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CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) -- Always rivals in the sports arena, Southern Utah University and Dixie State College are forming a new partnership to enhance education opportunities in southern Utah.
Presidents from both schools sent a letter detailing their plans to Utah's System of Higher Education Commissioner Richard Kendall this week.
The plan includes identifying academic programs in demand across Washington County that SUU can provide and securing a St. George location for classes.
Among the areas of study already identified are teacher education, math, history, art, chemistry, family and consumer science and several foreign languages.
"I feel very good about this," SUU President Michael T. Benson said. "We want people to know that we're on the same page and that we're working toward the same goals. It makes perfect sense for both of us."
The Utah Legislature helped pave the way for cooperation by adding $425,000 to each school's budget during the 2007 session. The funds were earmarked for a partnership program and made "all the difference in the world, said Lee Caldwell, president of Dixie College.
The schools hope to kickoff the partnership program with several classes when school begins in the fall.
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Information from: The Spectrum, http://www.thespectrum.com
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
