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"The Morrill Act 1862-2012: Celebrating 150 Years of Learning, Discovery and Engagement." Utah State University, founded in 1888, commemorates the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Morrill Act of 1862 that established the land-grant system of public colleges and universities.
The anniversary of the signing of the Morrill Act provides an occasion to celebrate the enduring power of the land-grant vision of higher education and to recognize Utah State University as one of the nation's premier land-grant institutions.
Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Science (hereafter University) is a landgrant university. The University campus is located in Logan, Utah; other educational centers are found throughout Utah and the world.
The University is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, and it appears on the approved lists of other member agencies and organizations of the National Commission on Accreditation. The University is governed by the State Board of Regents the Institutional Board of Trustees (hereafter Trustees), and the President of the University
Authorization to establish land-grant colleges or universities dates from the enactment of the Morrill Act by the Congress of the United States. The Morrill Act provided for grants of federal land to aid in the establishment of at least one college in each state to serve all the people. Creation of Utah State University as Utah's land-grant institution of higher education was authorized by the Utah Territorial Legislature's passage of the Lund Act.
(1) The Lund Act concurrently provided for appropriations for the establishment of the Agricultural College of Utah, and for an Agricultural Experiment Station, at a place in Cache County to be designated by the Board of Trustees.
(2) The State Legislative Act of March 6, 1915, authorized the Board of Trustees to enter into cooperative contracts with the United States Department of Agriculture, county or city officers, private and public organizations, and provided funds for cooperative extension work.
(1) Experiment stations. There is established an agricultural experiment station in connection with Utah State University. The station conducts research as provided by state and federal laws governing the establishment and maintenance of agricultural experiment stations. (Utah Code Annotated 1994, 53B-18-101)
3.3 Extension Service
(1) Extension service. There is established at Utah State University an agricultural extension service as provided in the federal Smith-Lever and Capper-Ketchum Acts and other federal laws. (Utah Code Annotated 1994, 53B-18-201)
(2) Cooperative contracts for expenses. The University may enter into cooperative contracts with the United States Department of Agriculture, county or city officers, private and public organizations, corporations and individuals, to share the expense of establishing and maintaining an agricultural extension service. The county legislative body of each county may provide sufficient funds to insure that the agricultural extension service functions properly in their respective counties. (Utah Code Annotated 1994, 53B-18-202)
Written by: Larry A. Sagers Extension Horticulture Specialist Utah State University Thanksgiving point Office
