ST. GEORGE — The newly appointed president of the University of Utah says Dixie State University is a vital partner in helping more people get an education and bolstering the state’s skilled workforce.
Ruth Watkins was in St. George Thursday on an engagement tour meeting with community members, local leaders and educators focusing on determining workforce needs.
In an interview with St. George News, she called Southern Utah a “really vital part of the state” and gave special praise to DSU as a key driver of educational and economic growth in the region.
“I think given the nature of the growing population, and the needs for workforce industries in our state, it’s very helpful that Dixie State is growing and expanding,” she said, “and we’re delighted to be able to work in partnership.”
The University of Utah has been working to bring some if its programs and training resources to DSU.
One such initiative involves bringing the University of Utah’s physician assistant training program to DSU, allowing students to earn a University of Utah degree while receiving instruction at the DSU campus. Watkins said this specific program is being implemented as a means to help meet the Southern Utah community’s growing health care needs.
DSU’s recent foray into offering master’s degrees was implemented in part through advice and input from the University of Utah.
Read more: Dixie State University paves way for its first master’s degree programs
There are also 455 students from Washington County and 141 from Iron County currently attending school at the university in Salt Lake City, including many people pursuing graduate degrees in medical, law and other fields.
Watkins, who is the first woman selected as president in the University of Utah’s 168-year history, is focusing heavily on helping more students finish their degrees. Prior to her selection as president, she served at the university as senior vice president for academic affairs, working to isolate areas that can improve graduation rates.
Read more: University of Utah to have first female president in its 168-year history
“For many years we focused on access to college – on helping people come into the university,” she said. “I think we’ve done that fairly well. We’ve done less well in getting people to stay with the institution and to complete their degree they came for in a timely manner.”
Financial struggles are among the greatest barriers to graduation, she said.
“On the financial side, scholarships have helped a lot,” she said. “We’ve roughly doubled the number of scholarships and the dollar amount that we’re giving out right now.”
The school has also worked to hire professional advisors to help guide students to complete the degrees for which they enrolled, keeping them focused on the goal of graduation.
An enhanced offering of online courses has also helped with retention, Watkins said.
“Many of our students are busy at work. They’re managing a complex life that includes family, children, work,” she said, explaining that a combination of traditional face-to-face classes and online courses has helped keep many people on track for graduation on their own schedule.
Such efforts have paid off, with 9 out of 10 freshman students returning for second year, an 8 percent increase in six-year graduation rate, an 11 percent increase in financial aid and a 77 percent growth in scholarships, all occurring during Watkins’ tenure in the Academic Affairs Department, according to the university.
Watkins said she believes many of the hundreds of people from Southern Utah currently studying at the University of Utah will return with their degrees to live and work in the region.
“We have very strong data that show that many of our students are staying in the area and contributing to the state,” she said.
While in Southern Utah, Watkins also stopped by St. George City Hall to meet with Mayor Jon Pike. In their meeting, they discussed the forthcoming Tech Ridge development on the old airport hill in St. George, which the city and project developers hope will encourage more students graduating with technology degrees from DSU to consider staying in Southern Utah.
Read more: ‘Tech Ridge’ becoming a reality as city finalizes sale of land
Watkins said DSU is already on the right path to producing and retaining more graduates.
“There is a strong sense of optimism in this area and at Dixie State for what’s happening at this institution,” she said. “President ‘Biff’ Williams is an inspiring person with a strong vision for a vibrant university.
“When you step back and say, ‘Where is this institution going, what kind of future does it have, what’s the arc?’ From everything I can tell, things at Dixie State are really moving at an upward trajectory and a positive direction.”
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