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UVSC President Bill Sederburg got out of the higher education gate first on Thursday and didn't waste any time.
"We'll probably be the only school that asks you for more money," Sederburg quipped, then did just that.
The soon-to-be university wants the last $2 million of the $10 million promised last year for its conversion to Utah Valley University. It received $8 million last year and spent $5 million on hiring 90 new faculty members.
The second priority is more funding for raises. Lawmakers gave higher education 5 percent for raises last year, and Sederburg would like to see another 5 percent this year. They're about to lose several top professors, he said, including one to BYU with the promise of a $25,000 raise.
"We're just facing increased competition to keep our best and brightest," he said.
Following Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s lead, the school is asking for $682,000 to increase its ability to graduate more students with teaching degrees. In Huntsman's State of the State address, he asked the state to add an additional 1,000 teaching graduates a year within four years.
Sederburg said UVSC doesn't want to be a research school such as the University of Utah or Utah State University.
"We don't want to be a research university, we want to be a community engaged university," he said.
By the numbers:
• 23,840 students
• 57 bachelor degrees (26 of those added in the past year)
UVSC requests:
• $2 million -- the remainder of the $10 million promised by the Legislature last year for conversion to Utah Valley University.
• 5 percent faculty raise-- 3.5 percent cost of living and 1.5 percent for equity and rank purposes.
• $682,000 -- for faculty and resources to increase the output of teachers, as requested by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
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