2018 @ USU EASTERN
The tail end of 2018 brought a new era to Utah State University Eastern campus, with Greg Dart taking the helm and many exciting changes afoot.
Dart, who was serving as the vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management, took over as a USU associate vice president and campus administrator responsible for day-to-day operations of the campus.
“I could not be more excited to be involved at USU Eastern,” Dart said.
He came to USU Eastern in 2012 and served in multiple roles in enrollment management and student affairs. He also as a vice president and director at several other institutions. He attended Snow College and the University of Alaska Anchorage for undergraduate work, before attending USU for his master’s degree and Northeastern University for doctoral work.
“When I came to campus first, I immediately felt at home,” said Dart. “I have been on lots of campuses across the country and never been on one quite like USU Eastern. There is something here that is special.”
Dart is an avid sports fan and can be found cheering on the Eagles in the gym, on the field or on the diamond. Outside of work, he said he loves to spend time with his wife and children. He is originally from Alaska, but said his family has found a home in Price.
“We have never felt so at home in a community as we do in Price,” Dart said. “This is a very special place.”
Other changes at Eastern include USU President Noelle Cockett appointing VP Dave Woolstenhulme to oversee operations at all campuses outside of Logan, and faculty were given clear reporting lines to department heads. Gary Straquadine, who served as Eastern’s interim chancellor will stay in Price as the vice provost and associate VP of career and technical education for the university.
“We are seeing explosive growth in upper-division enrollment. More students are staying for baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Add that to redesigned career and technical education, and there has never been a better time to be part of this amazing institution,” Dart said.
2 HUNDRED
With a goal of getting the community involved with the Utah State University Eastern Athletic Program, Scott Madsen told a gathering of community recently that “our programs need the community support.”
He is in the process of organizing an athletic club for USU Eastern and brought the community, faculty, staff and administration together to explain why he sees this as important for the university and area.
Madsen, assistant athletic director, told those present that athletics gives hundreds of students the opportunity to continue their athletic career while pursuing a USU education. “We have over 200 student-athletes at Eastern that can each benefit from support of the athletic club.”
Madsen explained that the school provides an on-site academic counselor, academic-study lounge, full-time athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach to help each student-athlete succeed.
Eastern athletics is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and hosts seven sanctioned NJCAA teams including men and women’s soccer, volleyball, men and women’s basketball, softball and baseball. The rodeo team competes in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association against other colleges and universities throughout Utah.
The membership levels are broken into the captain at $100, MVP $250, Conference Champion $500, All Region $1,000, National Champion $1,500 and All American $2,500.
20,000
With almost 3,000 students contributing nearly 20,000 volunteer hours in the 2017-18 academic year, USU Eastern’s Serving Utah Network Center continues to make Eastern Utah a better place to live.
As many as 60 students volunteer on projects like picking up garbage on Wood Hill or the San Rafael Swell, to cleaning the yards at the low-income housing units in Price. On the annual week-long spring breaks, students repair corrals, remodel houses, build handicap ramps, install water collection and distribution systems for irrigation and home use, construct fences, clean trails and build sidewalks throughout Southeastern Utah.
During Eastern’s Utah Leadership Academy, 300 students helped the BLM with projects throughout the Swell. Terry Johnson, SUN Center director, said the BLM was grateful for the help students gave.
During Eastern Utah’s Day of Caring, he sent dozens of volunteers throughout the area to help with projects sponsored by United Way. Late fall, Johnson’s students hang angels on the United Way’s Angel Tree, which provides Christmas presents to needy children in Carbon County. They serve at the annual Bread ‘n’ Soup night with funds donated to the Carbon County Food Bank. They sew quilts for hospitals and collect plastic bags to make bed rolls/blankets for the homeless. If anyone needs volunteers, the SUN Center is always there.
This semester Johnson has 15 student leaders, 120 enrolled in the service-learning class, and over 400 volunteers signed up in the SUN Center program, but admits he never has enough students to take on the hundreds of projects requested. It’s daunting to realize how many projects need help with the SUN Center always finding the ways and means to accomplish its goals, he said.
17 AWARDS
USU Eastern’s “The Eagle” newspaper staff won 17 awards, the most ever, at the Utah Press Association’s annual newspaper contest in Salt Lake City April 14. The staff competed against student newspapers from Utah State University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.
The awards are given to newspapers excelling in 30 categories determined by professional press associations from throughout the United States. “The Eagle” competes in Group 5 of the competition which pits it against collegiate newspapers from Utah. It has the smallest circulation of all professional Utah newspapers.
