Students served by 20 years of experience
Student Services has a new vice president, who is ready and willing to do the job.
President Kermit L. Hall appointed Craig Petersen as the new vice president for Student Services, August 1. This position oversees 14 different units at Utah State University, including Housing and Food Services, Associated Students of Utah State University, the Taggart Student Center and others.
Right now, Student Services is working on many different projects. One of the major projects includes the master plans for Housing and Food Services to predict what the university will need in the coming years. They are also working on putting an academic success center in the basement of The Junction.
“They will provide tutoring services, computer labs and a place for students to study,” Petersen said.
Other projects include the new exercise facility, in partnership with Associated Students of Utah State University, in the Fieldhouse and efforts to try to bring more Latino and Native Americans to USU to create more diversity on campus.
One of Student Services’ largest goals is conducting a new program titled Voice of the Consumer. It involves finding any serious problems students have with the campus (i.e. registering for classes, gaining admittance to USU and paying tuition) and addressing them
efficiently.
Randy Jensen, assistant for Student Services, said Petersen will be really good for this division, especially with his well-rounded background.
“He knows how the university works, and it is very beneficial to Student Services,” Jensen said.
Petersen was born and grew up in Logan and graduated from USU with a dual major in economics and computer science. He served as executive vice president of ASUSU during his senior year. He later received a doctorate in economics from Stanford University.
For more than 20 years, he was a member of the department of economics at USU. During that time he was elected twice as College of Business Professor of the Year. In 1989 he was selected as USU’s Professor of the Year.
During his career, Petersen has written four books, “Business and Government”, “Managerial Economics”, “Economics: The free enterprise system”, and “The Economics of Work.” In 1993, Petersen was selected as vice provost at USU until February 2001 when Hall asked him to be chief to staff and special assistant to the president for planning and community relations. He also is an elected member of Cache County Council for seven years. Petersen is married and has four daughters, between the ages 23 and 31.
Petersen said the new position is absolutely wonderful.
“I really enjoy working with students and the qualified and dedicated staff that helps students at USU,” Petersen said.
Petersen also teaches USU 1300, U.S. Institutions. He put the course together to concentrate on the U.S. Constitution and its history, changes made to the Constitution and the critical constitutional issues that are brought to our attention today. Even though 500 students are enrolled in the class, Petersen said it has been a very enjoyable teaching experience.
“I really enjoy teaching the class because I see it to be very useful for students. It focuses on the critical issues of our times,” he said.
Carlynne Law, an undeclared freshman, said in class Petersen makes his lectures interesting so the students pay attention and are always laughing.
“I’m not afraid to approach him,” Law said.
Jensen said Petersen is committed to his goals and has a good feel for students and their needs. He is very thorough and explains things carefully.
“He is always here early in the morning, late night and he often works through lunch to do his job well. He is very good for Student Services,” he said. “He has got a really strong work ethic and it is passed on to the rest of us. We are compelled to work hard because he does.”
-kassrobison@cc.usu.edu