Happy July, Badgers!
I hope you are having a great summer! Summer may bring a different pace to our campuses, but it is also a season of preparation, planning, and opportunity as we look ahead to another academic year.
This month, the Utah Board of Higher Education approved the regional framework for Utah's 16 degree-granting institutions and technical colleges. Snow College will join the Wasatch Southern Region with Mountainland Technical College and Utah Valley University. The new regional framework gives us an opportunity to build strategic partnerships and create win-win solutions with our regional colleagues, particularly in the growing Utah County area. We have already begun working with our regional partners on a memorandum of understanding that will strengthen collaboration while preserving the unique mission, identity, and strengths of each institution. I encourage you to view both the USHE board memo and the new regional structure.
Earlier this summer, representatives from the Badger140 task forces met to report on the work they have accomplished this year. As a reminder, each task force was given a clear charge, and many of the groups met weekly or bi-weekly. The results of the excellent work of these task forces will be reported at fall assembly. Their work is an important reminder that the best ideas for Snow's future come from the people who know Snow best. I extend sincere appreciation to those who have served so capably, especially the task force chairs. The talent, innovation, and dedication of our faculty and staff are unmatched. Thank you!
The past few months have reminded us that Snow is much more than a place to work. Many of our colleagues have faced personal challenges, and I have been inspired by the compassion, empathy, and genuine care so many of you have shown one another. Those acts of kindness reflect the very best of Snow College and our community.
Our Leading at Snow work reminds us that the choices we make every day, especially when circumstances are challenging, define who we are as a college. I see this commitment and professionalism in the many people who choose to assume the best about others, work through challenges together, and keep moving the college forward. Thank you for your examples.
I remain very confident in Snow College's future. We have real challenges to address, like demographic shifts, increased competition for students, changes in LDS missionary service patterns, and policies affecting international enrollment. But we also have extraordinary faculty and staff, a clear mission, and exciting opportunities ahead of us. We need your continued ideas, energy, and partnership as we shape our future and share the Snow story. Thank you for all you do for our students, for one another, and for this beloved institution. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in August!
Your friend,
Stacee
Enjoy these highlights from two of our programs in the School of Professional Studies: Nursing and Respiratory Therapy!
On April 30, 2026 the Nursing Department had the pinning ceremony for 21 graduating nursing students. Ashley Ashbocker received the Academic Excellence Award and Zoee Barnson received the Clinical Excellence Award.
The Nursing department will be taking 19 faculty and students on a Study Abroad to Donegal Ireland on the Atlantic Coast from June 20 – 30, 2026. This course offers an international travel experience and exposure to the culture of Ireland. Topics include folklore and superstition, death and rituals of dying, famine and migration, women’s healthcare, religion and healthcare and implications of political change.
The Snow College Respiratory Therapy Program recently held its Program Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting, where members expressed how impressed they were with the knowledge, professionalism, and progress of our first cohort of students, who are now beginning their second semester of coursework.
We are also proud to celebrate one of our respiratory therapy students, Brooklyn Gilgen, who recently earned her first associate degree as Snow College’s valedictorian—an incredible accomplishment that reflects the dedication and excellence of our students.
Additionally, the program received grant funding to purchase hospital beds, ventilators, manikins, and other critical respiratory therapy equipment. This funding has enabled us to build a hands-on learning environment where students can practice with the same equipment they will encounter in real-world clinical settings, helping them better prepare for patient care in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
The Snow College Board of Trustees approved the Fiscal Year 2027 budget during its June 16th meeting, adopting a financial plan that supports strategic priorities while maintaining the College's long-term fiscal stability. The approved General Fund budget totals $64.9 million, a 4.1% increase over the previous year. General Fund expenditures increased by $2.5 million, driven primarily by compensation and benefit adjustments, Internal Service Fund rate increases, and performance funding commitments. The budget includes a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for eligible employees, $311,400 in state performance funding, and continues the College's multi-year reallocation strategy. We also received and budgeted $3.3 Million in capital development projects.
