Weber State University Profile Overview Weber State University is a four-year institution of higher education located in Ogden, Utah. Its focus is upon providing undergraduate programs of the highest quality. WSU offers over 200 separate degrees/programs (see program listing on pages 391-396) -the largest and most comprehensive undergraduate program in the State of Utah. With a student body of over 18,300 drawn predominantly from Utah, but also including students from 46 states and 37 foreign countries, WSU takes pride in its student-centered environment for learning and believes that quality education is founded upon close associations between faculty and students. Through nearly fifty academic departments and programs in seven colleges, Weber State University provides lifelong learning opportunities for a diverse spectrum of students both on and off the main campus, capitalizing extensively on partnerships with private companies and public agencies in the region. Its 60 buildings on 526 acres house abundant classrooms and laboratories, excellent student computing facilities, outstanding performing arts auditoriums, a spacious library, and a well-equipped health and fitness center. The First Year Experience program helps new students adjust to the university community. An active Honors program challenges the best of students, while a variety of support services aids those with particular needs. Academic studies are complemented by a wide range of cocurricular activities, including student government, intramural and intercollegiate athletics, and award-winning performing arts groups. An area of continued growth is WSU-Davis, which provides instruction to students on a new high-tech campus in Layton. In addition to its Ogden and Davis campuses, WSU offers courses throughout the state and Intermountain West and is a leader in online instruction. Historical Perspective Weber State University was founded in Ogden, Utah, as Weber Stake Academy on January 7, 1889, by the Weber Stake Board of Education of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 1933 Utah Legislature established Weber College as a state junior college and placed it under the control of the Utah State Board of Education. Following World War II the college outgrew its downtown campus and moved to the present 400-acre site, spectacularly perched on the mountainside overlooking Ogden and the Great Salt Lake. In 1959 the Utah Legislature authorized the addition of upper division courses, leading to award of the first baccalaureate degrees by Weber State College in 1964. The 1969 Legislature created the Utah System of Higher Education, comprising nine public institutions of higher learning, including Weber State College. The system is governed by a State Board of Regents, and each institution has its own Board of Trustees; members of both boards are appointed by the governor. In 1990 the state legislature renamed the institution Weber State University, effective New Year's Day 1991, appropriately symbolizing its role as Utah's premier public, undergraduate university. Mission Statement Weber State University offers associate, baccalaureate and master degree programs in a broad variety of liberal arts, sciences, technical and professional fields. The university provides excellent educational i experiences for its students through extensive personal contact I among faculty, staff and students in and out of the classroom. To I accomplish its mission, the university, in partnership with the I broader community, engages in research, artistic expression, public I service, economic development, and community-based learning experiences in an environment that encourages freedom of expres- I sion while valuing diversity General Education General education at Weber State University provides students I with a foundation in the arts and sciences that transcends and I complements their academic emphases. This exposure to diverse I fields of study enables students to make intellectually honest I and ethical decisions that reflect a knowledge of and respect for diverse people, ideas, and cultures. Such breadth of education also I cultivates skills critical to student success in academic, personal, I professional and community endeavors both within and beyond I the university. Students completing the general education program can I • Communicate, understand and interpret ideas and information using written, oral and visual media. I • Think critically and creatively to construct well-reasoned arguments supported by documented research. I • Use quantitative, mathematical relationships, operations and reasoning. I • Demonstrate an understanding of the history, foundational principles, economics, and politics of the United States. • Demonstrate proficiency in computer and inf ormation literacy. • Demonstrate an understanding of how the biological and physical sciences describe and explain the natural world. • Demonstrate an understanding of humans, their behavior, and their interaction with and within their physical, social, local and global environments. • Demonstrate an understanding of diverse forms of aesthetic and intellectual expression. Distinctive Characteristics Weber State University combines certificate programs, associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees in traditional academic areas as well as applied technology, health professions, and professional programs. The following are distinctive characteristics of Weber State University: • For the third time in four years, Utah's professor of the year comes from Weber State University. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education has named Eric Amsel, professor and chair of WSU's Department of Psychology, the 2006 Utah Professor of the Year. WSU faculty members have been frequent winners of the honor. In 2005, Clinical Laboratory Sciences chair and professor Yasmen Simonian was honored as Utah's Professor of the Year. Political Science professor Frank Guliuzza received the honor in 2003. • In 2006, for the second year in a row, a Weber State University student was invited to present undergraduate research at the prestigious Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C WSU Weber State University 2007 - 2008 Catalog