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Home > Archive > May 1, 2008

DSC, U of U Affiliation Discussed in Open Forum
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
An open forum regarding the proposed Dixie State College-University of Utah affiliation took place on April 22 in the DSC Dunford Auditorium. DSC faculty and staff, members of the DSC Faculty Senate, community members and others were in attendance at the meeting to discuss and hear the latest about the proposed affiliation between the two schools.
“We are on a positive path to growth, and I really do think that is summarizing everything,” DSC Vice President of Academics Dr. Donna Dillingham-Evans said, following the forum.
Discussions about the proposed affiliation began last year, and it would potentially mean increased degree offerings for DSC students if the affiliation successfully goes forward.
Among those in attendance at the forum were state representatives Steve Urquhart and Brad Last, who stated that DSC will have the united support of local legislators when it comes to getting funding for the proposed growth. They also discussed local disunity relating to the affiliation and the importance of community support as the plans go forward.
“The U has to have the feeling that this is what the community wants,” Urquhart said. “(With) any idea you're pursuing, you can never have unity – it's just not reality. But I think we need the broad consensus that I think we're going to accomplish, realizing fully that we don't know what the outcome is.
“Right now, I don't understand what people are saying 'no' to,” Urquhart added. “The only thing we're doing right now is chasing progress, so everyone who loves this community, loves this institution, come to the table, and let's figure out how we get there.”
DSC Faculty Senate past president Martha Talman, who served as moderator for the forum, said the Faculty Senate is united in support of the affiliation. She said progress is moving forward, but no time frame has been determined for when the affiliation will actually happen.
Regarding the affiliation, members of the audience commented about the importance of adhering to Dixie State's community college mission as plans progress. Concern over having an infrastructure to support the impending growth was also expressed by one faculty member.
“This talk of it taking a bit longer but doing it the right way, I think, is a model for all of us to embrace,” DSC English professor Randy Jasmine said.
Overall, those in attendance made positive comments about the U of U affiliation. DSC faculty members said constructive criticisms that have come down from the U since affiliation talks began have already improved programs and services at Dixie State.
“There's really good information there about how we can improve that maybe we wouldn't figure out on our own,” Talman said. “We do need vision from somewhere else sometimes, and guidance.”
The U of U has been wonderful to work with thus far in the proceedings, she later said.
“They're partners with us,” she said. “We've never had that before as an institution.”
Scott Hirschi, a member of the Washington County Economic Development Council, was also present at the forum, and he said the proposed affiliation will be integral to the future economic wellbeing of Southern Utah. As Washington County grows, Dixie State College and the advanced degrees available there need to grow with it, he said. He called the U of U affiliation “the most important economic opportunity that this county has ever had or ever will have.”
“The key to our success in both diversifying our economy and having a positive impact on raising local wages and standards of living is absolutely centered at this institution,” he said.
Having the support of the local community is very important to officials at the U of U, Urquhart said, before the affiliation can successfully go forward.
In his comments, Last alluded to local concerns that have been raised over a potential name change for DSC if the U of U affiliation happens.
“I don't know what the name of this institution is going to be ultimately,” he said, “but let's not get hung up on that. We will retain the Dixie spirit, the staff, all those kinds of things, and we may very well retain the name 'Dixie,' but let's just not get hung up on it. That is so far down the road – there are so many things that need to happen between now and then.”
“Let's do the homework, let's make something happen, but let's don't get caught up on step 12 when we're only on step two,” he added.
One DSC professor said that a student of his compared the U of U affiliation with DSC to a marriage. Often in marriage, people simply move forward, despite obstacles, and work out the wrinkles later, he said. The affiliation may never be trouble-free, he added, but it will be successful.
Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld, DSC's recently appointed interim president, was quiet through much of the forum, but at its conclusion, he echoed previously expressed appreciation to the legislators and others in attendance. He mentioned that he will get caught up with the affiliation happenings as he gets better at “speaking Dixie.”
Additional information about the proposed Dixie State College/University of Utah affiliation can be found online at new.dixie.edu/dscuinformation.

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