 "Photo: Photo courtesy of Shannon Robinson")
The Alliance for Education among SUU, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park allow students and faculty to dream as far as their imagination will allow them.
“It is what we make it,” Brian Cottam, SUU Regional Services associate director said.
The agreement between SUU and Bryce Canyon was signed July 26, 2006. A similar agreement was made with Zion Nov. 12, 2008.
Cottam said the alliance’s agreement is only on paper until faculty and staff come up with an idea.
“Through these alliances we get better access,” he said. “It gets us through the bureaucracy quicker to figure how we can do something.”
There are not programs set in place to take advantage of the alliance. It is really up to the creativity of the faculty, students and staff saying, “I would like to do this” and “How can I do this with the parks?”
Wes Curtis, Government Relations and Regional Services vice president said the only limitation is people’s imagination.
“We want people to start thinking of Zion (National Park) as our southern campus and Bryce (Canyon) as our eastern campus,” he said.
However, these two men realize this may seem a bit insubstantial.
“Some people might hear that and say, ‘Well that is hollow, I can think of something great, but how do I get that done?’ ” Cottam said.
“They can always come to our office and say, ‘Here is my idea, can you help me talk to the person in the park or help figure this out to where this could be possible?’ ” he said.
Any student wishing to speak with Cottam and Curtis can find their offices in room 207 of the J.L. Sorenson Physical Education Building.
The staff at Regional Services wants the alliances to be utilized by the students. They do not limit their efforts to merely advice, but are also willing to direct students to the right places for funding.
“We’ve got a pretty good knowledge of what resources might be available,” Curtis said. “We are here to facilitate and assist anybody who sees an opportunity here.”
While these alliances allow students and faculty to come up with innovative research ideas and internships, there are programs in place which students can take advantage of.
One program that is in the process of being revitalized is an artist residence. In this program, an artist working on a master’s degree would set up a residence at Zion and work there for a semester.
One of the highlights of the alliance occurred in the past academic year with the centennial celebration at Zion. The art and design department had almost all of their students in the park.
The faculty and student artwork that came from that was displayed in the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery. It was also displayed down at the museum in the park.
There are also solid work experience opportunities within the alliances. Many of the internships available at Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon and other public lands are powered by the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative.
Steven McCarthy, SUU IIC agency coordinator, has helped place students from elementary to graduate level students in the public land services.
John Brunjes, an alumnus from Wilmington N.C., who graduated in outdoor recreation in parks and tourism, received a job as a park supervisor at Kershaw Ryan Nevada State Park after going through the program, McCarthy said.
McCarthy said Brunjes began by working in a practicum with the Bureau of Land Management for a class, received an internship and then worked as a seasonal going through the intern program.
Those seeking a degree in outdoor recreation in parks and tourism are not the only ones that can take advantage of the alliance and IIC. McCarthy said any student can get involved.
Students wishing to take advantage of the IIC and alliances should attend the Public Lands Employment Day Jan. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Sharwan Smith Student Center Living Room.
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