History of USU Statewide Campuses

A History of Distance Education Innovation

Utah State University Statewide Campuses is rooted in innovative learning technology to provide educational opportunities to residents throughout the state. There are more than 30 locations spanning 85,000 miles to help better the lives of people, even those in remote areas, by increasing access to higher education. From technical degrees to doctorates, USU's Statewide Campuses provide an affordable, nationally-ranked and accredited education with local support and resources for students' success.

We are Utah's State University.

1862

Land Grant Colleges

The Morrill Act of 1862 was signed into law on July 2, 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln. The Land-Grant College Act, as it was more popularly known, laid the foundation for a national system of state colleges and universities. The state colleges established land grant institutions tasked with emphasizing agriculture and practical education providing a major boost to higher education across the nation, paving the way for new western states to establish colleges for their citizens. 
USU Statewide Locations

1888

Founder’s Day

Utah Representative Anton H. Lund of Sanpete County introduced a bill to create a land-grant college in Utah. It passed both houses on Founder’s Day, March 8, 1888 with a unanimous vote.

1890

First Day of School

Utah Agricultural College (UAC) was the founding of Utah State University. On September 2, UAC opened its doors with 26 students. Enrollments grew to 139 by the end of the first year and continued to grow.

1907

Rooted in Rural Education

Professors travelled by train from Logan to provide new information and techniques to rural residents.
Professors traveling by train

1911

First Correspondence Study Courses Organized

Curriculum included agricultural and general education courses. Residents of Brigham City, Northern Utah and Idaho took part.

1967

The First Statewide Campuses

Representatives Daniel Dennis, Ralph A Preece, Chilean Halladay working with Alva Snow, jointly sponsored a bill to establish Utah State University education centers in Roosevelt and Moab. Classes began fall term of 1967 in Roosevelt.

1967-1996

USU’s Fly-Down Program

Scaling some of Utah’s highest mountain peaks, USU flew seven to nine professors to the Uintah Basin two or three times per week. For roughly 30 years, these “flying professors” taught courses, advised students, and built a foundation for programs and degrees offered in the Uintah Basin and Moab locations. The program continued until distance delivery technology improved sufficiently enough to replace air travel.
Professors traveling by plane

1984-1992

Technology Paving the Way

USU’s first electronic distance classrooms began. While the campuses were developing in the Uintah Basin, Tooele and Brigham City, telecommunications increased USU’s ability to serve the entire State of Utah and surrounding states.

1994

The State Is Our Campus

By the mid-1990’s the Brigham City, Tooele, and Uintah Basin education centers were gaining national attention for their delivery of quality programs, degrees and courses. All three were designated as regional campuses by President George Emert, then were approved by the USU Board of Trustees and subsequently the state Board of Regents.

2010

The Eagles Join the Aggie Family

On March 4, 2010, in the state of Utah’s first-ever merger of two academic institutions, the College of Eastern Utah became part of the Statewide Campus system. USU Eastern in Price operates as a comprehensive community college offering both technical certificates and academic degrees. Retaining their junior college status, the Eagles are the only USU campus besides Logan with 9 athletic programs. CEU’s San Juan campus, now USU Blanding, serves the Four Corners region with 4 additional locations to provide educational opportunities to the nearby Navajo and Ute reservations.  
College of Eastern Utah

2019

The Regional Campus system was renamed USU Statewide Campuses, to be led by a Vice President level administrator. Statewide Campuses has two residential campuses (Eastern and Blanding) and 28 non-residential campuses and educational delivery centers across the state of Utah.