Deseret News | Holland takes UVU helm, isn't worried about future

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Holland takes UVU helm, isn't worried about future

Congrats to Holland | 7:26 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

I've had the opportunity to meet and speak with President Holland on a couple of occasions. I think that he is going to be a great fit for UVU. He will bring a great deal of enthusiasm, leadership and energy to the post as the new president. I wish President Holland the best of luck.

Anonymous | 11:42 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

I wish you the best Mr. Holland. May you be able to take UVU out of the shadows of that other university down there.

Anonymous | 11:58 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

That statement is ambiguous. UVU has the potential to become the best teaching university in the state, but does not do research. That's OK because UVU has a great niche and its open enrollment will allow many in Utah to get a solid education. Hopefully Holland will realize this and use his skills to make UVU one of the better teaching/engaged universities.

Comments continue below

Chris J. | 11:58 p.m. Oct. 9, 2009

That's exciting to have him at the head of the school. I loved my 2 years at 'UVSC' as it was called back then. They were the best 2 years of my college life.

Good luck | 12:13 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

I wish him all the luck in the world. It's good to have so many possibilities for furthering one's studying.

Go get 'em!

Best Wishes | 3:02 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Congratulations President Holland. Best of luck as you take UVU to a new level of learning. I attended a different university, but still remember the energy and excitement that our campus experienced with the installation of a new president. I'm sure that same energy is felt at UVU as you begin your tenure.

Bob | 3:25 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

UVU's business school is on track to becoming the next Thunderbird.

Robert Y. Valentine, PhD | 8:05 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Wishing President Holland the very best success, many UVU adjunct faculty members hope he will be successful in addressing the huge (yes, huge!) pay differences between full time and adjunct faculty members. Adjunct faculty, many of whom teach full loads, are not allowed to march with full time faculty to honor their students at UVU graduation ceremonies. Most adjuncts teach because they love teaching, but it is not without irony that many so-called "progressive" UVU faculty members, who advocate all kinds of human rights outside of campus (free medical care, minimum wage, etc.), look the other way when considering the plight of their adjunct colleagues.

Blessings | 8:54 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Best of luck, I am so happy my son is going th UVU, as a parent it is good to see the president so involved with the students.

Alpine Observer | 9:12 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Two thoughts:

First, the community college model is not a bad fit. Since UVU is charged NOT to operate in a vacuum, it can leave the research professor's task to those at the Y and, instead, attract the professor who has typically come out of 10-20 years of success in the world of business, engineering, construction, computers, etc. and now desires to "give back" to students who are hungry to learn - the "grittier" students who have worked a few years since high school and have realized that they need some university polish to make their future more rewarding than they can find with only a high school diploma or GED.

Second, President Holland might survey former STUDENTS from UVSC, BYU, MATC, UofU, etc. who have been working for 10 years or more since graduation and ask THEM for input on what things they did in college that were of least and greatest value, and then act on those suggestions.

College can be great books, liberal arts, philosophy and research, as well as HVAC, plumbing, and welding. UVU is in a unique position to integrate the life of the mind with the life of the hands.

MDR | 9:48 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Bob - To be the next T-Bird, they are going to need a graduate program...and a Rugby Team.

Anonymous | 9:59 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Uneasy about Holland's lack of credentials. I see a challenging time.

Re Anonymous | 10:49 a.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Are you kidding? Look at Pres Holland's credentials. They are amazing. Don't worry about Pres Holland. What I really sense from you is the religion thing. Just be honest and come out and say what is really on your mind.
p.s. what are your credentials?

Sceptical Reader | 12:00 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Hurray... three cheers for the oligarchy...

Really ... there is no other person in the entire nation that could have provided the broad vision necessary for this University... how long a search did the Board of Regents conduct?

I know, hey Jed lets call old man Holland and see what his kid is doing... please spare me the gushing, even public school districts look farther than this for qualified leadership.

Are we building a top notch University here or padding a resume?

What about religion | 12:09 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

What do you mean, "What about the religion thing?"

Dean Norman Wright | 12:19 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Congratulations to UVU and President Holland. I think this is going to be a great combination.

Anonymous | 12:35 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

I agree about the lack of his credentials. Most university presidents have a track record. His is his father's legacy and some political connections.

Anonymous | 12:40 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

My guess is the Thunderbird comparison was tongue-in-cheek.

Anonymous | 12:46 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Hey, George Bush, Jr. did it, why not Jr. Holland? Oh. Wait.

missed opportunity? | 1:17 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

BYU anchors Utah County in higher education. Why choose a president that may or may not be qualified but is nonetheless derivative in so many ways? Bring someone in from outside of the intermountain west and build UVU into something unique. -Something BYU can't offer. Adding a little diversity and some new ideas could only strengthen the school.

Thank you, Robert Valentine | 1:28 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Yes, we adjuncts are paid slave wages. SLCC pays more than UVU! I hope you students appreciate all the time we put in to your education for, essentially, 5 bucks an hour. Hey, it's not that I want to be paid as much as full timers; I just want to be paid as much as SLCC!

volunteer | 2:04 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Adjuncts at UVU are, indeed, paid slave wages. As a matter of fact, they make 1/4th what I made when I taught as an instructor at the University of Kansas. When I found this out, I decided that my time was worth more than UVU was willing to pay for it, so I am offering my services for free by doing volunteer work. Unfortunately, as long as adjuncts are willing to work for these slave wages, there will not be a change. And you know, working for free feels much better than working for minimum wage.

Anonymous | 2:33 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

I just want to say that I go to UVU and I could not have asked for a better person to be selected to be our new President. Thanks and Good Luck Pres. Holland.

