Dr. Covey’s impact for good, which has been felt worldwide, cannot be overstated. He is an icon and a leader in the truest sense and will be missed the world over, including at Utah Valley University.

As a university, we will be forever grateful for his support as a former UVU Foundation board member and as a founding member of UVU’s National President’s Advisory Board, which he remained actively engaged in for many years. He was also front and center in the institution’s effort to achieve university status and in crafting UVU’s mission statement. Dr. Covey will never be forgotten at Utah Valley University and, as a campus community, we express our deepest sympathies to his wife, Sandra, and the entire Covey family.

— Utah Valley University

 
The inception of a good product or business idea might occur at a garage workbench, in a chemistry lab or even during one’s morning shower. What follows after that flash of inspiration, however, is the difference between a daydream and an actual product on a store shelf.

UVU’s Business Resource Center, which opened with a ribbon-cutting on Jan. 6, is a one-stop shop for innovators, entrepreneurs and businesses. The BRC contains a business incubator, which perfectly describes its role in nurturing the development of ideas and budding startups.

The Center comprises several facets: a technology commercialization office, an economic development office, a Small Business Development Center and elements from the Utah Science Technology Research initiative and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. In short, all these pieces work together to turn ideas into business plans; business plans into startups; startups into small businesses; and small businesses into perhaps large corporations.

On its largest scale, this incubation bolsters economic impact and job creation throughout the state. On the individual level, the BRC will help fortify innovators and their innovations so they can weather a cutthroat marketplace and realize their true potential. This can come in the form of anything from mentoring to brokering patent work to securing funding.

UVU’s role in our state’s economy is extensive — just by being here, UVU is responsible for more than a half-billion dollars in annual economic impact to the state. On top of that, as a teaching university, UVU is providing its students with practical, real-world experience. When these students participate in UVU partnerships with community businesses, or graduate and secure jobs, they infuse our service region with practical, real-world solutions. The effect will only multiply as individuals avail themselves of our resources at the BRC.

I invite you to visit our new website to learn more about the BRC and how you can take advantage of its many offerings. It will be a pleasure doing business with you.

— Steve

 
As the UVU Blog begins its second year, we want to thank all those who have written, commented on and read the assortment of posts we featured in 2011. For 2012, we’re hoping our faithful readers can take a few turns behind the wheel, be it through comments, questions, guest posts or requests for certain topics.

After all, UVU vice president for University Relations Val Hale first created the blog to serve as a forum for explaining anything and everything people are wondering about campus. It best serves this function when readership dictates content. You can contact us via uvublogs@uvu.edu, Twitter or the comments section of any blog post — we’ll keep a sharp eye on all of them.

We’re excited to continue offering weekly posts from more tremendous guest authors this year. Remember, you can follow the blog several ways:

Web — http://blogs.uvu.edu (new URL!)
Twitter — @utahvalleyuniv
Facebook — facebook.com/UVUwolverines
RSS — blogs.uvu.edu/feed (new feed address!)
LinkedIn — linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=165201

See you next week!

— UVU Blog

Dear UVU Students, Faculty and Staff,

As the end of the year approaches, I want to extend to you a warm holiday greeting and express my joy at having completed yet another wonderful year at Utah Valley University with all of you. We enjoyed tremendous growth and accomplishment in 2011, and I’m excited to see what awaits our institution in 2012.

In the meantime, it is my sincere hope that you spend this special time of year enjoying your favorite traditions with beloved friends and family. Above all, please keep yourself and your loved ones out of harm’s way throughout your holiday travels and diversions. I invite you to revisit last month’s safety message for some important travel tips from UVU Police. Please come back to us safe and sound for the start of what promises to be another remarkable year at UVU.

Happy holidays,

— Matthew S. Holland

On November 20, 2010, three members of UVU Students in Free Enterprise (along with Professor Westover) decided they wanted to make a difference. We reached out to a local non-profit with a unique construction technology. Domes for the World has used its monolithic ecodome construction process to provide safe, sustainable housing all over the world.

We loved that the domes could be built quickly, cost less than traditional housing, are more energy efficient and, most importantly, are disaster proof. These homes will withstand earthquakes, hurricanes and fires. They keep families out of the elements and off the ground and safe from pests and natural disasters. We loved the idea and set out to put together an initiative for it.

“About 1.1 billion people are living in inadequate housing conditions in urban areas alone.”  (United Nations Center for Human Settlements)

Throughout the summer, we leveraged the generosity of Pinnacle Security and its employees to raise more than $30,000 for the cause. We then led a group of 30 individuals consisting of UVU students, Pinnacle Security sales reps and technicians, leaders of local and international non-profits and community members to the small village of Chunox, Belize.

