Holiday 2024
Institutional Update
I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for at Snow, most notably the amazing colleagues and students we work with every day. Every November we also celebrate Founders Day as we express gratitude for those who made great sacrifices to establish and maintain the college since 1888.
As part of the Founders Day video creation, we also documented a few key stories from our past. One such story is that of selling the only piano we had when times were really difficult. I encourage you to watch this short video and take note of the praises of our faculty and staff. Our history is truly a collection of stories, and at the heart of those stories are the people—people like all of you—making a difference every day and shaping the next chapters of our legacy. I witnessed an example firsthand at Homecoming this year when our alumni council president shared a heartfelt story about an employee who had profoundly impacted her life during her time at Snow College. We invited that retired employee to the ceremony, and the reunion between them was deeply meaningful for everyone there. That connection was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do and is just one of countless examples of the impact you have on our students every day.
I am genuinely grateful to each one of you. At Fall Assembly we talked about our parallels with Team USA. Just like Team USA is comprised of swimmers, runners, surfers, and gymnasts, Team Snow is comprised of experts in a broad range of areas. We’re counting on everyone to use their expertise, wisdom, and specialized skills to help Team Snow stay on top! Thank you for your work and the impact you are making. Enjoy your friends and family this holiday season!
Stacee
Technical Education and Industry Connections
Snow College’s Composites program trains students for careers from aerospace to infrastructure, prosthetics to sporting equipment. Because composite materials are lightweight, weighing less than steel and aluminum and durable, stronger and stiffer, they are used in aircraft, automobiles, buildings, marine, firearms and other sporting equipment.
The Composites program gives students skills to assemble carbon fiber and other fabrics with resins under pressure and or heat to create quality composite projects. Students earn an 18-credit certificate of completion. Through the competency-based hybrid course design students can complete the required 18 credit hours in less than 6 months and begin their career at any of our Central Utah composite businesses or apply at any of a few dozen composite businesses along the Wasatch front or Southwestern Utah.
Employment data indicates that Central Utah is hotspot for a composite career with a projected annual growth of 3.7%. Entry level wages are posted at $40,000 to 44,000.
A shout-out and thank you to Chad Avery for creating industry connections to build this program to meet the increasing demand for skilled composite technicians in our Central Utah Area.
Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Snow College’s Federal TRIO programs, Upward Bound (UB) and Student Support Services (SSS), are continually making a difference in the lives of high school and college-aged students. Recent changes have been made in their staff.
In October, Pennie Mickelson retired after 20 years of working in Upward Bound as the Program Coordinator. Pennie had a great impact on all she met and made lifelong friends with colleagues, students and members of the community. She did an outstanding job and will be greatly missed!
Angie Taukei’aho was hired as the new UB Coordinator, working under the direction of Mike Anderson. Angie was most recently the Deputy Head of Student Life but is very familiar with TRIO programs. When she was a student at Snow College, Angie was a student participant in TRIO Student Support Services.
Upward Bound (in Sanpete County High Schools) provides academic instruction, tutoring, college entrance exam and admission guidance, assistance with financial aid, economic literacy counseling, and exposure to cultural events. Snow’s UB program also hosts an on-campus summer residential program where students become acquainted with college life and have the opportunity to earn college credit.
SSS provides tutoring, personalized academic/career advising, information/assistance with federal financial aid applications, help applying for public and private scholarships, financial literacy counseling, help with four-year college transitions, and tuition free classes in Mathematics, English, and College Success Skills.
TRIO students continually prove to be very successful students. They are an inspiration to their families, friends, and communities and are paving the way for many generations to come!
Who's New?
We welcome the following individuals to the Snow College Team:
| Christopher Vlam | Part-Time Admissions Counselor (Ephraim) |
| Karen Belager | Adjunct Visual Arts (Ephraim) |
| Nicole Franson | Part-Time Library Assistant (Ephraim) |
| Colton Welch | Cyber Security Analyst (Ephraim) |
| Wildee Mortensen | Assistant Professor Mathematics (Richfield) |
| Jenni Jones | Part-Time Grounds Technician (Richfield) |
The following HR-related policies have recently been updated. Please familiarize yourself with these updates policies and contact Human Resource Officer Brent Baxter if you have any questions.
Office of Analytics and Institutional Research
One of the primary responsibilities of the Office of Analytics and Institutional Research (AIR) at Snow College is mandatory reporting. Mandatory reporting in higher education refers to the process of submitting specific data that are required by an external entity. The process must be completed in a timely and accurate fashion in order for institutions to remain in compliance with state and federal regulations. It also fosters transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making.
One of the external entities that AIR regularly reports to is the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS is a system of surveys conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). It collects data from postsecondary institutions in the United States on a range of topics, including enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty information. IPEDS data is essential for understanding trends in higher education and is used by policymakers, researchers, and the public to analyze and compare institutions. You can find the most recently published IPEDS reports and compare Snow College’s statistics to other schools using the College Navigator from the National Center for Education Statistics.
As always, we encourage you to reach out to us in AIR to share any questions, concerns, or ideas you have about the data at Snow College.
Richfield Update
The 3rd Annual Richfield Fall Festival was a resounding success, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Snow College, Richfield City, Sevier County, and the local Chamber of Commerce. This festive event showcased community spirit, attracting families and visitors from all around.
A dedicated team of volunteers, including student-athletes from Snow College, played a crucial role. A week before the event, cross country runners, wrestlers, and community volunteers illuminated Main Street with lights and then played a vital role in assisting the organizers with decorations, setting up, and cleaning up after the event, transforming Main Street into a picturesque and memorable fall scene.
In addition to the decorations, Snow College students and alumni performed on stage, and student leaders, with the help of Buster the Badger, engaged the crowd by distributing cotton candy and glow sticks while hosting a mini-golf activity to promote school spirit and community involvement. Their enthusiasm and commitment added a delightful touch to the festival. Overall, the event not only highlighted the vibrancy of Richfield but also fostered a sense of togetherness among residents, making it a memorable experience for all involved. We are especially grateful to all the employees who jumped in to make it happen and encouraged our student involvement.