On July 1, 2008, Utah Valley State College President William Sederburg led a ceremony recognizing two major milestones: the opening of what would become the Fulton Library and the transition of UVSC into Utah Valley University.
On July 1, 2008, Utah Valley State College President William Sederburg led a ceremony recognizing two major milestones: the opening of what would become the Fulton Library and the transition of UVSC into Utah Valley University.
In the 15 years since then, the institution now known as UVU has seen astounding growth, including new academic programs, new buildings and facilities, multiple campuses and property acquisitions, and achievements in and out of the classroom.
Val Peterson, UVU vice president of administration and strategic relations, is one of the few university leaders who has seen that growth firsthand. “UVU became a university in response to community need and workforce alignment,” he said. “UVU continues to meet the needs of the community and the individuals it serves, providing students the education they need to be successful in today’s ever-changing landscape.”
Below, we list one key milestone from each year of UVU’s history as a university.
During its state college years, UVSC focused on two- and four-year degrees along with trade and technical programs. Becoming a fully fledged university allowed UVU to offer master’s programs, beginning with a Master of Education degree in 2008. More programs soon followed, and UVU now offers 28 master’s degrees and certificates.
After President Sederburg’s resignation the previous year, UVU needed new leadership to oversee the early days of university status. Matthew S. Holland was selected to become the institution’s sixth president. Under his guidance, UVU continued to flourish, securing funding for new buildings, adding vital programs, and seeing Wolverine athletics finally achieve NCAA Division I status.
What started as a wartime vocational school skyrocketed into new territory as fall 2010 enrollment at UVU grew to 32,670 students. This included an initial cohort of 42 students in the institution’s new Master of Business Administration program.
UVU marked its 70th year with a number of achievements and milestones, including the acquisition of land in Vineyard, the opening of the Hal Wing Track and Field complex, and enrollment topping 33,000 students, making UVU the largest public university in Utah by total enrollment.
Among other signs of growth in 2012, including the opening of the Center for Constitutional Studies and the completion of the Science Building, UVU created a separate college within its academic structure to house the burgeoning aviation, criminal justice, and emergency services programs. The college is now known as the College of Health and Public Service (CHPS).
Wolverine sports took a major step forward in 2013 when they joined the Western Athletic Conference, an NCAA Division I league with a long history in Utah and nationally. This also laid the groundwork for the founding of a men’s soccer program in 2014, the only NCAA DI men’s program in the state at the time.
Wolverine alums Noelle Pikus-Pace and Chris Fogt took to the track at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Pikus-Pace won a silver medal for the United States in women’s skeleton, and Fogt won a bronze medal as part of the USA four-man bobsled team. The medals were the first ever won by UVU alumni.
UVU capped another year of tremendous growth — highlighted by the launch of the Office of Graduate Studies and five new master’s programs — by inviting former U.S. presidential candidate and future senator Mitt Romney to deliver the 2015 commencement address. Romney counseled graduates to engage in the world around them and “live a large life.”
As UVU marked 75 years since its origins as the Central Utah Vocational School, the institution welcomed a stunning new permanent addition to campus: the Roots of Knowledge windows. Created by Holdman Studios in collaboration with UVU faculty, staff, and students, and directed by President Holland, the final installation in the newly named Ira A. and Mary Lou Fulton Library spans 154 feet, with 80 windows and more than 40,000 pieces of stained glass.
Addressing a critical community need for autism education and resources, UVU donors Keith and Melisa Nellesen provided the initial gift for the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism and named the building in honor of their son, Cole. The facility opened in May 2017 and has become a hub for autism studies in Utah.
Following President Holland’s resignation after nine years at the helm, UVU marked its 10th anniversary as a university by welcoming its seventh full-time president and the first woman to serve in the role: Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez. From her origins growing up in poverty in the Philippines to her wealth of experiences in education and the private sector, President Tuminez came ready to put the power of dreams to work as UVU continued to grow.
For too long, UVU performing arts students had to practice and perform in cramped classrooms and next to auto shops and technical facilities. Finally, in 2019, they received their own space, thanks to an anchor gift from the Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation and support from other donors and state leaders. The Noorda opened with several nights of high-profile performances, including stars such as Jason Alexander and Sierra Boggess, as well as UVU’s own talented students.
The COVID-19 pandemic produced unprecedented challenges for UVU and its community. But the institution and its students overcame the hardships by finding new ways of teaching and learning and supporting each other through it all. These efforts were honored at a drive-in commencement ceremony and drive-thru convocations the following day, so students could still receive their rewards and celebrate together.
As UVU has grown, the number of students who commute to classes from beyond Utah Valley has increased. To serve these students and the community, UVU partnered with state organizations to construct a covered pedestrian bridge across I-15, connecting UVU’s Orem Campus to the UTA FrontRunner station. The bridge officially opened on January 14, 2021.
With the Woodbury School of Business now the largest business school in the state, new facilities were required. The Scott C. and Karen Keller Building, named after a lead $10 million gift from its namesake donors, opened in January 2022 and provided a new look to the main entrance of UVU’s Orem Campus.
Wolverines turned heads on the court and on the track in 2023. The men’s basketball team had the most successful season in its history, reaching the NIT Final Four for the first time and hosting UVU’s first nationally televised game on ESPN in the process. Meanwhile, Wolverine track and field athlete Everlyn Kemboi won the NCAA national championship in the women’s 10,000-meter final and finished second nationally in the 5,000-meter final.
