UVSC officials, if granted permission by the regents, could start work on graduate programs in education, business or nursing, according to a report by a consultant hired by Sederburg to examine the feasibility of UVSC becoming a university.

The 17-page report, written by consultant James Phelps, is based on discussions with students, faculty, state officials and members of the community.

The June report noted that in some states schools similar to UVSC are universities.

"From my personal experience, UVS, a 'college,' is better and more comprehensive than some 'universities' in Michigan," according to Phelps' report.

Then why does UVSC need to become a university?

Students would reap the most obvious benefits, according to the consultant's report.

"Employers instinctively give greater preference to candidates with degrees from universities than they do to candidates from colleges," Phelps wrote.

In his report, Phelps recommended that UVSC become a "regional state university" or "baccalaureate-intensive university." Such a school would emphasize undergraduate instruction, offer a few master's degree program — but no doctorate programs.

"While there are different degrees of enthusiasm," Phelps wrote in the report, "the appropriateness of university status was universal."

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com