Pros
The students and mission of the school. USU has many well established legacy programs of study. We are leaders in field ranging from agriculture aeronautics to teaching and spaceflight. We have many very capable senior and junior faculty who have well established teaching and research credentials. Service to the comunity has a high priority with many faculty. We have a talented and highly qualified staff, which supports the faculty and students with research, student life and acedemic programs. We have a mature and safe campus, with a conservative and hardworking student body. It is a safe place for new students, and a secure place for young families to finish acedemic studies. We have solid curriculums, with a real university's range of classes and areas of study. This school has been built over the last 120 years by dedicated professional educators, researchers and staff. I would recomend it to any family to investigate sending their students here. 3rd generation Aggie. I have been involved with the university for about 3 decades, as student, observer, and staff. My family has dozens of Aggie alums, Many have earned masters degrees and Doctorates here.
Cons
We have been afflicted with some poorly chosen administrators at several levels. Our present presedent is ok. His actions have not been enough to solve problems caused by a short time former president. Recent administrative decisions have resulted in the hiring of too many "stars", at too high of salaries, with special sweetheart deals. The Budgeting proceedures within the school have fallen apart, even before the recent recession.The new guys have starved solid programs to fatten up pet short term ventures. Over the last decade there has been a lack of respect within administration for legacy programs, solid teaching and scholarship.. This has resulted in a lack of 2 way communication within the heirarchy. And between layers of organization. And a lack of respect for the institution by the state legislature. We have suffered from a loss of teaching emphasis, many recent hires are damaging the school to build up personal resumes. this has resulted in a loss of morale within the long term employees and faculty. Also and perhaps more damaging, over the last decade recent changes to the tenure process has damaged teaching and imposed high costs due to high faculty turnover.
