Less Frequently Asked Questions about UVU

When will UVU offer an architecture program?

Answer:  Sorry, there are not plans to have an architecture program as this time.

I am in the process to update my resume and was wondering if I can use the University status?  Do I have to wait until July 2008?

Answer: A resume is a personal document, and as such it the person's responsibility to properly represent themself. UVSC will become UVU officially as of July 1, 2008; however, the institution will begin in January 2008 to send out recruiting and other material bearing the UVU name as that will be the name of the institution for the Fall 2008 class. Athletics has begun using the UVU name to secure games with other institutions because some will not play a "college." Over the next few months, the use of the new UVU name and logo will dramatically increase in the market place and people should begin to refer to the institution as such.

Will UVU offer engineering degrees?

What will happen to the Trades/Technology programs/degrees?

Answer: UVSC is committed to Trades/Technology programs/degrees in partnership with MATC. We will respond to the emerging and changing needs of the economic base.

Will there be on-campus housing available for students?

Answer: No, there are no plans to build on-campus student housing. However, there many student housing complexes adjacent to campus and some even have free shuttle services back and forth throughout the day. Also, UVSC has entered into a contract with some housing complexes to provide cohort living arrangements. For example, students may apply to the President's Leadership Program, which includes a dorm-like experience for the students in the program.

Will there be an increase in student enrollment?

Answer: Yes, the demographics of the region indicate that an increase in enrollment is inevitable. Changing the institution's status to a "university" will naturally attract students who may not otherwise come; however, it may also deter other students who feel intimidated by a "university" title and so UVU will make a concerted effort to reach these student to ensure them that UVU still fills this region's need for a community college educational experience. Plans for future buildings are being discussed with state leaders. Institutionally, there is still room to use existing facilities at a higher rate (i.e., more evening and weekend courses).

What does this change, from college to university status, mean for the concurrent enrollment program in high schools? Will they still be continued? Will classes also still be broadcast to the high schools from UVSC?

Answer: Yes, concurrent enrollment offerings will continue. Also, it is anticipated that the distant learning services will expand in the future. Although the institution's name is changing and master's degrees will soon be offered, the institution's core mission will remain the same with a focus on offering two- and four-year degree programs. UVSC is, and UVU will be, a teaching institution committed to student success.

How is this change to a University going to benefit International students? Is there going to be more help offered for international students so that they can come and study at UVSC and thus help with the multicultural experience at UVSC?

Answer: Changing the institution's name from "college" to "university" will greatly help international students who come from a country educational system where institutions bearing "college" in its name is the equivalent of a "high school" in the US. Thus, having the term "university" better describes the type of educational experience UVSC, or UVU, provides.

How will this effect on-line degree program? Will the master's degree offered on-line also?

Answer: Online-degree programs already offered at UVSC should continue and hopefully increase. The master's degrees will begin being offered sometime after July 2008 as traditional on-site programs, although some courses within the programs may be offered online.

Will all the faculty have to get a Ph.D. or terminal degree to teach at UVSC?

Answer: No, however, it will be expected that the appropriate number of faculty in any given department will need to have the level of degree or certification required to maintain programmatic accreditation. This is an issue driven by accreditation. It is reasonable to assume, however, that the majority of faculty hires will have terminal degrees according to their discipline, which has been the case for the past few years.

Will the writing on the round about be changed to "Utah Valley State University" and if so, will the money to change the writing come from students or state funds?

Answer: Yes it will be changed out, but to "Utah Valley University". University status is being funded by the state, not the students.

Will you begin to offer more minors (and more majors) as a result of switching to a University? Such as Psychology, Sociology, or Anthropology minors?

Answer: UVSC, and therefore UVU, will continue to expand educational offerings (adding two- and four-year degree programs as well as some master's degrees programs) to give students a comprehensive set of minors and majors to choose from. Academic Affairs manages a list of future degree programs according to demand and feasibility through the Regent approval process.

Will the departments expand and begin teaching more classes (such as more philosophy courses)?

Answer: The number of classes offered per subject is managed by department chairs in balance with student demand and available resources, which includes faculty availability and funding. Questions regard a specific course should be directed to the appropriate department chair.

Will your language departments expand and begin teaching languages such as Latin, et cetera?

Answer: Similar to the above response, the types of classes offered per subject is managed by department chairs in balance with student demand and available resources, which includes faculty availability and funding. Questions regarding a specific course should be directed to the appropriate department chair.

Will there be different or new requirements for general classes?

Answer: Institutions constantly review general education requirements and UVSC (UVU) is no different. The focus is to ensure students graduate with a general educational background that will help them be successful in their future endeavors, which requires changes from time to time.

Will there be tax increases for the citizens of Utah to help pay for UVSC becoming UVU?

