Senate chief says UVSC will be a university someday

"I'm not against having a diverse education," he said, "but the major mission of this institution can't get lost in the quest to be fair and listen to diverse views."

Valentine also noted UVSC's low number of full-time faculty as a hurdle to university status. In fall 2004, 56 percent of the faculty were adjunct, according to Utah System of Higher Education data.

Weber State University, considered a "peer" university to which UVSC officials compare the Orem school, has 22 percent adjunct faculty, according to USHE.

The school also needs more academic advisers and more bachelor's degrees. Valentine told the students that degrees such as engineering could propel the school toward university status.

The school also would have to seek university accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, which certifies schools as meeting certain standards, Valentine said.

"It will take an upgraded and badly needed library," Valentine said. "We're going to get that next session."

To the surprise of regents, the State Building Board pushed UVSC's request for $48 million in state tax funds for a Digital Learning Center/library to the No. 1 capital priority in the state. But it will take at least 18 months to design and build a library, said UVSC's spokesman, Derek Hall.

"Right now we're talking about a comprehensive set of bachelor's degrees," he said.

UVSC offers 44 bachelor's degrees.

"Boise State (University, a peer comparison school) has less than that," Hall said. "Weber has more."

Administrators want to fill in gaps in different academic programs, including engineering, although traditional civil, mechanical and electrical engineering are not on the school's "short list" of degree considerations, Hall said.

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com