$10 million for a 'UVU'?

OREM — At the same time a prominent donor announced his plans to help raise $10 million so Utah Valley State College can achieve university status, a new Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll indicates that fewer than half of Utahns want UVSC to become the state's next public university.

Ira Fulton, a Tempe, Ariz., resident, has told the Deseret Morning News he wants to help the community raise $10 million and challenge the Utah Legislature to match it with $10 million.

"People don't pay much attention to it, but it's a great little college," Fulton said. "In fact, I'm excited about it going for university status. I'd like to put together a program. I'd like it to be sooner than later."

However, the $10 million that would be required from state coffers to help the school become academically and administratively ready for university status may be the reason some Utahns are lukewarm to the idea, according to a poll conducted by Dan Jones & Associates for the Morning News and KSL-TV.

Forty-six percent of people surveyed this week either strongly or somewhat favored university status for UVSC, while 39 percent strongly or somewhat opposed it. Fourteen percent said they didn't know.

The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 5 percent. It was conducted Jan. 2-4.

Of Utah County respondents, 47 percent strongly favored university status and 21 percent somewhat favored university status.

The response wasn't as favorable in other parts of the state. Forty-four percent of Davis respondents said they were either strongly or somewhat opposed to it, and 43 percent of Salt Lake respondents said they were strongly or somewhat opposed.

When conducting the survey, the pollster reminded respondents that UVSC's name change from "college" to "university" and reorganization would cost about $10 million, a figure determined by the Utah State Board of Regents.

Val Hale, UVSC's institutional advancement and marketing vice president, believes the cost is what causes most Utahns to hesitate.

"I think most people are favorable for university status, but when you attach a price tag to it, it makes them look a little bit harder," Hale said.

This year's legislative session begins Jan. 15, and Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, is sponsoring a bill to make UVSC a university.

UVSC needs the $10 million to start graduate programs and improve undergraduate education, according to a study regents released in the fall.

Fulton hopes the Legislature will match $10 million raised by the community. The community has to show lawmakers it supports the school, said Fulton, who made millions in clothing stores and housing developments.