During the ceremony, the staff was awarded three first-place awards, 10 second-place awards and four third-place awards. The staff won first-place plaques for best feature series, best news photo and best feature photo.
They won second-place certificates for best editorial, best circulation promotion, best sports photograph, best use of ad color, best editor’s column, best digital breaking news story, best photo page, best advertising idea, best staff produced ad and best sports column.
The staff also won third-place certificates for best news series, best sports story, best feature story and special section.
The UPA is an organization representing 46 newspapers and is Utah’s oldest trade association. The USU Statesman newspaper won 11 awards.
2 NEW
Two new aviation programs debut at Utah State University Eastern’s campus 2019 fall semester: aviation technology (pilot’s license) and aviation maintenance management.
The Price program will be an extension of the Logan campus program which has grown to capacity of 300 students, 15 instructors and 15 aircraft. USU administrators have crossed all the T’s and I’s and are waiting for Federal Aviation Administration approval of the Carbon County Airport, classrooms, hanger space and security. They teamed up with the Carbon County Civil Air Patrol who already has classrooms and hanger space for the program.
According to Dr. Jamie Cano, associate vice chancellor of professional and technical education, Eastern’s program will admit between 25-100 students. He could not say enough positive statements of how well the local airport lends itself to the new program, “it’s has one of the longest and best maintained runways in the state. The capacity at this airport is tremendous for our students.”
Eastern will start by offering an associate of applied science program using cutting edge technology with exceptional training to produce high quality pilots and technicians the industry needs. Upon graduation, students will transfer to the Logan for their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
The professional pilot students can choose an emphasis in fixed wing or rotorcraft. Upon completion of the program, student receive FAA certifications and are trained to be commercial pilots. Maintenance-management students complete courses required for FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) licenses.
1ST
The tradition of training the best welders in the country continues at Utah State University Eastern as their students cleaned house at the SkillsUSA Competition in Salt Lake City in the summer.
Jordan Wynn, Roosevelt, placed first in the welding competition while the team of Davis Thompson, Emery; Tosh Davis and Ben Warnick, Spanish Fork; won first place in the welding fabrication team competition.
Other SkillsUSA winners included Chloe Wilson, Springville, who won first place in Job Skills Demonstration for blue print reading in welding and Marriah Peet, Price, who won second place in Job Skills Demonstration in phlebotomy. Wilson was also elected as a state officer in SkillsUSA.
Parker Humes, Price, won second in small engine repair for the automotive department while Kolton Rhodes, Price, won second in diesel equipment technology and Kayden Gibson, Price, won third in the same category.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. According to its website, “We provide educational programs, events and competitions that support career and technical education (CTE) in the nation’s classrooms.”
9' 6"
One of the world’s greatest musical instruments found a home at Utah State University Eastern’s music department Nov. 15.
A 2018 Steinway grand piano measuring, 9 feet by 6 feet, will permanently be housed in the Geary Events Center to be used in choir concerts and by professional touring pianists plus cultural and classical groups. It is housed in a piano garage complete with padding and vents to keep its temperature moderated.
One of the first musicians from Logan to use the piano was Craig Jessop, Ph.D., professor of music and founding dean for the Caine College of the Arts at USU. He conducted a joint community/university concert in January showcasing the piano. Jessop is also the former director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
“Steinway pianos are the crown jewels of pianos,” Larry Martin, USUE music department chair, said. “They are still meticulously hand crafted, much as they did hundreds of years ago.” They carry a sixfigure price tag because the Steinway piano are made by hand and takes up to 11 months to make. Nothing is compromised when constructing a Steinway.
Over 90 percent of professional pianists only play on Steinways which is a good endorsement of the brand, Martin said. As a note of reference, for those who prefer listening to pianos in rock ‘n’ roll music, Billy Joel and Lady Gaga play on Steinways in their concerts. The quality and sound do not get much better.
Martin organized a music association with community members that will reap benefits for both the university and community. He sees the piano as an investment in the cultural side of music for those who live in Southeastern Utah.
7 HEALTH PROGRAMS
With health professions being one of the fastest growing allied-health careers, Utah State University Eastern is expanding its offerings from three to seven programs beginning spring semester 2019. These programs do not include the LPN and RN programs already offered.
According to Michele Lyman, director of Eastern’s health professions, “In addition to phlebotomy, certified nursing assistant, EMT and medical assistant, the university is offering surgical technician, pharmacy technician and medical lab technician.”
