Week of November 21, 2017 www.usustatesman.com (435) 797-1742 TSC Room 118 Free single copy
STUDENT LIFE | STEPing up
STUDENT LIFE | Around the World
SPORTS | Dominant Defense
National hunger and homelessness awareness week encouraged students to help fight poverty.
Students from the language department brought art and education together in international culture exhibit.
Aggie football becomes bowl eligible with shutout victory against Hawaii.
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STATE OF UTAH STATE
President Cockett speaks to Board of Regents in ‘State of the University’ address
PHOTOS BY Kyle Todecheene (Above) Utah State University President Noelle Cockett delivered her inaugural “State of the University” address to the Utah State board of regents at a meeting held on the school’s campus on Nov. 17. (Below) Members of the board of regents were presented with a glowing ‘A’ during the presentation. By Spencer Burt NEWS STAFF WRITER
When Utah State University President Noelle
Cockett meets USU graduates around the nation and world, they say, “I’m an Aggie.”
It’s one of her favorite things about USU, Cock-
ett said during her “State of the University” presentation to the Utah State Board of Regents Friday on the USU campus.
“That epitomizes what we are doing here at
Utah State,” she said. “Once they come here, they
feel that they are members of a family.”
USU has changed the tuition plateau so that stu-
clude undergraduate research, internships, study
cost. Cockett said this was a successful push that
ture assignments (part of the “Connections” class
USU was recently ranked fifth of all public insti-
dents can now take 12-18 credits for the same
13th overall, Cockett announced in her address.
has saved students money and helped them grad-
tutions in the nation by Washington Monthly, and Colleges and universities were ranked based on
social mobility, student research and student service.
Cockett said the university focuses on three
main areas for student success: completing col-
lege in a timely manner, high impact practices and career training.
uate sooner. Changes in math class options and math placement programs have helped students earn their required general credits without hav-
abroad, senior capstone projects, common litera-
for freshmen), Focused Fridays (offered to all stu-
dents through the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business), and community engagement.
Cockett praised USU’s regional campuses, dis-
ing to take as much remedial math.
tance education and applied technology pro-
talked about the push to help students experience
degrees and statewide programs that work to-
As a way to improve student retention, Cockett
at least two “high-impact practices.” These in-
grams. Stackable credentials, applied associate’s
gether — like the nursing program — have
opened new doors for and made a large impact on students all over the state.
Cockett told the Regents about the 2017
non-consensual sexual contact survey and things
the university has done to improve awareness.
Only 5 percent of students surveyed knew how to
report an assault to the Title IX Office. In re-
sponse, USU has expanded its efforts to spread awareness on how to report.
“Our campuses will become more safe because
now we know where, when and how those differ-
ent kinds of assaults are occurring,” Cockett said. She also talked about the $13 student fee and .5
percent second-tier tuition increase implemented
for the 2017-18 year to increase funding for more
psychologists, educational resources, and faculty and staff awareness programs.
Cockett concluded by showing a video of the
Connections Luminary, a new USU tradition in-
cluding a symbolic walk from the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to the Quad.
“Who do you think you will have become?” she
asked students at the event. “How will you look back at the four years you spent at USU?” — spencerburt@aggiemail.usu.edu @SpencerABurt