Title: Utah Tech University: A Student-Centric University Providing A Hands-on Learning Experience
1Utah Tech University A Student-Centric
University Providing A Hands-on Learning
Experience
- Utah Tech University is a leading open-enrolment
educational institution offering excellent value
with more than 250 academic programs and one of
the lowest tuition rates in the Western United
States. With its motto of active learning.
active life. Utah Tech University provides a
highly customized and engaging learning
experience under the direction of the experienced
staff and faculty. Utah Tech, which previously
was known as Dixie State University, is at the
forefront of technology, entrepreneurship, and
education and combines cutting-edge learning
approaches across all disciplines. - The Educator
- As the President of Utah Tech University, Dr.
Richard Biff Williams is eager to help the
university carve out its own niche. He recognizes
the importance of moving quickly and methodically
while deciding what programs and offerings the
university should focus on, build, and add. - Before joining Utah Tech University as its 18th
President, Dr. Williams served as Provost and
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Founding
Dean of the College of Nursing, Health, and Human
Services at Indiana State University. Before
that, he served as an Associate Dean of the
College of Education at the University of
Northern Iowa, where he was a faculty member, the
Athletic Training Department Chair/Program
Director, and the Executive Associate Director of
the School of Health, Physical Education, and
Leisure Services. - "I have worked in education my entire career. My
first job out of college was as a certified
athletic trainer for El Paso High School and
elementary physical education teacher to
kindergarten through fourth-grade students at
Lamar Elementary School in El Paso, Texas. That
job took me out of my element, but I absolutely
loved it. It made me fall in love with
teaching,"- Dr. Williams remembered. - Making Higher Education Accessible for Everyone
- Utah Tech University is entirely a
student-centric organization that demonstrates it
by providing a hands-on learning experience that
prepares students for meaningful lives and
rewarding careers. The university offers
personalized and engaging learning opportunities,
including internships, clinical experiences,
co-ops,
2program advisory boards, industry partnerships,
and workforce pipelines. It is proud to provide
'active learning. active life.' experiences in
and out of the classroom by offering the complete
experience of student life opportunities,
Division I athletics, and cultural events on one
of the safest campuses in the West. As an
open-access institution, Utah Tech University is
promoting inclusivity through personalized
services, diverse teaching methods, and access to
open educational resources. Being open-access
means any student who graduated high school or
has a GED is accepted to Utah Tech. "We love that
anyone who wishes to better themselves by earning
an education has a home here at UT. We are
working on building 4-in-4 pathways that offer
students an award each year that will help them
in the workforce if they need to pause their
education for any reason. For example, students
can earn a certificate in their first year, then
an associate degree in the second year, an
advanced certificate in the third year, and a
baccalaureate degree after four years,"- Dr.
Williams explained. Increasing Access to Higher
Education Not only does Utah Tech University
offer the most affordable university tuition in
the state, but it also offers a quality education
in which students get personalized attention from
their professors that guides their success. The
University serves thousands of first-generation
college students and is committed to offering
them and other students the support they need to
succeed. The university offers completely
personalized appointments with support services
such as peer coaches, academic advisors, and
career counselors accessible. An Ever-Growing
University Thanks in part to its growing number
of academic programs, Utah Tech has seen a steady
increase in its student enrollment. Representing
the consistent growth of the university, Utah
Tech's fall enrollment has increased by 50
percent since the Fall of 2014. To meet the needs
of its growing student body, the university has
added 11 buildings since 2014 and increased its
facility square footage on campus by 39 percent
in that same time period. Future Roadmap As the
Southern Utah community continues to grow, Utah
Tech University will also continue to grow to
meet the community's needs. The university has
recently acquired 183 acres of land to build a
new campus, which will house University
programming, including an academic innovation
district. With the growing need for workforce in
the tech sector in Utah, the district will help
create entrepreneurs, teach students about the
field, and provide space for new companies to
flourish. This high-impact learning environment
will welcome industry partners in research and
development facilities as well as business
incubators to accelerate graduates' career
readiness. At the same time, UT will continue to
offer active learning opportunities that help
prepare students to enter the workforce career
ready. As a part of this, adding new academic
programs is an ongoing process for the
university, and it has further plans to add more
certificates, minors, baccalaureate degrees, and
master's degrees to its academic offerings in
2023. Thank You.