UVU is not BYU | 2:34 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Holland is about as qualified to lead UVU as Obama was to win the Nobel Prize -- NOT AT ALL.

Nevertheless, I am sure he will be successful because the student body president is already speaking in "Mormon" colloquial jargon about how Holland really "loves" the students. You wouldn't hear that often from a student body president outside of Utah County. My only fear is that the regents were more interested in his 'spiritual' nature. He is a part of the Mormon aristocracy and as such can lead with an aura of " general authority" in the running. -- His greatest qualification lies in his direct ties to wealthy Mormons and his ability to glad-hand them in assisting the university. --- Other than that, serving in a stake presidency is no qualification for becoming a state university resident. He has never been a dean, raised money for educational purposes, published any particular outstanding academic work, or even been a department chair.

I hope students at UVU who are not LDS also feel President Holland's "love" for them.

Holland's biggest qualifications:
- Charismatic
- Young
- Smart
- Connected to the Mormon Aristocracy

People he beat out for the job:
- Actual educational leadership experience

Doug | 2:38 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

The senior Holland's current title is Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, not President Jeffrey R. Holland.

Best of luck to UVU and the new president. I believe that President Holland has a clear and specific vision for the university's future. His task will be to communicate that vision and a commitment to it to the students, faculty, community, and state.

Barbie McConnell | 2:41 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

I would lay odds 100 to 1 that none of the nameless who leave snide comments about Matt have ever met him, or know anything about him at all, and also have not accomplished in a lifetime what Matt did last month. For those who offer constructive criticism, and have the honor to stand behind it, I would lay odds 1000 to 1 you have never met Matt, and really know nothing about him. If you did have some understanding, and were even an acquaintance, you would know that Matt is a genuine servant, selfless and engaging, and everyone who meets him wants to be just like him. He is one in 100,000,000. 1 in 100,000,000 seems pretty diverse to me.

Anonymous | 3:26 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

How long do you suppose a respectable amount of time is for Holland to remain at UVU before he makes his real career move? A real university or even a jr. college outside of UT isn't going to be interested in him...fortune 500 doesn't need him...UVU won't put him on a national stage but it will put him in UT news. He was a political staffer, so my guess is he is being groomed to compete for Orin Hatch's senate seat.

Anonymous | 3:27 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

UVU is the second largest university in the state of Utah??????

Really?

Man, if that's the truth, I'm impressed. I've seen it grow over the years but I didn't know it was THAT big.

Amazed | 3:32 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

It takes more than luck, vision and communication. Results and outcomes are what counts.

My thoughts on UVU | 3:41 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Matt is surrounded by great people. He is the first to admit that. UVU's success will come from that fact. Our future is not in the hands of one person, and that is our strength.

The focus on Engagement at UVU does not mean professors there do no research. It means they engage their students in research as a fundamental part of the educational experience, and the research is more applied rather than theoretical.

As for "the religion thing", around 90% of UVU students are LDS, and of the faculty who have PhDs, more have them from BYU than any other school.

But that doesn't matter, because at UVU there is no Honor Code Office serving as Big Brother. There is much less of a Holier-Than-Thou competition at UVU than there is at BYU. UVU is characterized by a spirit of inclusion rather than the exclusivity of BYU. Controversy and real dialogue is welcomed at UVU (Michael Moore, for example) rather than avoided or glossed over as at BYU. UVU is much more of a real university rather than BYU as a religious propoganda and indoctrination machine.

Anonymous | 3:42 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

I didn't see anything written that was snide about him as a person. The comments appear to be about his qualifications. When you put yourself in a public arena, you will be criticized. He can still be an engaging sweet spirit, but not qualified for this position he now has.

Anonymous | 5:19 p.m. Oct. 10, 2009

Unfortunately, UVU is still a third tier school. BYU is a tier one. If Holland can make UVU tier one school, then that is success.

Barbie McConnell | 12:37 p.m. Oct. 11, 2009

I have met a half dozen individuals in my life who have the administrative prowess, intellectual weight, and sheer physical stamina that Matt has- which is a factor if you have any grasp of the kind of schedule he keeps. He took the position not because of what it would do for him, he comes from Duke and Princeton as well as the Y, he could do anything he wanted; he took the job because it was an opportunity to do something for others. People who stand for something succeed, people who stand against things typically simply do not have the discipline to do anything else, and salve their wounded egos by going after people who do. I can appreciate that no one would escape some serious criticism taking this kind of a position, but make it worth his while, come up with something that is substantial at all, know what you are talking about. He does.

UVU Student | 2:17 p.m. Oct. 11, 2009

Matt Holland is a champion of a president and UVU has grown more in 2 years than most schools grow in 10. For adaptability, flexibility, sustainability, and the many other great accomplishments congratulations UVU and President Holland. Godspeed.

UVU employee | 7:43 p.m. Oct. 12, 2009

It is indeed tru. UVU has has been for the past two Fall semesters the second largest 4-year public institution in the State. Moreover, it is on course to become the largest.

However, size aside, UVU is dedicated to becoming the best of its kind, a Regional University. One which values student success through teaching and research which enhances student involvement. One which involves itself in the community, and is dedicated to enhance the community's economic vitality. I believe Matthew Holland for a variety of reasons is well situated to lead UVU. Whatever, his perceived experience might be, one who is dedicated to making UVU a more engaged, inclusive, and serious institution focused on student success will be able gather whatever talent is necessary to reach that vision. That, among other things, is a mark of a leader.

UVU Student | 2:12 p.m. Oct. 13, 2009

Congrats President Holland.

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