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HERRIMAN — University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College leaders and state officials celebrated breaking ground for a new campus 10 years in the making that they say will bring critical educational opportunities to the fast-growing south end of Salt Lake County.
"It's the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Never before have two institutions at the Utah System of Higher Education shared a building together and broken ground together to create more seamless, affordable, efficient, quality partnerships in higher education for the students of Utah," Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin said Thursday, standing in front of the 90-acre field in Herriman that will house the Juniper Canyon Campus.
The two schools' pairing will create a simpler pathway for those who receive their associate's degree from SLCC to continue their education at the U., leaders say.
Huftalin noted that the Herriman-Riverton-Bluffdale area of the county is among the state's most rapidly growing communities, and it has a large number of residents who have attended some college but have not yet received their degrees.
The Herriman campus will help many new high school graduates and nontraditional students attend college affordably without a long commute. Those who go on to receive their bachelor's degree can then remain at the campus if they choose.
Several years ago, SLCC began offering courses in Herriman's former city hall building. Those classes filled quickly, Huftalin said, and will continue until the new campus opens in 2023.
Alvaro Martinez Jr., a recent graduate and former student body president at the college, described the support he received while working on his associate's degree and now working on his bachelor's degree at the U.
"After transferring, the U. welcomed me with open arms," Martinez said. "Both institutions provide endless opportunities for students to be involved."
The Utah Legislature this year appropriated $31.6 million for the new campus' first building, which will be dedicated to general education.
The site is near 14400 South and 4000 West — 30 acres were donated about 10 years ago by the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, and the rest was purchased from South Farm LLC, a real estate development arm of the foundation. Herriman invested millions into infrastructure improvements, including water and roads to prepare — despite the fact that it's a small city with a small budget, said Councilman Jared Henderson.
When the property was purchased, Herriman remained sparsely populated, and the land was surrounded by more fields, said Dr. Michael Good, U. interim president. But now, a "vibrant" community has sprouted up around the land.
About 64,000 people now call the city their home, but the population is expected to double in coming years, Henderson noted.
The new campus will be built "just in time" to meet educational demands and employment needs in the area, Good said.
SLCC students account for about 40% of transfer students that come to the U. each year, according to Good. Last year, they made up a third of students awarded bachelor degrees.
The Herriman campus will initially offer programs like business, information systems, social work, computer science and education, he said. Student services like admission counseling, academic advising and tutoring will also be on site.
Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, praised the institutions and the Legislature for joining Utah's "flagship" university with an important "workforce" college.
As he speaks with business owners across the state, Adams said he often hears of the difficulty finding qualified employees. He said the new campus will help keep growth sustainable.
"There's not a more important infrastructure I can think of than our kids, than the intellectual opportunity they'll have for the future," he said.
Senate Minority Leader Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, said partnerships between educational entities is what the state needs. For students who live in the area — like her own grandchildren — the new campus will provide a safer, more environmentally friendly commute, she said.
