So, UVSC, what are you going to do now that you've got university status and $10 million from philanthropist Ira Fulton?

Well, for one it's definitely not going to Disneyland. Until its status becomes official (July 1, 2008) the little college that could will be hard at work, approving graduate degrees, recycling lots and lots of business cards and updating its Wikipedia entry.

The Legislature unanimously approved the name change on Tuesday to Utah Valley University, and along with that, $8 million to fund the change. After the bill passed the House, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. committed to UVSC administrators that he will sign the bill into law on UVSC's campus at 11:30 a.m. on March 19 , said Cameron Martin, chairman of the University Transition Task Force.

As part of the transition, Martin has drafted a document of nine guiding principles outlining UVSC's big switch to help answer community questions.

His two most frequent questions: Will my tuition go up now that I go to a university? ("We are not going to raise tuition dramatically next year. Students are already paying a university tuition, Martin said.) And, is UVSC still committed to open enrollment and two-year programs? ( "Absolutely, we are still a community college serving the region," he answered.)

"As much as this represents change, things won't change," Martin said. "We are who we are. We are an institution dedicated to student success. That is our core mission and that will be our core mission."

Martin said there's something "really scary" about the switch: "When we change our name to university there will be some who think, well, I can't go to a university. We are still this region's community college. We are completely dedicated to the two-year mission and the open enrollment. We are and we will be."

Senate President John R. Valentine, R-Orem, said he saw UVSC as a university long before it became one. "I was just excited," he said. "(Wednesday) was such a great day."

In 1993, Valentine spoke to the state board of regents and gave what he called his "dream" speech. "If you build a state college, they will come," he said. And so with Valentine's legislative efforts, Utah Valley Community College became Utah Valley State College in 1997.

A few years later, Valentine could see a change in Brigham Young University's role in Utah. The private LDS school was looking outside of Utah and the United States for it's students, leaving Utah County high school graduates behind.

Enter Senate Bill 70, and now Utah Valley University -- Valentine's vision actualized.

But many questions remain about what the transition will be like. President William Sederburg has the answers tomorrow at a "What's next for UVSC?" discussion on UVSC's campus.

For those who will miss the speech, here's a rough outline of major points that will be discussed:

A graduate of UVSC (or Central Utah Vocational School, Utah Trade Technical Institute, Utah Technical College at Provo or Utah Valley Community College for that matter) will be reissued a diploma with Utah Valley University on it, if they wish.

T-shirts and sweatshirts are not legal documents, so students can get their UVU hoodies soon. As far as business cards and official documents, that will wait until July 1, 2008.

The earliest a graduate degree will be offered is the fall of 2008, but will most likely be after that.

Tuition will not be significantly raised, neither will it be used to fund the switch to university status.

A university image committee has been established to find design firms to create the school's new logos.

The legislative act changed UVSC's name and not mission. The mission change must be approved through the board of regents.

Kate McNeil can be reached at 344-2549 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

If You Go

What: President Sederburg discusses university status: What happens now?

When: Today, 10 a.m.

Where: Ragan Theater, Sorensen Student Center, UVSC