Answer: No, in fact the state legislature cut taxes in the 2007 session.

Will there be any additional scholarships available to students when UVSC gets university status?

Answer: The Financial Aid office is very aggressive in securing more funding options (including scholarships) for students to pursue to help their education. Private scholarship fund raising has been rising considerably over that past few years and it is expected that university status will help increase these endeavors even more.

Along with master's programs, will there be any new bachelor degrees offered?

Answer: Yes, UVSC (UVU) will continue to expand its educational offerings of two- and four-year degree programs in addition to the added master's degrees.

Does the LDS church, and the dean at BYU encourage or discourage UVSC becoming UVU?

Answer: The LDS Church and BYU do not have an official stance regarding UVSC becoming UVU; however, President Sederburg has met personally with leaders from both organizations (as well as with many other religious, business and community organizations) to keep them informed of UVSC's move to university status. These meetings have yielded a favorable response.

Will UVSC's website be remodeled when they achieve university status?

Answer: Yes, there will be some changes to the institutional website following the name change of the institution, which will include a new institutional seal and logos.

Will there be any changes to the Heber City UVSC campus?

Answer: Yes, endeavors are currently underway to increase enrollments and program offerings at the Wasatch Campus.

How much money will it cost to make the change from UVSC to UVU?

Answer: Approximately $10 million: $8.8 million going towards the undergraduate experience, the remaining $1.2 (plus graduate tuition) funding the addition of master degree programs.

How will UVSC being changed to UVU affect public relations with other universities and colleges in Utah and through out the rest of the nation?

Answer: Other institutions in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) have expressed support for UVSC becoming a university and UVU will continue to foster healthy relationships with USHE institutions. Being a "university" in name will help foster healthy relationships with institutions nationally and internationally because it is a better description of the quality and type of an education provided.

Will all the money used to make UVSC UVU come from Utah tax payers, or will there be some federal assistance?

Answer: The increased funding appropriated to UVSC as part of its movement to university status comes from state tax funds, not federal. However, UVSC (UVU) does engage in federal grant initiatives to help augment the cost of the student educational experience (this will continue).

If there are more students applying for UVU than UVU can handle, is there any chance that they will be forced to do away with open enrollment?

Answer: UVU will be committed to open enrollment and providing educational opportunities to all who seek them and are willing to earn an education. UVSC started mandating the ACT (or like test) a couple of years ago to help all new freshman be properly placed at a level of course work consistent with their current ability. UVSC is, and UVU will be dedicated to student success!

Are you going to keep the Culinary Arts program?

Answer: Yes! In fact, we have recently expanded the facilities available to the Culinary Arts program beginning Fall of 2007 to include the old Hard Disc Cafe (Canyon Park Building L) on the old WordPerfect campus, which is now known as Canyon Park Technology Center.

When will we know what specific master's in Nursing degrees will be offered at UVU?

Answer: Hopefully very soon. The details and focus of the degree are still being developed and refined. The process involves resource planning, discussions with industry leaders, and developing a proposal for the Board of Trustee and Board of Regent to approve--all of which take time.

It has been said that UVU will try to expand it's bachelor's programs. Will a bachelors program for engineering be incorporated in the expansion? If so, how soon can we expect to see this type of program? 

Answer: A degree in software engineering was just approved by the Board of Regents on March 9, 2007 and will begin being offered Fall 2007. Questions regarding the future offerings of other engineering-type degrees can be answered by contacting the School of Technology and Computing at 801-863-8321.

I found that I can't transfer to some other universities because my credit is from a college. Will the credits I'm taking now transfer to university credits instead of college credits?

Answer: As of July 1, 2008 all transcripts will be printed officially under the institutional name of Utah Valley University. On the back of the transcript, the dates of all institutional name changes appear.

Percentage wise, how much of an increase in tuition is expected? When will the increase begin?

Answer: Tuition will rise 6.7% beginning fall 2007. Of the total percentage, 4% of the increase is set by the state (Tier 1) and 2.7% is set by the institution (Tier 2).

Will there be an increase to associate and bachelor tuition costs?

Answer: No, tuition is a flat rate.

Because of the increase in tuition how much of a drop is expected in student enrollment?

Answer: Overall, we expect an increase in enrollment, not a drop.

With the change to a University, how much of an increase is expected in student enrollment?

Answer: The change to university status has already had a positive impact on projected enrollments; however, we don't have a specific number by which the increase is targeted. However, applications for admissions, scholarships, and other student endeavors is up, exceeding any historical records in these areas; thus, we are optimistic that fall 2007 enrollment will increase. The state of Utah projects UVSC (UVU) to have the largest student enrollment in the state by 2020 with more than 30,000 students.

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