March 2024
Institutional Update
President McIff
So much great work is happening at Snow! Thanks for all you are doing, from welcoming stakeholders to campus and making sure they have an incredible experience to helping our current students reach the finish line to May. In our office, we are continuing to work through this year’s legislative decisions and prepare for all of the fun and rewarding end-of-year activities. What a great time to be a Badger!
Transparent, honest, and direct communication is important to me, and I hope the tools we have implemented over the past year have been useful. If you wonder what is happening or why we are taking certain actions, talk with your supervisor or vice president. We’re all on the same team! The information below may be helpful if you need a recap.
- Recorded Town Hall meetings - The March meeting included a summary of the legislative session.
- Commencement Details - We hope you will join us as we celebrate our students!
- Annual Goal Update - Thanks for doing your part to help us all succeed!
- FAQs on HB 261 - We are still waiting for guidance from USHE on this diversity and inclusion bill, but this is what we do know.
- Suggestion Box - We love to hear what’s going well and how we can improve.
- Newsletter Archives - These are published every month to keep you up-to-date.
- News Stories - Catch up on some recent news – and submit your ideas for stories to share. It’s so fun to see our good news shared on your social media accounts.
- Calendar of Events - So many of you are doing so much! We invite you to support our students and colleagues by attending an upcoming event.
You might be interested to know that the Utah State Board of Higher Education appointed Geoff Landward to serve as the Commissioner of Higher Education today. I have really enjoyed working with Commissioner Landward and feel confident that he will be an excellent leader for the system.
The reason why there really is no place like Snow is because of you. My door is always open, and I appreciate your talents, contributions, and impact that only you can make. Let’s keep communicating and working together. Happy Spring!
Stacee
Technical Education and Industry Connections
Snow College’s Machine Tool program contains both Manual Machining and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining instruction. Machining technology is a manufacturing process that creates a desired shape by removing unwanted material from a larger piece of material. The removal of material is measured to the thousands of an inch and creates everything from medical instruments to components in the aerospace industry.
The machine tool program is designed to give students a basic knowledge of machining skills. Items covered include: math, blueprint reading, conventional lathe and mill operation, feeds and speeds, grinder operation, and the operation of computer numerical control (CNC) lathes and mills. Students who have previously struggled with math concepts such as X Y axis quickly apply and thoroughly understand these concepts as they move through the program.
Students earn certificate of completion that is stackable into an A.A.S. in Industrial Mechanics.
Students who complete the program are getting jobs with businesses throughout Central Utah along the Wasatch front and Southwestern Utah. It is not uncommon to have a student start at $25 to $30 dollars per hour with full benefits at many machining businesses. A shout-out and thank you to Alan Hart for his years of building and running the program.
Student Life
What a year it has been thus far for Snow College on the Richfield Campus and its only getting better.
Snow College Student Association in Richfield held their first election for the Richfield Campus Student Vice President in February. 4 excellent candidates submitted and ran campaigns. After great voter turnout Porter Wright was elected as the VP of the Richfield Campus. Porter was appointed as the VP for the 2023-2024 school year has been vital to the growth of student leadership and student participation in student life events on the Richfield campus. The Richfield Student Association is looking to continue growing and providing more opportunities for student involvement and representation with the creation of two new Senator positions to be appointed for the 2024-2025 school year (Technical Education and GE).
Who's New?
We welcome the following individuals to the Snow College Team:
| Meagan Dyreng | Concurrent Enrollment Advisor |
| Tanner Clark | Adjunct PE |
| John Neubauer | Adjunct Dance |
| Kyler Daybell | PT EMS instructor Richfield Campus |
| Katherine Silvester | PT Academic Advisor |
Co-op Open House
Snow College and Ephraim City signed a lease agreement for the historic Ephraim Co-operative Mercantile Association (Co-op) Building. The 15-year lease follows the terms outlined in the June 2023 proposal and will allow the college to manage and preserve the facility.
Snow Leadership Academy
Congratulations to the latest cohort from the Snow Leadership Academy! They recently completed their training and new applications are now being accepted.
This program was developed to build institutional leadership capacity among faculty and staff at Snow College and assist with fulfilling our mission and strategic plan by providing support of faculty and staff in achieving their professional and personal goals.
Faculty Report
David Barker took Construction Management students to Las Vegas for the International Builders Show Competition. The student team took 4th overall after competing with programs from around the nation and was recognized with "Rookie of the Year" award. Great job.
Congratulations to the three Snow College faculty members selected for the highly competitive CAORC (Council of American Overseas Research Centers) Faculty Development Seminars. Liberty Peterson won the award to Cambodia, Allan Stevens to Mongolia, and English Brooks to Mexico this summer. Way to go!
The Math Department hosted the Annual Math Contest on March 19. Almost 400 students came to compete against each other and exhibit their math skills. It's always a well run, well received event that schools and students look forward to each year.
The Math and Science Division held the annual Science Olympiad on Feb 24. Over 275 students from dozens of middle and high schools attended the event which features various contests that test their STEM skills. Events range from Code Busters to Forestry to Road Scholar and more. Forty-nine faculty provided over 250 hours of time to put on this event. Schools and students enjoy it very much.
A few lucky faculty members returned recently from the Red Rock Great Teachers Retreat in Moab. This is an awesome conference in which teachers learn from each other about best practices in education. Faculty, look out for the opportunity to go next year... You won't regret it.
Richfield Update
Snow College's Sevier Valley Center has been a hub of activity and excitement throughout the month of February, hosting a variety of tournaments and community events that brought together athletes, families, and spectators from across the state.
The center kicked off the month with the 1A/2A/3A/4A Jr. High State Wrestling Championship. The young wrestlers displayed their strength, agility, and sportsmanship in a series of intense matches, captivating the audience with their skills. The SVC then welcomed the 1A, 2A, and 3A State High School Wrestling Championships, where wrestlers from various schools competed for top honors. The high-energy matches and fierce competition demonstrated the dedication and passion of the athletes as they battled for victory.
As the month progressed, the center hosted the 1A/3A girls and boys State Basketball Tournaments, showcasing the skills and talents of young athletes from different schools. The intense games and electrifying atmosphere created memorable moments for both players and fans alike.
In addition to the sports tournaments, the Sevier Valley Center also played host to the Jordan Circus, a beloved tradition that brought joy and wonder to local families. The colorful performances of the circus performers delighted audiences of all ages, creating cherished memories for the community.
Overall, the month of February at the Sevier Valley Center was a celebration of athleticism, talent, and community spirit. We express our heartfelt appreciation to our dedicated employees for their incredible hard work and long hours these past few months.