice president of Facilities Planning. The $48 million project will include: 300+ networked computers, a computer lab with all software applications for gathering and packaging information, a reference computer area, a state-of-the-art media center, more than 60 study rooms, a map room, electronic books, streaming audio and video, an electronic reserve, and wireless and network connections throughout the building.

[edit] Facts

  • UVSC is the eighth fastest growing school in the country.[citation needed]
  • The college is Orem’s largest employer and the third largest employer in Utah County with more than 1,300 faculty and 3,540 part- and full-time staff.
  • UVSC is Utah's third largest academic institution.
  • In 2005, UVSC had students from all 50 states and 78 countries.
  • 20,976 students attend UVSC.
  • According to the 2005 Utah Foundation Report, UVSC bachelor degree graduates earn more money than graduates from any other Utah college or university.
  • UVSC has hosted the Teaching with Technology Idea Exchange open conference annually since 2005.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  • Stewart, Erin and Laura Hancock. "UVSC eager to make switch to a university". Deseret Morning News, February 28, 2007.
  • Robertson, Ashley. "TBA". The College Times, March 5, 2007.

[edit] External links


United Soccer Conference
USC East: Delaware State • Howard • Longwood • South Carolina State
USC West: IPFW • North Dakota State • South Dakota State • Utah Valley


Colleges and universities of Utah
BYU • CEU • Dixie State • LDS Business College • SLCC • Snow College • SUU • Stevens-Henager • U of U • USU • UVSC • WSU • Westminster
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