Utah Legislature Approves Funding for New Business Building

Published: March 09, 2016 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Progress on the new business building at Southern Utah University continues as the Utah Legislature approved funding for $8 million. SUU will begin the planning and design phase in early June.

Momentum for the new building started last March, when SUU received the largest single gift in its history – $7.5 million from the Dixie and Anne Leavitt Foundation. The $17 million total project cost is supported by the community.

SUU’s School of Business opened its doors in 1979. Since then, students and faculty have doubled and the program has become nationally recognized for its excellence. The program has outgrown its current space and a new structure is urgently needed for the continued growth, success and competitive edge of the School of Business.

The new facility’s location has yet to be determined, and while a few potential sites have been identified, a final decision will be made after architects and engineers complete a comprehensive review.

Career placement rates of graduates in accounting, economics and marketing are at nearly 100% and approximately 95% of all graduates are employed in their field six months after graduation.

“If innovative thinking is to be encouraged and nurtured, it requires an innovative learning space that spurs such thought, one that excites and enriches the student experience,” said School of Business Dean Carl Templin.

The 42,000 square foot building will efficiently educate future business leaders who will energize the economy of our state, nation, and world, and do so with a sound ethical base as well as with solid and dynamic knowledge and experience. It will be designed to foster participatory and practical business education, as flexible learning spaces will encourage mastery of information and greater collaboration.

A center for Entrepreneurship will include an incubator for “start-up” companies, which builds on the Small Business Development Center. Today’s students are tech-savvy learners, collaborative thinkers and enterprising leaders. They rely on digital communication and need flexible classroom spaces.

The new home of SUU’s School of Business will be constructed with state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and technology in order to meet the needs of its students and prepare business leaders for the future.

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