Dixie State College

Dixie State College had a very good year legislatively, receiving more new money than any other college/university in the State. There are many people to thank for that. Near the top of that list would be House Speaker Greg Curtis and UofU President Mike Young. They understand what we’re trying to do down here – match educational opportunities in Washington County to the economic and innovative vibrancy that fills this blessed corner of the State. Likewise, the skilled personnel from DSC and the UofU that are working on the affiliation are to be commended for their excellent work to date.

This morning, I had breakfast with the brass for higher education (the Regents and Commissioner’s office), leaders from DSC, and leaders from the Dixie Applied Technology College. After that breakfast, I had a wonderful hallway huddle with President Caldwell and a few of his VPs, trustees Shandon Gubler and Steve Caplin, and Mark Gubler from the Alumni Association.

It’s tough to reduce the content of several great hours of dialogue to a few sentences, but here it is for me. Our community is very excited about increased education opportunities that could arise from an enhanced affiliation with the UofU. But, of course, where there is change, there is an element of trepidation and concern that the changes be beneficial. Finding the best possibilities and engaging the support necessary to achieve those possibilities requires broad community dialogue. Not in a way of selling something that is already baked, but in a way of inviting the community to participate in determining and blazing the trail. We need to look at the progress we’ve made to date on the affiliation and broaden our discussion with the two communities of interest.

Quite simply, the affiliation between the two institutions should work however the two communities of interest determine that it should work. Both institutions want better education opportunities. The UofU wants to better fill its mission as THE flagship institution for the entire State. DSC wants more degrees and programs. Those are great things. Let’s reboot the discussion, look at the great steps that the two institutions have made, and have a broad community dialogue on the next steps that we can take.

I have drafted some initial thoughts on a possible pathway for the affiliation. They will appear next Tuesday in the Dixie Weekly. Please take a look and give some input.