Endowing full university status on Utah Valley State College in Orem has raised questions at the state Capitol about putting more pressure on a higher education budget that is already stretched thin.

Weber State University, however, says it is not concerned about the impact of the pending change.

The Senate voted unanimously Monday to approve a name change from UVSC to Utah Valley University through Senate Bill 70, sponsored by Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem.

SB 70 would also appropriate $10 million in ongoing funds to help the university hire additional faculty and make other changes necessary to earn full accreditation.

Weber State has not taken a stand for or against the proposed change, spokesman John Kowalewski said.

He said the university is deferring to the Utah State Board of Regents, which has voiced its support for the bill.

"We're confident that lawmakers will reach a decision that is in the best interest of UVSC and higher education throughout the state," Kowalewski said. "The main issue is not directly with UVSC, but how much money is allocated to higher education overall."

Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, said the addition of another player could present concerns for the state's already-established universities. He said the bill should include language reinforcing the state's commitment to the entire higher education system.

"The concern I've heard is that we haven't funded schools that are presently here," Hillyard said. "Are we going to spread what limited funds we have even furtherfi The ultimate result of that is a tuition increase."

Gaining full accreditation is going to cost a lot more than $10 million, he said.

Some concerns have been alleviated by billionaire businessman and philanthropist Ira A. Fulton, who last week announced he has raised nearly $8 million in a bid to match the $10 million in state funding that would go toward the upgrade.

Fulton, the founder of Tempe, Ariz.-based Fulton Homes Inc., donates half of his company's annual profits to education, and is widely regarded as one of the nation's most generous contributors to charitable causes.

"When I match, I have other people matching as well," he said. "We don't stop until everyone is happy."

Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, voted against the bill when it came before the Senate Education Committee.

Stephenson said UVSC's reputation of offering the best bang for the buck among Utah's higher education institutions helped change his mind, but said he would like to see UVU continue that tradition.

"They have been a state leader in low-cost education," he said. "They weren't getting as much money from us, so they became leaner and meaner. I want to be sure they remain committed to being efficient."

SB 70 still needs to make it through the House and gain a signature from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., but Valentine and other Senate leaders say they expect little opposition to the bill.

The vote in Senate was 28-0.

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.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A3.