Dixie State College of Utah's Board of Trustees approved a resolution Friday that could mean monumental change for the college.

Leaders gave the college the green light to begin initial discussions and research into the idea of strengthening the affiliation between DSC and the University of Utah, which could lead to the school becoming an arm of the university.

"Today Dixie State College faces a financial and strategic crisis, and it is time, once again, to make some very difficult decisions," Shandon Gubler, chairman of the Dixie board of trustees, said. "We know education's power and potential to change lives, to stimulate economies and to facilitate an above-average quality of life. Our educational offerings must respond to the rapidly changing world of southern Utah."

According to leaders, the institution would be a stand-alone, separate campus within the U. system. A proposed official name is yet to be decided, but Dixie President Dr. Lee Caldwell said the board of trustees wants it to incorporate the U. name.

The U.'s board would have to approve the change as well as the state Board of Regents. Then the proposal would go before the Legislature next winter.

If the U. and lawmakers give the nod, the school would make the transition next fall. But U. leaders say they are very interested.

"We have always said that we are Utah's university, and we are happy to provide assistance to make the whole system better — as the system rises so do we, and the kids of Utah really deserve the best system we can give them," said U. President Mike Young. "What help we can provide we are delighted to do that and see where areas of profitable cooperation might be."

During the past couple of months a Dixie task force developed a preliminary plan for the initiative. A formal proposal is expected to be presented to the U. next month.

According to Dixie leaders, southwestern Utah currently leads the nation in population percentage growth. And Dixie doubled in enrollment from 1995 to 1999.

"The huge benefit out of this would be primarily for the many adult students in Washington County — those who have not had the opportunity to finish a college degree, and that has almost a direct impact on our work force," said Caldwell. "Within a short period of time we can make a huge impact on improving the quality of work force, which could dramatically change the economic development of this part of the state of Utah."

Assuming agreement can be reached on the proposed partnership, the primary focus of the curriculum will be measured by regional needs and student interest, with a probable expansion in the number of four-year programs

Moreover, according to Dixie spokesman Steve Johnson, the college could benefit by leveraging the expertise and major faculty investment of the state and the U. to add greater depth, range and enhanced quality of instruction, while having the ability to recruit and retain Ph.D-qualified faculty with a teaching focus.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com