While in the country, the group completed one dome from start to finish so the locals could see the process, began another foundation, then left all the resources, tools and training necessary for the villagers to perpetuate their own home construction. We also taught several locals an innovative and inexpensive method for constructing well pumps.

In regards to the well systems, we made a small investment to get them started, and they are now building and selling well pumps made with their hands to improve the quality of water procurement in the village and earn a living for themselves.

The group also found time to revitalize two schools with fresh paint in and out of the classrooms.

Independent sustainability was our focus. The villagers are now equipped to erect their own domes and construct their own well systems. We put a system in motion that will now move under its own weight. The initiative was a life-changing experience not only for the people we served but for the participants as well. This was the best experience we’ve ever had with any humanitarian effort.

One of the group members said, “It was a life-changing experience that I will never forget. There is nothing like taking part in a project where you see the direct effect of your efforts. This was a priceless experience that opened our eyes to the world we live in. It makes you see the difference a little support can make in the lives of others.”

The initiative is moving forward strongly as funds continue to be raised and lives continue to be changed.

— Jon and Adam

Photo of ecodome in Belize courtesy of Pinnacle Security

Since not necessarily everyone at UVU knows what the University Marketing & Communications department (part of the University Relations division) does and what services it offers, we thought we’d tell you more about who we are.

It’s our role to communicate the University’s mission and core themes from an institutional perspective in terms of marketing, branding, advertising and public relations strategies and campaigns. We work closely with the Office of the President to disseminate through a variety of mediums UVU’s unique identity as an inclusive yet academically rigorous regional teaching university that offers everything from certificates to master degrees.

But our partnership with campus clients doesn’t stop at the President’s door. Staffed with a team of award-winning writers, graphic designers and photographers, the department offers all the services of a private sector marketing and corporate communications firm.

• Our office writes, edits and issues University press releases to the media for all the colleges, schools and departments on campus. By University policy, all press contact, including press releases, is required to flow through University Marketing & Communications.

• We produce the University’s alumni magazine, UVU Magazine, for the Development and Alumni Relations division.

• We assist campus clients to develop successful marketing and promotional campaigns.

• We design a wide range of marketing collateral including brochures, booklets, posters and billboard designs.

• We provide video and audio (in partnership with Studio & Broadcast Services) capabilities.

• We offer a host of Web resource services.

• We create, manage and enforce UVU logo usage and secondary symbols.

As demands for our services have grown, we’ve added new key positions including communications specialist Matthew Reichman and project manager Curtis Puzey. We’ve also reorganized photography with Jacob Scott as assistant director and August Miller as photography manager. Studio & Broadcast Services has added video producer Marc Gingell while University Events director Mike Maughan has brought on Lauren Reichman as an assistant events director.

For the first time ever, the photography office has a new digital asset management system that allows them to email high-resolution photographs and other images to campus clients via a searchable online database. In the new process, every photograph will have searchable metadata attached to its file so that images can easily be retrieved from an online archive.

How do you get started? Go to www.uvu.edu/marketing and either contact one of our listed team members or fill out the Publication Request Form (or “gold sheet”) in the lower left corner of the page to initiate the process. For photography requests, call x8244 or contact Jac Scott at scottja@uvu.edu or August Miller at august.miller@uvu.edu.

Perhaps you have a student success or engaged learning story idea for possible use in a press release or content in UVU Magazine? Give us a call (x8206) and we’ll discuss how your idea might best be leveraged to help share the University’s unique message.

— Mike

Safety on UVU campus
As the student population grows here at UVU, so do the number of vehicles on campus. I’m sure you are aware of how difficult it is becoming to find a good place to park. With the increased number of vehicles on campus, our traffic problems are on the rise. Please drive slowly and be aware of who is walking or driving around you, especially while driving in UVU parking lots. You never know when you will have to make a sudden stop. There has been an increase in complaints of vehicles failing to stop for pedestrians. Please remember, if a person is in a crosswalk, you must stop for him or her. If you’re a pedestrian, please use a crosswalk. It may take a few extra steps to use a crosswalk; however, this is where drivers expect pedestrians to cross. If you cross outside of a crosswalk, there is a higher chance of being struck by a vehicle. If you are hit by a car because of failing to use the crosswalk, you could be held liable.

