Uintah Basin Campus
Approximately 39 years ago, a delegation from the Uintah Basin approached members of the Utah State Legislature concerning the possibility of providing better opportunities and easier access to higher education facilities for residents in the Uintah Basin. One major concern of these residents was that only 25% of the area high school graduates were going on to college as compared to 80% of high school graduates from areas along the Wasatch Front.
With a lot of effort from many dedicated people, the Governor's office established the Uintah Basin Continuing Education Center in 1967. Utah State University was asked to provide higher education classes through its Continuing Education and Extension Services.
The Uintah Basin Continuing Education Center started out with a one-room office and used classrooms from the local high school to teach evening classes. The first classes taught concentrated on courses that filled general education requirements. Additional efforts were made to provide classes leading to recertification for public school teachers.
During the evolution of the Center, efforts have been directed toward not only offering classes that fill general education requirements, but to offer classes that lead to complete associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees. Currently the Center offers three associate, 12 baccalaureate, 11 seven master's degree programs, and a Doctorate of Education, along with other minors, endorsements, and certificates. In the Spring of 2006 there were 178 Associate Degrees, 78 Baccalaureate, and 20 Master's Degrees awarded to students who attended the Utah State University Uintah Basin Campus
Permanent buildings have been acquired with community assistance in Roosevelt and Vernal through grants from the State Impact Board, Utah State Legislative process, and through private donations. The facilities in Roosevelt include a 25,000 sq. ft. classroom building, a 7,500 sq. ft. administration building, and a 35,000 sq. ft. student center. In Vernal a 40,000 sq. ft. building is now owned by the University. Efforts have been expended to provide and computer laboratories in both locations and science and chemistry equipment in Vernal.
On March 17th 2006, a special, private ceremony was held to announce a new era for higher education in the Uintah Basin. Life-long Uintah Basin resident Bob Williams ushered this new era with a $5.3 million land gift to Utah State University - the second largest private gift to the university in its 118-year history.
The total property deeded to the university is 138 acres - 33 acres more than the size of USU's original Logan campus back in 1888. The Vernal property borders 500 North (Maeser Highway), just south of Uintah High School. Plans are under way, and a building has been funded, to build an educational building on this donated property through funds obtained through the State of Utah. During the 2006 Utah State Legislative Session, and through donations from Uintah County, an 83,000 sq. ft building was funded to be built and will be jointly shared by Utah State University and the Uintah Basin Applied Technology College (UCAT). Additional money has been donated by the Uintah County in the form of roads and infrastructure improvements
In the Spring of 1994, Utah State University's Board of Trustees voted to change the title of the Uintah Basin Education Center to the Uintah Basin Branch Campus. Years later, in the Spring of 2006, Utah State University's Board of Trustees voted to change the title of the Uintah Basin Branch Campus to the Uintah Basin Campus, the largest of the three Regional Campuses belonging to the Utah State University family of Distance Education sites. These changes in title reflect an expanded role and mission for the Uintah Basin Regional Campus.
The Uintah Basin Regional Campus has experienced substantial growth over the past ten years. The Uintah Basin Campus enjoyed a nearly 23% increase in enrollments in budget related enrollments from Fall Semester, 2002, as compared to Fall Semester, 2006. Over 2,350 students were enrolled at the Uintah Basin Campus Fall quarter, 2006 earning nearly 900 Full Time Equivalent (FTE).