Dixie State one signature away from name change after approval by Utah Legislature

A signature from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is all that stands between Dixie State University officially changing its name.

The HB2001 would rename the school to Utah Tech University, a name selected after a lengthy process, to replace the current name often associated with the U.S. Deep South and slavery outside of the Utah.

There has been resistance to the change, with residents citing “heritage” as one of the reasons to retain the name they claim is regionally significant and historic. The vote form Utah’s Senate joined earlier approval by the state’s House, both controlled by Republicans. Utah’s governor is also a Republican and a former lawmaker.

NOW: Utah Senate passes HB2001 “Utah Tech University” passes on a 17 to 12 vote.

That will be the new name of Dixie State University in St. George if Gov. Cox signs the bill. @KSL5TV @kslnewsradio @KSLcom pic.twitter.com/Sdm09dhEeY

— Ladd Egan (@laddegan) November 11, 2021

The school previously used the Civil War’s Confederacy images along with the name and once had its mascot as the Rebels. The school moved to the nickname Trailblazers in 2016 after changing to the Red Storm in 2009.

The change was motivated in part by students and graduates of the university who said in the wider job market, it was troublesome to explain the name and connotations of Dixie. In both chambers of the Utah Legislature Wednesday, some lawmakers spoke against the change and there was a recent paid media campaign to keep it.

DSU’s statement on the Utah State Legislature’s approval of Utah Tech University name

Dixie State University sincerely thanks the Utah State Legislature, Utah Board of Higher Education, DSU Board of Trustees, the Name Recommendation Committee and the countless individuals who work tirelessly to create the strongest educational environment possible for our students. The legislature’s vote to change the institution’s name to Utah Tech University provides us with a reputable name that highlights who we are as a comprehensive polytechnic university and helps set us up for continued success.

The University is committed to offering students a well-rounded quality education complete with active learning experiences and industry collaborations to successfully meet workforce demands. We will continue to offer and expand our programs in a wide variety of academic disciplines while placing a concentrated focus on the STEM, healthcare and business fields.

We look forward to building a Utah Tech University brand that will strongly represent what it means to be a Trailblazer while continuing to preserve the pioneering heritage of our institution and region. Pending the governor’s signature, the name Utah Tech University will become official on July 1, 2022. We will continue to provide updates and information regarding the name change process at dixie.edu/nameprocess.

Thank you, once again, to our legislative leaders and the numerous individuals across the entire state who participated in the name recommendation process over the last year and a half.