These health care professions work in teams to make the system function by providing a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and direct patient care and support services that are critical to the other health professionals; they work with and the patients they serve, according to Eastern’s webpage.
Some programs are two-year programs while others are either one or two semesters and one gives a certificate of completion. Some require prerequisites which can be taken at USU Eastern. Concurrent enrollment students can take the prerequisites while in high school and enter a program their freshman year.
The curriculum is standardized across the three campuses: Price, Moab and Blanding with faculty and advisers located on each campus. Some of the classes will be broadcast across USU’s system, Lyman said. Some of the programs require externships: on the job training.
She points out that USU Eastern’s health professions offers programs for many of the fastest growing allied health careers. The goal of each program is to provide excellent training resources for students to enter the workforce as well prepared, confident and professional employees.
Students in any of the seven-health care profession programs are eligible for federal funding (FAFSA) or scholarships to help pay their tuition.
The second-floor west wing of the Reeves Building is being remodeled into labs, classrooms and offices for the programs beginning in January 2019. To apply for the programs or talk to an academic adviser, go to the USU Eastern health professions website: eastern.edu.edu/health-professions/.
“There is a desperate need in rural areas for every program we offer,” Lyman said. “As soon as our students graduate, they have a job. An added bonus is they do not have to move away from their homes to work in the health profession. Jobs are now available throughout rural Utah plus in metropolitan areas.”
4 USU EASTERN FACULTY
Several USU Eastern faculty were promoted in their academic disciplines at Utah State University in Logan in April 2018. According to the academic ranks policy, tenure and tenure-eligible faculty members hold one of the following ranks: instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor.
Rachel H. Walton was promoted from associate professor to professor. A graduate of the University of San Francisco where she earned her doctorate degree, Walton spent 30 years in California law enforcement gaining experience in homicide, cold-case homicide, arson, white-collar crime, elder abuse and fraud investigations. She is recognized as an international expert on unresolved “cold case” homicide investigations and has presented at the FBI’s National Academy, US Naval Criminal Investigative Service, American Academy of Forensic Sciences and International Association for Identification. Her text, “Cold Case Homicide: Practical Investigative Techniques,” is a bench-mark in its field and was the first academic research in the cold case field utilized by law enforcement and academic researchers.
John Weber was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure. He earned his doctorate in analytical chemistry at Colorado State University studying photochemistry and solar cells. Weber developed a collaboration with Mike Christiansen (USU Uintah Basin) to co-author a volume in the American Chemical Society Symposium series describing Internet-based tools for teaching chemistry. He serves on the American Chemical Society Exam Institute creating exams for chemistry departments throughout the U.S. and co-chairs Eastern’s safety committee.
Wayne Hatch was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure. He earned his doctorate in biology at Idaho State University. While at Eastern, he launched the Small World Initiative where students are mentored in screening soil samples for antibiotic-active microbes. In biology, he focuses on sustainability projects including cutting hair for the homeless, instituting recycling at businesses, carpooling, composting, biking to school, picking up trash, refilling bottles and using less energy.
Susan A. Polster was also promoted from associate professor to professor. A graduate of the University of Wyoming where she earned her doctorate degree, she’s spent her career as a journalist. As adviser to The Eagle student newspaper, her students won 17 awards at the Utah Press Association’s annual contest in ‘18, competing against university newspapers in Utah. She is on the Utah College Media Alliance board, Utah Women in Higher Education Network board and chairs the USU Eastern Women’s Conference. Polster was named Utah College Educator of the Year by the AFT.
10 • 24 • 25 COUNTRIES, STATES, COUNTIES
The enrollment breakdown at Eastern shows students from 10 countries, 25 states and 24 counties.
A diverse population makes up the student body at Eastern this year with students from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Serbia, Sweden and the Ukraine attending classes on campus.
Besides Utah, 24 states are represented in the enrollment including Arizona, Illinois, Alaska, Indiana, Idaho, Colorado, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Students from 24 of Utah’s 29 counties make up its student body including Box Elder, Carbon, Emery, Millard, Sanpete, Uintah, Utah, Weber, Cache, Davis, Duchesne, Grand, Iron, Juab, Morgan, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne and Weber counties.
8
After serving eight years at the helm of Utah State University Eastern, Chancellor Joe Peterson retired June 30, 2018.
Peterson took over USU Eastern when it merged with USU. Prior to his Eastern appointment, he worked at Dixie State University and Salt Lake Community College in both teaching and administration.
