News

UVU has been asked to provide an intern for the Czech Republic as the country assumes the rotating European Union (EU) presidency in January 2009.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS — With the announcement of Liz Hitch, VP of academic affairs, moving into the position of interim president of UVU in a few weeks, it has caused a shift of other positions within the academic affairs office. Karl Worthington will be interim vice president of academic affairs as Hitch fills her interim presidential duties. Also, there is a new hire for VP of academic administration, Dr. Mohammed A. El-Saidi, who comes to UVU from Tarelton State University – Central Texas.

The growing sport of disc golf has made its official debut at UVU with the addition of a disc golf course to the campus, designed for recreational play and as a practice green. The course features 13 holes as well as a practice hole. All the holes are par-2 and range from 83 to 209 feet.

Heidi Gray is not only a UVU student and mother of four, but also a multimillion-dollar business owner. She is our hero for the week. Here is what she had to say:

HEALTH INSURANCE CONCERNS — According to a survey released by Reuters on Thursday, more than eighty percent of Americans think the U.S. health system needs either fundamental change or a complete overhaul. The Harris Interactive poll found that access to care, better coordination between different health providers and better flow of health information were among respondents’ chief complaints. Another poll found that health insurance costs have doubled for Americans since 1996.

Haagen Klaus, a new faculty member in the UVU Behavioral Science department, recently took part in an important archaeological find in northern Peru: an ancient tomb belonging to the Moche civilization.

Everywhere you look in Orem, you can see evidence that BYU is no longer the only popular university in the valley: Green and gold UV flags hang from local businesses to show their support for the Wolverines, the UV logo has been painted on major intersections in Orem, and a burgeoning number of alumni, students and community members sport UVU gear.

ANCIENT CAMBODIAN ARTIFACTS STOLEN
Ancient cultural artifacts in surrounding areas of the Angkor Wat temple site in north central Cambodia are being stolen. The demand for artifacts has risen dramatically over the last few years as technological advances in the study of ancient civilizations have grown. Cambodia’s culture and fine arts ministry has made the protection of the Angkor Wat artifacts a major priority. Digging has been a main source of finding valuable artifacts while less valuable, monetarily speaking, bowls and vases are being tossed aside as looters find expensive things to take away. In villages approximately 40 miles away from the temple, desolation of protectors has left the area a prime digging spot for thieves.

What better way for students and the community to usher in the new university than with a huge celebration party? That’s just what UVU did on June 30, when 15,000 people attended the UVUphoria celebration. The day started out with a grand opening of the new Digital Learning Center, where people explored the new 5-level library, watched dance and karate performances, listened to the Losee band, and soaked in the atmosphere of being a university.

This fall, students have the opportunity to take a class based off the history of Yellowstone National Park. Even though the name of the class is “the Yellowstone country,” according to David Wilson, the instructor, it will include most of eastern Wyoming and eastern Montana.