CEU board set to talk about merger

Budget cuts, a struggling enrollment and changes in the demographics in eastern Utah have left the College of Eastern Utah compromised for some time.

Talks of a merger with one of two sister institutions have been ongoing, albeit reluctantly, and the possibilities of such action are expected to be discussed at a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday.

"Our number-one goal is to improve the opportunities for higher education in this region," Utah Commissioner of Higher Education William A. Sederburg said. "It is clear that in these challenging times, the status quo is not an attractive option, so we must look for new models to make sure that CEU continues to be successful in the future."

In April, Sederburg commissioned Mike Petersen, a former president of CEU and current executive director of the Utah Education Network, to study the various outcomes of merging with either Utah State University or nearby Snow College, and he plans to reveal his opinions to CEU's board Thursday.

As a longtime resident of Carbon and Emery counties, Petersen has said he has a "particular interest in finding ways to improve the educational opportunities of the region."

The state Board of Regents will review his recommendations at it May 29 meeting at Weber State University.

— Wendy Leonard