6 Responses to “UVU — Bill Signing and Festivities”

1. Tom Grover Says:
   March 21st, 2007 at 1:08 am

   Utah now has five underfunded Universities instead of 4. 5 Universities who will now spend more money competing against each other for a student population that isn’t expected to grow for years. 5 Universities competing for the same pie from the legislature.

   Tuition keeps going up, accessibility keeps going down. I had to work 3 jobs (I literally slept only every other night during the last 2 weeks of the semester my senior year), to attend and graduate from our land grant University, USU- the University that SHOULD be accessible to the masses.

   How many jobs will my children need to work while attending school in order to pay for college? 4? 5? Will they sleep only every 3rd night during finals week?

   Representative Frank, I have asked this before- how can the State of Utah justify a 5th University when it fails to financially support the 4 it already has?

2. KVNU’s For The People » UVSC’s upgrade- the unanswered question Says:
   March 21st, 2007 at 1:18 am

   [...] I have posted the question above on Utah County Representative Craig Frank’s blog several times, including once today. Utah now has five underfunded Universities instead of 4. 5 Universities who will now spend more money competing against each other for a student population that isn’t expected to grow for years. 5 Universities competing for the same pie from the legislature. [...]

3. Jon Cox Says:
   March 21st, 2007 at 9:14 am

   Rep. Frank,

   I agree with Tom. I remember all of the ballyhoo several years ago as Dixie Community College became Dixie State College. But where have all the kazoos and party hats run off to now?

   Because of that decision, not only have other schools suffered as we cut the educational pie into more pieces, but Dixie has struggled too. Last year alone they lost more than 1,000 students as they’ve focused more on four-year programs and less on kids seeking associates degree with which they can transfer to other institutions. You see, they forgot their niche. UVSC will likewise struggle unless they realize their niche is the nontraditional students of Utah County–with late-night and weekend classes to boot. No one wants to gets a bachelor’s degree from Dixie any more than people will be proud of a master’s degree from UVSC.

   Enjoy the party while it lasts, but with skyrocketing tuition and access to higher education limited, be prepared to encounter a backlash sooner or later.

4. Tom Grover Says:
   March 23rd, 2007 at 2:43 am

   Bueller? Bueller?

5. Rep. Craig Frank Says:
   March 29th, 2007 at 10:45 am

   Tom:

   UVSC, dispite the new infusion of cash ($8 million on-going) to bring it up to University status, is still a model of fiscal responsibility as an educational facility. Year-after-year they are doing more for less. In my opinion that’s an important factor in the “Legislative Buy In” for university satus. There’s a reason why Majority Leader, Rep. David Clark (House Floor Sponsor of SB70) called UVSC a lean-mean-green-education-machine during his presentation on the floor of the House. UVSC has the lowest per pupil spending (by a substantial margin) of any state college or University in Utah. Pehaps the other higher-ed institutions could take their cues from the fiscal belt-tightening attitude of UVSC–perhaps this is the message that’s being sent. Dispite the fiscal restraints on UVSC they have managed to produce an exceptionally high-quality product–the numbers prove it.

   UVSC’s enrollment numbers are increasing while other Utah state colleges and universities are experience declining enrollment. Why? Market demands. The legislature has a responsibilty to be fiscally and reasonably prudent in our spending–more times thaen not, focusing limited resources on unlimited demands. We need to remember, when it comes to Higher-Ed spending, there is NO STATE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE OR GUARANTEE for the citizens of this state to secure a higher educatinal experience. Guarantees for a “reasonably priced” public education stop at the end of 12th grade.

   Having personally worked over forty hous a week while going to college full-time with a young family, I can relate to the pressures of wanting to purchase a reasonably priced diploma. I remember the day, ten years later, following graduation, when my wife and I made our final college loan payment–how sweet it was. We got that diploma with blood, sweat, and tears.

   How will our children be able to afford their college diploma?! By working their butts off just like we did. And, if they’re not required to personally vest themselves in their educational experience–heaven help us all.

6. Tom Grover Says:
   March 31st, 2007 at 2:03 am

   Rep Frank,

   Thanks for your response. Per pupil spending comparisons between UVSC and USU is not an apples to apples comparison, as USU is a Carnegie Type I University and UVSC is currently a Type III, soon to be Type II. Research Universities are obviously going to take more to fund. I am quite familiar with USU’s budget woes and I must disagree that there is some gap between restrain between USU and UVSC.

   I also reject the market forces argument. UVSC has a booming enrollment as a matter of geographic convienience, not because it provides a better or comprable education compared to other Utah Universities. UVSC became UVU because of Utah County’s political largess.

   I suppose at this point the best that USU can hope for is some good old fashioned log rolling. Utah County has such a tremendous representation in the Legislature (about a quarter, right?), which certainly helped UVSC become UVU. I can only hope that such a strong representation, coupled with the much smaller Cache County delegation can get more money for higher ed and USU in particular.

   Again, thanks for your response. As a libertarian, I often disagree with your policies, but I appreciate your blog. I read it often and wish every legislator offered the same interaction.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.