Extension program helps fulfill USU’s mission statement
Utah State University has promised it will educate anywhere in Utah, no matter where its students live.
As a land-grant university, one built on land designated by Congress for educational purposes, one of USU’s three missions is extension.
Some of the Extension sites in Utah are Brigham City, Salt Lake City, Toelle, Ephraim, Blanding, Moab, Price, Uintah Basin, Ogden, St. George and of course, Logan.
Kelly Mendenhall, Associated Students of USU vice president for Extension, said this semester there are about 9,000 students taking at least one Extension class somewhere in Utah.
“Being able to take an Extension class somewhere else is good, especially if you already have a good job and your family is established in that place,” he said.
Extension classes offer the exact same education at individualized speeds, Mendenhall said.
Dan Peterson, the assistant dean of Continuing Education, said, “The class size is smaller than the average class size at most universities, and the access is incredible.”
Rikki Ouellette, an elementary education major at the Ephraim Extension, agreed.
“The classes are a lot smaller, and the teachers seem to really want to get to know us as students,” she said. “They are more caring and concerned.”
Peterson said Extension classes can be taken in person, over satellite or online.
He travels to Brigham City every week to teach an upper-level management class. He has between 20 and 30 students.
“We’re able to do activities and group projects that are applicable to real-world information because of the number of students,” he said.
Although Extension students pay the same tuition and fees as regular USU students, some are required to pay an extra $30 to $40 each semester.
Four Ephraim Extension elementary education students see some negative sides to the program.
One of their main frustrations has to do with satellite classes.
Celeste Allan said, “I think if you have a satellite class, it is harder to make comments with the teacher.”
Carey Ivory said she hates the pressure of having to talk into a microphone when taking a satellite class.
Kathy Keyes said, “Not only is there a delay when people talk on the mikes, but it is also hard to really get to know your teacher. It is really impersonal.”
Another frustration concerns geography.
Katie Shaw said, “It’s also hard being so far away from Logan when it comes to things like financial aid, getting transcripts, advisement and getting assignments handed in and back quick.”
Even though there are frustrations, most Extension students are glad the program exists. Some may wish to earn a degree from USU, but can’t move all the way to Logan or weren’t accepted into programs on the Logan campus. Extension makes it possible for those degrees.
The Extension program has grown extensively in the past years. Peterson said although university growth has been small, the Continuing Education (Extension) growth has been huge.
Not all Extension students are going to school full-time. Like Mendenhall said, many already have families and jobs. Some take a few credits a semester. Others are taking full loads. The number of students fluctuates slightly every semester.
Janet Olsen, an Extension student studying elementary education in Ephraim, said, “All in all it is a great program. Like with most things in life, there are pros and cons.”
-emilieholmes@cc.usu.edu