Utah Tech University

Utah Tech University
	Seal of Utah Tech University
Former names	St. George Stake Academy; (1911–1913); Dixie Academy; (1913–1916); Dixie Normal College; (1916–1923); Dixie Junior College; (1923–1970); Dixie College ; (1970–2000); Dixie State College; (2000–2013); Dixie State University; (2013–2022)
Motto	Active Learning, Active Life
Type	Public university
Established	September 19, 1911
Parent institution	Utah System of Higher Education; State of Utah
Accreditation	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
President	Richard ("Biff") Williams (since July 2014)
Academic staff	423
Students	12,556 (Fall 2022)
Undergraduates	12,481 (Fall 2022)
Postgraduates	75 (Fall 2022)
Location	St. George, Utah; (county seat of surrounding; Washington County),; Utah's Dixie region, Utah, U.S.A.; 37°06′16.1″N 113°33′54.7″W / 37.104472°N 113.565194°W
Campus	Urban; * Dixie (main) campus: 100.11 acres (41 ha); * Off-campus property: 97.1 acres (39 ha)
Colors	Red, navy blue, and white;
Nickname	Trailblazers; (previously "The Rebels")
Sporting affiliations	National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); NCAA Division I; NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS); Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
Mascot	"Brooks the Bison"
Website	www.utahtech.edu

Utah Tech University (UT), formerly known as the Dixie State University (DSU), is a polytechnic four-year public university in St. George, Utah, in southwest Utah (also known by the longtime nickname of "Utah's Dixie" region).^[1] UT offers doctoral degrees, master's degrees, bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and certifications.^[5] As of fall 2022, there are 12,556 students enrolled at UT.^[6]

The institution began as the St. George Stake Academy, founded in 1911 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and sponsored by its local stake. In 1935, it became a state school of the Utah System of Higher Education.^[7] From 1923 until 1970 it was a two-year junior college named Dixie Junior College, and from 1970 until 2000 it was four-year Dixie College.^[7] From 2000 until 2013 it was named Dixie State College, and from 2013 until 2022 it was Dixie State University. In 2021, after continued controversy over the use of the term "Dixie" in the school's name, the Utah State Legislature and the Governor of Utah approved the bill that allowed the school to be renamed as Utah Tech (UT).^[8]

UT's 16 athletic teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and have been known since 2016 as the Trailblazers. UT was reclassified from Division II to Division I in 2019^[9] and joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in the 2020–2021 season.^[10] When the Trailblazers were in NCAA Division II, the football team had been part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference since 2014,^[11] while the Women's Swimming team competed in the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference,^[12] and the school's 14 other athletic teams competed in the PacWest Conference.^[13]

^ ^a ^b "Mission, Core Themes, and Values". Utah Tech University. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
^ "Richard Williams Named New Dixie State University President". Utah System of Higher Education. July 17, 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Institutional Data Resources: Headcount". Utah System of Higher Education.
^ "Utah Tech University Branding Guide". Retrieved August 6, 2023.
^ "Utah Tech University APPROVED NUMBER OF PROGRAMS". utahtech.edu. June 2, 2021.
^ "USHE enrollment grows at degree-granting colleges and universities". Utah System of Higher Education. October 17, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Alder, Douglas. "About Utah Tech". Utah Tech University. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
^ Tanner, Courtney (November 10, 2021). "Dixie State gets final approval from Utah lawmakers to drop contentious name". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
^ "Dixie State Athletics Officially Moves To NCAA Division I". KSL Sports. July 1, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
^ "Dixie State will cap its move to Division I athletics by joining the Western Athletic Conference". The Salt Lake Tribune. January 11, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
^ "Dixie State football to join Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference". dixieathletics.com. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
^ "Dixie State announces addition of women's swim team". dixieathletics.com. March 18, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
^ "Dixie State must decide – to stay, or to go?". The Spectrum. July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2016.

[Mission-1] "Mission, Core Themes, and Values". Utah Tech University. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

[2] "Richard Williams Named New Dixie State University President". Utah System of Higher Education. July 17, 2014.

[USHE_Headcount-3] "Institutional Data Resources: Headcount". Utah System of Higher Education.

[4] "Utah Tech University Branding Guide". Retrieved August 6, 2023.

[5] "Utah Tech University APPROVED NUMBER OF PROGRAMS". utahtech.edu. June 2, 2021.

[6] "USHE enrollment grows at degree-granting colleges and universities". Utah System of Higher Education. October 17, 2022.

[About-7] Alder, Douglas. "About Utah Tech". Utah Tech University. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2017.

[UTApproval-8] Tanner, Courtney (November 10, 2021). "Dixie State gets final approval from Utah lawmakers to drop contentious name". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2021.

[9] "Dixie State Athletics Officially Moves To NCAA Division I". KSL Sports. July 1, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2022.

[auto1-10] "Dixie State will cap its move to Division I athletics by joining the Western Athletic Conference". The Salt Lake Tribune. January 11, 2019. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2021.

[11] "Dixie State football to join Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference". dixieathletics.com. Retrieved September 15, 2016.

[12] "Dixie State announces addition of women's swim team". dixieathletics.com. March 18, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2016.

[13] "Dixie State must decide – to stay, or to go?". The Spectrum. July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2016.

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Seal of Utah Tech University
Former names	St. George Stake Academy (1911–1913) Dixie Academy (1913–1916) Dixie Normal College (1916–1923) Dixie Junior College (1923–1970) Dixie College (1970–2000) Dixie State College (2000–2013) Dixie State University (2013–2022)
Motto	Active Learning, Active Life
Type	Public university^[1]
Established	September 19, 1911; 113 years ago (1911-09-19)
Parent institution	Utah System of Higher Education State of Utah
Accreditation	Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
President	Richard ("Biff") Williams (since July 2014)^[2]
Academic staff	423
Students	12,556 (Fall 2022)^[3]
Undergraduates	12,481 (Fall 2022)^[3]
Postgraduates	75 (Fall 2022)^[3]
Location	St. George, Utah (county seat of surrounding Washington County), Utah's Dixie region , Utah , U.S.A. 37°06′16.1″N 113°33′54.7″W / 37.104472°N 113.565194°W / 37.104472; -113.565194
Campus	Urban * Dixie (main) campus: 100.11 acres (41 ha) * Off-campus property: 97.1 acres (39 ha)
Colors	Red, navy blue, and white^[4]
Nickname	Trailblazers (previously "The Rebels")
Sporting affiliations	National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
Mascot	"Brooks the Bison"
Website	www.utahtech.edu