Safety while traveling home
With the holidays here, many of you will be traveling home to be with family. Please be cautious, as this is a time of year when there is an increase in highway accidents and fatalities. Please remember to get plenty of rest before a long road trip. Fatigue is a major factor in traffic accidents. You know when you are getting tired — don’t ignore it. You should immediately pull over and at least get out of the car and move around. Getting the blood moving in your body can reduce the symptoms of fatigue. Also, eating a large meal before traveling can make you feel tired.

While traveling long distances try not to become a victim. There are many predators on the roadways that are looking for people that make good victims. The majority of victims are people that are traveling alone. Suspects wait for those people to exit the roadway to get fuel or snacks and use the restrooms. The best way to prevent this is to have a travel buddy, someone going to the same area as you are (not a hitchhiker). In optimum circumstances you can share expenses and the driving. If you are not able to have a travel buddy, always stop at places where there are a lot of people. Schedule your stops at busy stores, such as Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart encourages travelers to use their parking lot as a place to rest; you will probably see many RV’s and other travelers as well. Wal-Marts are usually located close to freeways or major highways. Don’t go to the rear of buildings! If you stop at a rest area to use the restroom or just to get out and stretch, you should be fine. It is not recommended that you sleep at a rest stop during the night.

Make sure your vehicle is in shape to make the journey. Check tire tread and air pressure, and have a good spare tire as well as the tools to change a flat. Check to be sure that your windshield wiper blades function properly, top off your fluids and check belts. It is always a good idea to have your vehicle serviced before a trip, as most of these items should be checked. Be sure to have some kind of an emergency pack. Include a flashlight, water, snacks, a small first aid kit and an emergency blanket. If your vehicle should break down or if you get stuck, stay with the vehicle. In a search situation it’s easier to locate a vehicle than it is a single person. Please stay in your vehicle until help arrives.

Hopefully this message will help to keep you safe and make your trip more enjoyable.  

From all of us here at UVU Police: have a safe and happy holiday.

— Kelly

Links:
UVU Police

For the last 13 years UVU students have been producing Wolverine athletic events for broadcast on Comcast and other local cable companies. For the last four years this was expanded to include live streaming on the internet at uvu.edu/uvutv. Hundreds of students enrolled in the Digital Media program have participated in the broadcast, and now many are employed in this same field of work.

This year UVU Athletics and the student’s work will be received by a national audience. Several months ago UVU Athletics and Studios and Broadcast Services began talks with Fox College Sports (FCS), a national broadcast provider which reaches 56 million homes, to discuss the possibility of airing UVU Athletics on its network.

FOX reviewed the caliber of production of previous years and stated:

“…we’d like to enter [an agreement] with Utah Valley and simulcast any of the college sporting events you guys are televising on UVUTV.” They further added, “We would be happy to air … whatever you guys offer to us.”

Since those early discussions the agreements are now in place and every UVU home game that is broadcast on UVUTV will also be broadcast on Fox College Sports. Two of the men’s basketball games will air live: the homecoming game against UMKC November 19 at 7 p.m. and the game against the University of Wyoming January 3. All other games will be aired tape-delayed, per the schedule below (subject to change), and next year we are hopeful that more games will be able to air live as we work out more cost effective transmission methods.

To be clear, we are not talking about FCS coming in to produce the games. They want to receive the broadcasts produced by the students and staff of UVU. This is a great opportunity for our Digital Media students to put their work on the national stage week in and week out during our regular broadcast season. It puts UVU athletics into millions of homes in a way that it never has been before.

If you haven’t been a part of UVU Athletics, now it will be easier than ever, whether you live here in the valley, or if you are an alumnus who lives in Chicago and beyond. Furthermore, if you ever miss a game, you can watch past broadcasts at uvu.edu/uvutv/archive. Now, more than ever before, it’s good to be a wolverine fan!

— Will

Links:
Utah Valley Men’s Basketball on FCS Airdates (PDF)
2011-’12 FCS WBK Schedule (PDF)
2011-’12 FCS CBK Schedule (PDF)
UVU TV
UVU TV Archive
UVU Studios & Broadcast Services

Recently, I found myself working late and still had several hours’ worth of work to complete. I had finished eating my lunch hours earlier and the hunger pangs were evidence that my stomach was now empty and needed more nutrition. The café in the Health Professions (HP) building at UVU West was already closed and I didn’t have time to drive over to the main campus to pick something up. What to do? Fortunately, the National Guard Building had a vending machine with a variety of tempting snacks that had the potential to hold me over until I could make it home for dinner. Now the dilemma begins — how can I make a healthy snack decision at the vending machine?

No doubt this scenario plays out every day in the lives of our students who are juggling school, work, families and social lives. Our employees are equally busy. Time and money are usually in short supply. A quick run to the vending machine can temporarily quiet a growling stomach but our choices can lead to long-term health consequences.