Each year, the College carefully evaluates requests for new ongoing funding against the amount of ongoing revenue available. While one-time funding can address immediate needs or strategic opportunities, it cannot be used to create permanent financial commitments such as salaries or recurring operating expenses. Because requests for ongoing funding routinely exceed available ongoing resources, the College must prioritize recurring investments that best support its mission while maintaining long-term financial sustainability. This disciplined approach helps ensure the College remains financially strong for current and future students.
The approved budget reflects the College's commitment to responsible stewardship by investing available resources strategically while preserving long-term financial sustainability. Special thanks to Budget Director Sherri Hansen for her outstanding work in preparing and administering the FY2027 budget.
The Board-approved FY2027 budget document is available for review. As part of the annual budget implementation process, department budgets in the Argos Dashboard have been updated after July 1st to reflect the budget allocations and administrative adjustments.
Throughout the semester, the Student Connection Center has worked to foster a sense of belonging by connecting students with peers, campus events, and essential services. These efforts are especially important as students navigate the challenges of balancing coursework, responsibilities, and personal growth. The continued collaboration between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs supports students through academic referrals, withdrawal counseling, and academic standing success plans. This work strives to identify and support each student individually, recognizing their unique experiences and the distinct paths they choose.
Looking ahead, Snow College is preparing to welcome new students through its upcoming Fall Orientation. Orientation is designed to give incoming students a strong start by introducing them to campus resources, academic tools, and essential systems such as MySnow and Canvas, where students access courses, assignments, and important information.
Fall Orientation also provides opportunities for students to build connections, explore campus life, connect with the community of Ephraim and feel confident as they begin their college journey. By combining spring support efforts with a strong orientation experience, Snow College continues its commitment to helping every student thrive from their first day through graduation.
On April 16, Snow College hosted its third annual Technical Education Scholarship Banquet. More than 100 high school seniors from the six-county region applied for $1,000 scholarships, with 54 students selected to receive awards. Scholarship recipients and their families met with faculty and explored Technical Education programs through interactive exhibits, learning how certificates prepare students for high-demand careers that support regional workforce needs.
Snow College's Youth Apprenticeship Program continues to grow through strong industry partnerships. On May 15, ACT Aerospace welcomed seven local high school seniors into its apprenticeship program. During their senior year, students will split their time between high school and paid work at ACT Aerospace while earning progress toward a Snow College Composites Technology certificate. Wage increases are tied to milestones including certificate completion, high school graduation, and college enrollment, helping students launch careers in engineering, aviation, advanced manufacturing, and composites technology.
Snow College’s new specialty license plate is officially available! It's a simple way to show your Badger pride while making a lasting impact on our students.
The plate can be purchased at any Utah DMV (or online) for a one-time change fee of $23.75, plus an annual $25 contribution that goes directly to the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Every plate purchased helps provide educational opportunities for current and future Badgers.
Support Snow College, invest in student success, and show your Badger pride wherever the road takes you!
