It was a heady day Friday on Capitol Hill for Utah Valley State College.

On a 29-0 vote, the Utah Senate moved UVSC one step closer to attaining university status. And benefactor Ira Fulton reported that a $10 million fundraising drive announced last week has only $2.5 million left to go.

"For Utah County and for the state of Utah, this is a really big deal," said Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo.

Though support was unanimous, lawmakers still had questions about the change in the school's mission. Sen. Bill Hickman cautioned that support for UVSC should be accompanied by support for all higher education institutions.

"We have not adequately funded higher education in this state," said Hickman, R-St. George. "We need to continue to find ways to be creative and innovative and make sure we serve the people of this state."

Friday's vote was the first of two required for Senate approval. Then the measure will go to the state House of Representatives.

The legislation proposes a new name -- Utah Valley University -- and adds $10 million to the school's annual appropriation so that it can expand its offerings, including the addition of graduate programs.

Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, said the Legislature needs to be careful that appropriations for a re-christened UVU don't spread the higher education funding pool too thin, which could lead to tuition increases.

"It's going to take substantially more than $10 million," he said.

Fulton, meanwhile, said his fundraising efforts are paying off.

He pledged $5 million to the school if donors would match it, and so far about half the match has been raised.

"My whole purpose is to activate the community to raise money," he said. "Everybody thinks that there's enough taxes around to support education. There isn't.

"It takes a community to really make a college or university successful."

UVSC President William Sederburg said the fundraiser augments basic funding.

"The key to the university status is ongoing base support, and that's where the state dollars come in," he said. "The issue of private money is to supplement that and move it up in quality."

SB 70, Utah Valley University Institutional Name Change, Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem

Proposes a new name for Utah Valley State College and changes the institution's status and mission.