It is no secret that two-thirds of the adult American population are overweight or obese, and obesity can lead to a variety of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer. Yet we live in such a busy, hectic society, that we are quick to grab some junk food and not think twice about the consequences.

Students and faculty in the Public and Community Health department at UVU have developed a nutrition education program designed to help vending machines users make healthy snack food choices. The “traffic light” system uses green, yellow and red stickers near the food selection to identify the healthiest (green) selections, the moderate (yellow) selections and least healthy (red) selections.

The traffic light system has been used in a variety of settings, including hospitals, businesses and secondary schools, but hasn’t been tested in the college setting. Deciding on the criteria for assessing the foods was a difficult task, as each study used different criteria. The research group finally decided (with the encouragement of a Registered Dietitian) to use the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines (PDF download) and the USDA Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value as the criteria.

Foods with a green sticker have 30 percent or less of their calories from fat, have 5 percent or less saturated fat, and are snacks with 250 or fewer calories. Yellow-stickered items have 30-40 percent of their calories from fat, between 6-10 percent saturated fat, and no more than 250 calories but have limited nutritional value. The red-stickered foods have more than 40 percent of their calories from fat, more than 10 percent saturated fat, and more than 250 calories.

The biggest challenge in selecting the criteria for assessing the snack foods was how to classify the nuts (almonds and peanuts). While nuts can be a very healthy snack, most people don’t realize they are about 80-percent fat and are high in calories. In the end, we stuck with the USDA dietary guidelines and the nuts received a red sticker.

Unfortunately, our “Navigate the Snack Food Debate” sticker system is only available on five of the 40-plus machines on campus and the intervention is time-limited. We recognize that vending machines are used for snacking and most don’t think of vending as healthy, but you can find something to eat that is a little less harmful to your health. So the next time you find yourself staring at the vending machine, think twice about the choice you are about to make. That big pink cookie is 40-percent fat and will cost you 500 calories with no nutritional value and will take one hour of jogging or two hours of walking just to burn off that one pink cookie! So, skip the cookies, candy, and chips, and make a lighter choice such as Chex Mix, baked chips or a Cliff bar. Your future health and wellness will depend on it!

— Mary

Links:
UVU students’ research helps educate campus about healthier vending machine choices (Press Release)
UVU Department of Public and Community Health
USDA Consumer Brochure (PDF download)
USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines Executive Summary (PDF download)
USDA Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value

Nestled on a mesa top in the Pleasant Creek Valley of Capitol Reef National Park, the Capitol Reef Field Station (CRFS) provides an amazing opportunity for place-based learning. A mere 3.5 hours from the UVU campus, CRFS welcomes students, faculty and staff alike into the unique region of the Colorado Plateau.

Through a partnership between Utah Valley University and Capitol Reef National Park, CRFS promotes interdisciplinary engaged learning, field-based scientific research and environmental ethics through exploration, appreciation and conservation of the Colorado Plateau ecosystem.

Two 12-person dorms, a multi-purpose classroom, dining facility and a beautiful kitchen await groups that visit CRFS. In addition, CRFS serves as a model of sustainability with 100-percent solar electricity, water supplied from a nearby well, passive heating and cooling architecture and an unrivaled opportunity for all visitors to learn and practice reduced environmental impacts.

Since CRFS opened in October 2008, numerous UVU courses have taken advantage of all that the field station has to offer. From mathematics to interpretive dance, and from botany to creative writing, CRFS provides an ideal environment for engaged learning, a classroom with reduced distractions, a platform for student/faculty interaction and a breathtakingly beautiful background.

Here is just a sample of what students have said after studying at Capitol Reef Field Station:

“It felt like a home away from home in an awesome environment.”
“The pristine immersion in nature and isolation from the outside world made a great planning/team-building environment.”
“This place is awesome.”
“The night sky was incredible and I loved the hikes.”
“I loved being out in nature, the educational opportunities, the staff, the beautiful surroundings and learning by doing.”

We invite you to visit our website at uvu.edu/crfs and welcome any questions or comments. Interested in bringing your class to CRFS? The Spring Semester calendar is filling quickly. Contact us at crfs@uvu.edu.

Photos courtesy of L. Shelton and J. Peterson

— Jane

Links:
CRFS website
Jane.Dell@uvu.edu
CRFS Facebook Page
CRFS Live Webcam Feed
Directions to CRFS
CRFS Trip Planner
CRFS Image and Video Gallery
Capitol Reef National Park