A task force made up of officials from both schools will begin to work out the details of the proposed affiliation, which would need further approvals for it to become reality.

Dixie's new name, slated to be University of Utah, St. George, is not expected to be debated by the task force. The name was endorsed last week by the Dixie Board of Trustees, but some controversy remains among those who don't want "Dixie" dropped from the name.

"A large majority [of students] would like to see Dixie in the name," Jennifer Shakespeare, Dixie student body president, said Monday. But if it came down to the U. affiliation or losing Dixie, the students would support the U. partnership, she said.

Initiated by Dixie, the new partnership could transform the southern Utah school into a campus of the U. of U. That would mean Dixie's top administrator would be under the control of the U. president. By combining forces, the St. George school would theoretically be able to expand its academic offerings and receive infrastructure support.

The St. George school also would be known as the Dixie campus under the current proposal.

Just how much this would cost is unknown. Numbers may begin at $7 million, but could be more than twice that cost.

How the new entity would be managed needs to be "very clear," Utah Commissioner of Higher Education Richard Kendell said. The Utah Board of Regents, which must approve the partnership, will want to know how the affiliation fits into the state's system of higher education.

The chairman of the Dixie Board of Trustees, Shandon Gubler, said he anticipated a five- to nine-month exploration period but no set time frame exists. The partnership could be considered by the Legislature in the 2009 session.

"I don't want to . . . rush this," he said. "It's just too significant."

Some legislators have suggested they are ready to ask for initial funding for the partnership this session, Gubler said.

As for the issue of ceding control, the chairman said he didn't "harbor a feeling of protectionism for who gets what title."

Whatever happens, people will be watching the evolution of the schools' relationship, U. President Michael Young said.

"We are probably only going to have one chance to get this right," he said.

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* JULIA LYON can be contacted at jlyon@sltrib.com or 801-257-8748.