We welcome the following individuals to our Snow College family:
| Type | Name | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hire | Sierra Robison | Ephraim | PT Retail Operations Lead |
| New Hire | Armondo Corona | Ephraim | FT Housing Maintenance Manager |
| New Hire | Michael Shreeve | Ephraim | FT Head Women's Basketball Coach |
| New Hire | Gavin Douglas | Ephraim | FT Assistant Professor of Theatre |
| New Hire | Devin Spenst | Richfield | FT EMS Program Director |
| Type | Name | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hire | Casey Robinson | Ephraim | FT HVAC- Maintenance Manager |
| New Assignment | MaKaty Thorley | Ephraim | FT Ambassador Advisor – Event Coordinator |
| New Hire | Kristin Marchant | Richfield | PT Administrative Assistant - Career Center |
| New Hire | Kerry Olson | Richfield | FT Custodian Richfield |
| New Assignment | Hanah Cohen | Ephraim | FT Purchasing Specialist |
| New Hire | Bradley Kitchen | Ephraim | FT Head Men's Basketball Coach |
| New Hire | Hunter Peterson | Ephraim | FT Six County Admissions Counselor/Recruiter |
| Type | Name | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hire | Kristi West | Ephraim | PT Executive Assistant to the President |
| New Hire | Matthew Ayres | Ephraim | PT Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach |
| New Assignment | Justin Cherry | Ephraim | FT Director of Infrastructure |
| Type | Name | Location | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hire | Tyler Southam | Ephraim | FT Assistant Professor of Chemistry |
| New Hire | Gabrielle Marz | Ephraim | FT Instructor of Strategic Communications |
| New Hire | Brandon Dabling | Ephraim | FT Instructor of Political Science |
| New Assignment | Tyra Taylor | Ephraim | FT Business Instructor |
| New Hire | Erica Simonson | Ephraim | FT Biological Science Instructor |
| New Hire | Anthony Hughes | Ephraim | FT Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science |
| New Hire | Zac Isom | Ephraim | FT Software Engineering Faculty |
| New Hire | Brandon Hartley | Ephraim | FT Assistant Professor of History |
| New Hire | Nishwa Tuniki | Ephraim | FT Software Engineering Faculty |
| New Hire | Erin Seaward | Ephraim | FT Writing Program Administrator & Assistant Professor |
| New Assignment | Edwin Christensen | Ephraim | FT Instructor of Criminal Justice |
| New Hire | Heather Cooper | Ephraim | FT Professor of Music Education |
This contribution from the Office of Analytics and Institutional Research (AIR) is part of a series about understanding the data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data system (IPEDS). This contribution focuses on the Finance report.
The following table provides an overview of the most recent Finance report for Snow College that is available to the public (Fiscal Year 2024). It highlights how several of Snow College’s expenses compare to other Utah public institutions and national peers. The data shows that Snow College spends more per student on instruction than the Utah public institution median and invests more per student in student services than both Utah public institutions and national peers. Additionally, Snow College keeps administrative costs (i.e., academic support and institutional support expense categories) low, indicated by the fact that those costs are both well below the Utah median and national peer median. This suggests that Snow directs more resources to where students feel them most directly.
This and more can be found at the Snow College profile on the IPEDS website.
Thank you for all of the work you do to maintain and use Snow College data to better our services for our students and employees. As always, we encourage you to reach out to us in AIR to share any questions, concerns, or ideas you have about the data at Snow College.
Although summer is barely half over, Snow College student-athletes report for fall camp in just over two weeks. The department is looking forward to another promising year of Snow College Athletics.
Construction has begun on laying new turf inside Terry Foote Stadium. The football team will break in the new turf Aug. 22 at 12:00 p.m. against Garden City. Snow College football is embarking on its first season in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference.
The department welcomes a handful of new coaches to the fray, including Michael Shreeve, women’s basketball head coach, and Lewis Wilson, who is the new men’s soccer coach.
The coming year looks to build on a very successful 2025-26 season that saw four teams compete in the national tournament, a West District Championship and an 8th-place finish for the volleyball team, a Region 18 Championship for the women’s soccer team, a SWAC Championship for the men’s soccer team, and more than a dozen NJCAA All-Americans.
The Richfield Campus was proud to participate in this year's Richfield 4th of July Parade, celebrating one of the Sevier Valley's favorite annual traditions. President McIff joined student leaders and dedicated volunteers to represent Snow College, greeting parade-goers and sharing Badger pride with the community.
The college's newly wrapped CDL Program trailer made its parade debut, showcasing one of the campus's growing workforce education programs. Along the route, volunteers handed out Snow College swag—including candy, T-shirts, Frisbees, and sunglasses—to the nearly 30,000 spectators who gathered to enjoy almost 100 parade entries.
The Richfield 4th of July Parade is a special opportunity to connect with generations of families from across the Sevier Valley while highlighting the vibrant campus life and expanding educational opportunities available at Snow College Richfield. Events like these strengthen our ties to the community and remind us of the important role the college plays in the region.
A sincere thank you to the student leaders, volunteers, and supporters who gave their time and energy to make our participation possible. Their enthusiasm and service continue to make Snow College a valued part of this cherished community celebration.
