The full report can be accessed via the following web link: http://www.aacc.nche.edu/AboutCC/21stcenturyreport/21stCenturyReport.pdf

The Utah State Board of Regents and the Utah State Board of Education believe all students should have education and career goals that will prepare them to experience fulfilling lives, actively participate as educated citizens, and thrive in a particularly competitive and global marketplace.  A college- and career-ready student is prepared to succeed in college and in postsecondary workforce training programs.  The following are joint recommendations for students to be college- and career-ready: College and Career Readiness Statement

Regent Bob Marquardt will chair the search, joined by Regents Wilford Clyde, Nolan Karras and Teresa Theurer. Other committee members include WSU Trustees Alan Hall, Jim Beardall, Mary Hall and Andrew Gardiner, as well as other institutional and community members. “Each member of this committee has a significant connection to Weber State University and a sincere interest in selecting the school’s next leader,” said Regent Marquardt. “We appreciate the willingness of these appointed individuals to lend their expertise and come together to choose a quality individual.”

According to Board of Regents policy, the search committee will meet together regularly. They will also host public hearings where university faculty, staff, students and community members can provide input in establishing the selection criteria used in considering candidates. Additionally, the search committee is charged with reviewing applicant materials and recommending three to five candidates to the Board of Regents for consideration.

Complete list of Presidential search committee members:

            Regents

Regent Bob Marquardt, Committee Chair

Regent Wilford Clyde

Regent Nolan Karras

Regent Teresa Theurer

Weber State University Trustees

Trustee Chair Alan Hall

Trustee Vice-Chair Jim Beardall

Trustee Mary Hall, WSU Alumni Association President

Trustee Andrew Gardiner, 2012 WSU Student Association President

Faculty and Staff

Forrest Crawford, Asst. to the President for Diversity and Teacher Education Professor

Bruce Davis, Vice Provost and Dean of Continuing Education

Colleen Garside, Faculty Senate Chair and Communication Professor

Betty Gilchrist, Classified Staff Advisory Committee Chair

Michael Hernandez, Geosciences Professor and past Faculty Senate Executive Committee member

Brenda Kowalewski, Community Involvement Center Director and Sociology Professor

Kristie Nielsen, Professional Staff Advisory Committee Chair

Yasmen Simonian, Dean of Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions

Michael Vaughan, Provost

Jan Winniford, Vice President for Student Affairs

Community Representatives

Jane Brewer, Community leader and past chair WSU Board of Trustees

Jewel Lee Kenley, Business owner, community leader and past trustee

Richard Stromberg, Stewart Education Foundation Executive Committee

Members of the public who are interested in giving input in a constituent meeting are invited to attend one on the following dates:

May 7, 3 – 4 pm, Shepherd Union Sky Room (Room 404)

May 8, Noon – 1 pm, Shepherd Union Sky Room (Room 404)

May 15, 8 – 9 am, Davis Campus, Room 117

May 16, 5:30 – 6:30 pm, Lindquist Alumni Center Garden Room

For more information on the Utah System of Higher Education, visit online at http://www.higheredutah.org.

About The Utah System of Higher Education: USHE includes all of Utah’s eight public colleges and universities: The University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Snow College, Dixie State College, Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College. “Like” Higher Ed Utah on Facebook and “Follow” Higher Ed Utah on Twitter.

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 To download a .pdf of this news release, click here.

The Committee also found that “data are not collected on other important outcomes achieved by students at two-year institutions.”  The Department’s plan seeks to provide more complete information on student persistence and completion by augmenting current postsecondary measures of student success. For example, graduation rate reporting required for institutions of higher education will be broadened to include part-time and other students who have previously attended postsecondary education.  More information can be found by clicking on the following link: Action Plan for Improving Measures of Postsecondary Success.

But he also spends up to 18 hours in a University of Utah classroom.

He doesn’t get much sleep and doesn’t socialize on campus, but he is almost finished with a degree in human development and family studies. Smuin will be among the 5,513 U. undergraduates receiving bachelor’s degrees this year — eight years after he began his studies at Salt Lake Community College. He worked 40 to 60 hours a week the whole time and is completing college without a penny of student debt.

“It would have been nice to not work,” said Smuin, who initially could not qualify for financial aid because of his parents’ income.

Unsaddled with college loans, however, Smuin is fortunate.

U.S. student debt topped $1 trillion this year and surpassed the nation’s consumer debt, triggering an outcry for relief and a stop to relentless tuition hikes.

By working long hours, Smuin and many other Utah college students are avoiding this burden. But campus administrators say that may not be a good thing if students are taking longer to graduate.

“A problem in Utah is we have a huge number of students working even though tuition is low,” Commission of Higher Education William Sederburg said. “You’re better off to go into debt and have a real college experience and not getting distracted on things that delay graduation.” More…