Snow bill gets chilly reviews
Measure would change status of college from 2-year to 4-year
But higher education officials say the bill is just one more example of "mission creep" among Utah schools trying to go beyond their purpose by offering bachelor's degrees, Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell said.
"The regents have given Snow College a mission and a role, which is two-year status, not four-year. That's our position," he said. "We feel that Snow is well-suited for a two-year program and we would not be agreeable to a four-year degree."
Board of Regents Chairman Nolan Karras added that the bill skirts the authority of the board, taking the case for four-year general education degrees at Snow straight to the Legislature.
Ideally, he said, student demand should warrant a four-year program before any discussion occurs on whether the school can afford and support a four-year system.
"If there are enough kids attracted to the program, we're willing to take the program to where the kids are," he said. "That makes more sense than having a legislative bill that says we hereby declare you a four-year school."
Legislative action in recent years to offer four-year degrees at Utah Valley State College and Dixie State College ruffled feathers among higher education officials, Peterson noted, and he doesn't want to force a bill without agreement among the Board of Regents.
"This becomes a pretty delicate thing because to some extent Dixie bypassed the regents several years ago, and I'm not sure the dust has settled and all the feelings have been mended," he said. "When you do things outside the box, it takes awhile for everybody to get back in together."
Peterson also doesn't have the full support of Snow College President Mike Benson, who said he has been following directives from the Board of Regents to pursue partnerships with Utah State University and the University of Utah before trying to turn Snow into a four-year school. Those partnerships, he said, take advantage of the systems already in place at four-year schools without stretching Snow to full university status.
"We have no aspirations to offer any four-year degrees instead of partnering elsewhere," he said.
But Peterson said his measure still has merit, particularly in addressing the issue of Snow College students who want to stay near their hometowns and get a degree.
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