USU Named 2022 Educational Partner of the Year by Davis Tech

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University was named the 2022 Educational Partner of the Year at the annual Life-Changer Luncheon hosted by the Davis Technical College Foundation on Oct. 20, 2022.

USU President Noelle E. Cockett, along with other USU representatives, was on hand to accept the honor. The honor is based on the partnership that USU has with Davis Tech, with the majority of the recognition being focused on USU Kaysville’s involvement with Technical Education.

“This is a wonderful honor bestowed upon Utah State University by Davis Technical College,” President Cockett said. “USU greatly values our relationships with technical colleges across the state. The College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and USU Kaysville, together with Davis Tech, have delivered remarkable results for students who are pursuing technical education.”

USU has set up a CTE Teaching Academy, which helps Davis Tech faculty members receive the teaching knowledge they need to deliver quality learning experiences to students. The academy provides professional development coursework in teaching and learning methods, program and course development, evaluation and assessment, digital tools for learning, and classroom and laboratory management.

“Our relationship with Davis Technical College provides opportunities for students and strengthens our programs,” said Brian Warnick, interim head of the Department of Technology, Design and Technical Education. “We are grateful for the partnership with Davis Technical College and are appreciative of their recognition of the value of the relationship.”

Dan Black, associate vice president for the Brigham City Region, credited the work of multiple USU employees for making the academy a success.

"Melissa Thomas, Steve Williams and others worked diligently to create and facilitate the CTE Academy,” Black said. “It has provided great opportunities to those teachers working in the career and technical education programs to advance their own education and careers."

Davis Tech had six employees who completed the inaugural CTE Academy, with five earning a Master of Education degree and one earning a bachelor’s degree.

“I enjoy working with our education partners at Davis Technical College,” said Thomas, associate director of Student Services at USU Kaysville. “These programs provide flexibility to students to acquire a certificate at DTC and then move onto earning a degree at USU. I’ve seen firsthand how this program delivers positive and life changing impact for students.”

USU partners with several technical colleges around the state to develop stackable degree programs that allow students who have completed certificates at these technical colleges to stack their certificate into associate and bachelor’s degree credits. A full-year certificate from a Utah technical college can be used to satisfy 30 credit hours toward 63 credits required for an Associate of Applied Science.

For more information on USU’s CTE program, visit statewide.usu.edu/cte.