Utah State University Eastern (USU Eastern) is a public regional college within the Utah State University system. The USU Eastern main campus is located in Price, Utah, United States and a satellite location known as the Blanding Campus is located in Blanding, Utah. Founded as Carbon College in 1937, the college joined the University of Utah system in 1959 for 10 years and was renamed College of Eastern Utah (CEU). In 1969, the Utah System of Higher Education was created ending the relationship between the University of Utah and CEU. CEU entered the USU system on July 1, 2010 and is currently called Utah State University Eastern. With more than 60 degree programs, the college focuses on technical, vocational, and Associate Degree programs. The Gene Tobey Memorial Art Scholarship is one of three scholarships formed as a last request of Gene Tobey (an alumnus of USU Eastern); the other two scholarships being at Mason High School (Texas) and at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison, Colorado. USU Eastern competes as the Golden Eagles and is the only USU campus, apart from main campus, that has an athletics program.
History
Carbon College was formed on February 20, 1937 by the State of Utah and classes began in October 1938 with approximately 100 students. The newly formed college faced financial difficulties in 1953 when a budget-cutting measure was proposed to dismantle the college and sell the property. The issue went to the ballot during the election of 1954 with 56,000 petition signatures and a subsequent 78% of the vote to reject such a measure.
In 1959, the college was joined with the University of Utah and acted as a branch of the University for 10 years. During the partnership, the campus grew significantly and the college became known as College of Eastern Utah (CEU). During the 1960s, CEU added several new buildings including the Geary Theater, Music Building, Science Center, and Library. In 1969, the Utah System of Higher Education was created ending the relationship between the University of Utah and CEU.
During the 1970s, CEU began to focus on the mission of being a vocational-technical school for the community. Degrees were expanded to include welding, automotive mechanics, machine shop, cosmetology, diesel mechanics, and a registered nursing program. CEU expanded courses to be taught at the San Juan Center. After the start of the 21st century, courses and enrollment began to climb to more than 2,000 students enrolled in more than 400 courses.
In 2010, the College of Eastern Utah merged with Utah State University creating Utah State University Eastern (USU Eastern). Shortly after the merger, Dr. Joe Peterson, a former vice president of instruction at Salt Lake Community College, became the school's first chancellor, reporting directly to USU president Stan L. Albrecht.
Campuses
Price Campus
Situated in the center of Price, Utah, USU Eastern's main campus is set on about 12 acres (4.9Â ha) and is surrounded by geological and recreational features including the San Rafael Swell, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry. USU Eastern is also home to an accredited museum, the renowned USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum. In 2011, Utah State University received a confidential gift of 25 acres near the USU Eastern campus, nearly tripling the size of the campus. The estimated value for the donation exceeds $4 million. The City of Price and USU have already been working on the USU Energy and Education Research Park just west of the donated parcel of land.
Blanding Campus
The USU Eastern Blanding Campus is located in Blanding, Utah and was established in 1977. Starting out in a physicians home, the campus now consists of five buildings including a Health Science Library, technology building, and early childhood education building. USU Eastern Blanding Campus operates 4 family learning centers in the region: Cortez, Colorado, Montezuma Creek, Utah, Monument Valley, Utah and Monticello, Utah. The USU Eastern Blanding Campus enrollment is on the rise, with a jump from 2007 to 2009 of 67%. Most of the students attending the Blanding campus are Native American, which make up 2/3 of the enrollment.
Academics
USU Eastern offers more than 60 degree programs in academic, technical, and vocational fields. The college is separated into two divisions:
- Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Division of Professional, Technical & Workforce Education
Discipline and degree options include anthropology, criminal justice, museum studies, biology, geology, business, diesel equipment technology, and small business development. USU Regional Campuses and Distance Education provides access to various Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees on site.
USU Eastern operates under an open admissions policy, meaning that if one applies and had either graduated from high school or earned a GED, he or she was accepted.
Athletics
USU Eastern competes athletically as the Utah State Eastern Eagles and is the only campus in the USU system to have its own athletics program. The Eagles are a member of the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Bunnell Dmitrich Athletic Center serves as a venue for many of the athletic events.
The Eagles compete in men's baseball, soccer and basketball and women's basketball, softball, soccer, and volleyball. Starting in 2016, they now compete in rodeo and have a spirit squad consisting of a cheerleading squad, dance team, drumline, and mascot. Additionally there are several intramural sports such as ultimate frisbee, flag football, and volleyball.
References
External links
- USU Eastern official site
- Utah State University official site
- USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum
- Blanding Campus home page
