Dixie State College of Utah

"Dixie College" redirects here. Dixie College may also refer to Tennessee Technological University.

Dixie State College
Established	September 19, 1911
Type	Public[1]
President	Stephen Nadauld
Academic staff	423
Students	6443[2]
Location	St. George, Utah, United States 37°5′43″N 113°34′40″W / 37.09528°N 113.57778°W / 37.09528; -113.57778Coordinates: 37°5′43″N 113°34′40″W / 37.09528°N 113.57778°W / 37.09528; -113.57778
Campus	Suburban
Nickname	Ragin' Red
Mascot	Red Storm
Website	www.dixie.edu

Dixie State College of Utah (also DSC, Dixie College, or the Dixie State) is a college located in St. George, Utah, United States.

History

Community Arts Bldg in St. George, the original home of Dixie State College of Utah

The institution was started by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 19, 1911, under the name "St. George Stake Academy". In 1916, the academy became "Dixie Normal College", and then in 1923 the name was changed to "Dixie Junior College". In 1933 the LDS Church discontinued its support of the College until it reinstated support in 1935 and combined it with parochial grammar and secondary school education.^[3] In 1970, the school became "Dixie College", then in 2000 it became "Dixie State College of Utah" when the Utah State Legislature granted the college baccalaureate degree status. When the school first opened its doors, there were only 42 students. In 2000, when the college became a four-year college, enrollment had reached approximately 7,000 students.

On September 7, 2007, Dixie State College Board of Trustees members announced that Dixie State College of Utah would petition the University of Utah to become the University of Utah—St. George.^[4] The proposal was approved by the Dixie State College Board of Trustees on October 7, 2007, and by the University of Utah Board of Trustees on October 14, 2007. The two institutions formed a task force to define the parameters of an enhanced affiliation, to be approved by both Trustee boards, the Utah State Board of Regents, and the Utah State Legislature. The process was expected to be complete in 2009.

Due to local concerns^[5] the resolve to merge Dixie State College into the University of Utah was dissolved.

In 2011 a bill was drafted for the review of the Utah State Legislature and the Utah State Governor to support Dixie State College's transition to University status.^[6]

The primary campus of Dixie State College of Utah is located in St. George, Utah, with the Hurricane Education Center campus extension located in Hurricane, Utah.

Academics

Part of the campus of Dixie State College in St. George.

The college offers baccalaureate degrees in Accounting, Biology, Business Administration, Communications with emphases in Digital Motion Picture Production, Mass Communication, and Human Communication,^[7] Computer and Information Technology, Criminal Justice, Dental Hygiene, Elementary Education, English with emphases in English Education, Literary Studies, and Professional and Technical Writing, Family and Consumer Science Education, History Education, Integrated Studies, Music, Music Education, Nursing, Psychology, Theatre, and Secondary Licensure. The administration of Dixie State College is working to provide more baccalaureate degrees.

Associate degree offerings include Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Science in Business, Associate of Pre-Engineering and Associate of Science in Criminal Justice as well as Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education, and Associate Degrees of Applied Science in Automotive Mechanics, Early Childhood Education, Health Science, and Marketing. Also, certifications in nursing, medical radiography, Automotive Mechanics, Dental Hygiene, Marketing, and Visual Technology are also available.

Athletics

The College has had a successful athletic program as a member of the NJCAA. The college made the jump to NCAA Division II on July 1, 2006, as a provisional member for four years. After the transition period, it will be able to compete for national championships and become a full member in the NCAA. The team name is the Red Storm; they were formerly called the Rebels. The school is given provisional membership into the Pacific West Conference.

Raging Red Show Choir

The Raging Red Show Choir is a goodwill and showcase performance group composed of students that was started in January 2009.^[8] Raging Red has performed throughout Utah, in parts of Nevada and Arizona, and is performing at the 2010 World's Fair in China. The group is directed by Merilee Webb and performs a variety of different styles of music, including hip-hop, spiritual, and broadway, and stages scenes from popular films and/or television programs.

For the 2010 World's Fair, their program included the song "Belle" from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, "For Good" from the Broadway production of Wicked, a medley of Muppet music and skits from The Muppets and Sesame Street, as well as a dance mix of seventies classics. Each song includes solo performances by members of the choir and almost always require improvisation at some point.

In April, 2010, Raging Red opened a show for Jon Schmidt as a fundraiser for their trip to China the following month, which was in part funded by the students.^[9]

Raging Red is based on the idea of "making your box bigger," as opposed to stepping outside of it, or, making yourself comfortable with doing things you wouldn't normally do without violating your personal standards or pretending to be something you aren't. Students that are involved in Raging Red are encouraged to be examples in the community and to other students, as Raging Red is a recruiting tool for Dixie State College.

Merilee Webb has a Master's in Music Education from Brigham Young University Provo, where she was selected "Most Outstanding Musician" in 1983 and teaches in Salt Lake and Saint George.^[10] Merilee has served as Associate Director for "Young Americans," where she met Raging Red's then-future choreographer, Mackenzie Koehler, a student at the time.

Notable alumni

• Nolan D. Archibald — CEO of Black & Decker
• Rick Baird — Former member of the U.S. Bobsled team
• Marcus Banks — Current NBA player for the New Orleans Hornets
• John Moses Browning — Developed firearms in the 1900s^{[citation needed]}
• Corey Dillon — Former NFL running back for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots
• Jeffrey R. Holland — Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Lionel Hollins — Former NBA All Star and current Head Coach for the Memphis Grizzlies
• Brandon Lyon — Current MLB relief pitcher for the Houston Astros
• Reno "Junior" Mahe — NFL running back who is currently a free agent
• Dave Rose — BYU Men's Basketball Head Coach
• Brad Thompson — MLB P Member of 2006 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals
• Scott Young — Retired NFL offensive lineman
• P. Alberto Sanchez - Film producer/writer/director

See also

• Dixie Rotary Bowl
• Raging red
• Southern Utah International Documentary Film Festival
• The Southern Quill

References

1. ^ Mission Statement – Dixie State College
2. ^ Enrollment Data – Dixie State College Alumni Magazine
3. ^ About Dixie – Dixie State College
4. ^ The Dixie/UofU Partnership – Dixie State College
5. ^ Dixie Trustee Yanks Support for Affiliation with the University of Utah
6. ^ Utah State Legislature S.C.R. 11
7. ^ "What Can I Do With A Communication Degree?" "Dixie State College". Retrieved December 18, 2010.
8. ^ Dixie State College. Dixie.edu (2010-04-19). Retrieved on 2010-12-30.
9. ^ Dixie State College. Dixie.edu (2010-04-19). Retrieved on 2010-12-30.
10. ^ Reading Keyboard Music. Reading Keyboard Music. Retrieved on 2010-12-30.

External links

• Official site of Dixie State College of Utah
• cit.cs.dixie.edu Computer and Information Technology Department of Dixie College