His responsibility was to integrate the Price campus with the Logan campus… a daunting task to change the College of Eastern Utah name after 50 years which morphed from Carbon College for 22 years. After buying into the name change, he believed the best advantages to the merger was the leveraging of resources not available at CEU and the expanded menu of educational offerings.
Under his direction, Eastern’s four-year programs grew in numbers and enrollment. He also saw the campus’ “curb appeal” significantly improve. The last original building on campus was built in 1937 for the welding and automotive departments. It was torn down and replaced with a state-of-the-art instructional building for the art, music, theatre, journalism and criminal justice programs.
The 1957 Geary Theatre received a $6.5 million upgrade and a One-Stop Student Services Building was remodeled from the old Workforce Services Building. Two soccer fields were built on the Durrant property north of the old football field and the campus landscaping upgraded significantly.
The athletic program was increased under Peterson with rodeo, mens and womens soccer and womens softball sports added to Eastern’s athletic menu to compete in the Scenic West Athletic Conference.
1 OF THE TOP 3 WELDERS IN THE UNITED STATES
It’s almost like a broken record when another Utah State University Eastern student wins a competition or is named as one of the top welders in the United States.
It happened again when sophomore Jordan Wynn of Roosevelt, made the cut from the top-25 welders in the country to the top six and the top three in November ‘18. Wynn is following in the foot steps of Eastern’s Chandler Vincent who was named the best welder in the U.S. and fifth-best welder last year at the WorldSkills welding competition in the United Arab Emerites.
This is not the first time Wynn followed Vincent. The two grew up together and attended Union High School where they took welding classes from CEU alumni Kevin Mitchell.
Since both of Wynn’s parents are in the medical field, he planned to become a doctor. His family owns a 110-acre farm in Roosevelt and his dad suggested Jordan take a welding class so he could repair some of the farm equipment. Thus, Wynn took welding in addition medical field classes.
Smiling, Wynn said he used to be a better student before he started welding. “I miss a lot of school because of practice and competitions.”
He gave up his medical school dreams after he fell in love with welding. “Becoming a top-notch welder was never easy and I wasn’t a natural at it, so with hard work and practice, I am trying to become the best.”
“For me, Eastern has the best finishing school for welding. Students come in with basic-welding skills and the instructors take them to the next level. You get out of the program what you put into it.
“Plus, Eastern has a low teacher-to-student ratio so students have a lot of time working with each of the three instructors,” Wynn said.
He likes attending Eastern because it is located in a small community and in his spare time, he drives the roads in the surrounding hills of Price. However, his spare time amounts to 30 to 40 minutes each day as he starts welding at 6 a.m. seven days a week and welds until 7-8 p.m. He’s in the lab so much, he has a key to the building to let him in early and locks it when he leaves.
“Jordan is more focused and dedicated than any other student I have taught. Somehow, at his age, he understands that he will be able to leverage this experience throughout his career. I don’t know how this sequence of competitions will end, but, I do know that Jordan is a winner regardless of the final tally.” Lon Youngberg, Eastern welding professor, said.
Wynn and his instructor Mason Winters, returned from Alabama where his competition went from the top six welders to three. “There were some of the best welders I have ever seen,” Wynn said. “They are all nice guys and I was not nervous because all the guys were laid back and I did not feel pressured.
30 YEARS
USU Eastern’s vice chancellor of academic programs replaced Joe Peterson as interim chancellor until December 2018.
Gary Straquadine, Ph.D., has 30 years of experience in higher education including associate dean, department chair, regional campus dean, and vice provost. He worked on USU’s Logan and Tooele campuses before moving to Price.
A native of New Mexico, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agriculture and extension education at New Mexico State University. His doctorate is in agricultural education from The Ohio State University.
He has a focus on economic and community development. He believes education is an integral and vital part of economic development. The community should look at the university as an economic growth partner so when new industry considers the area, they realize that employees can be trained here and their families can learn here. “We have to do a better job of promoting the benefit of having a strong and robust university in the community.”
He believes the focus for the future is to attract the best and brightest, traditional and non-traditional learners to USU Eastern. To do so, USU Eastern must position itself as a destination campus with a full display of attributes – such as high quality, career channeling academic programs, on-campus housing, athletics, low tuition costs, and a small-town-campus community.
As the premier USU campus off the Wasatch Front, USU Eastern has grown upper division programs and added 23-bachelor and 19- master’s degree programs. Closely aligned with Logan campus programs, Eastern is positioned as a major partner in cultural enrichment and economic advancement. It is the place and the right time for USU to impact the southeast region of Utah.