Instead of considering what might be best for eastern Utah, higher education officials are blaming CEU's enrollment and financial troubles on competition from the Southeast College of Applied Technology (SEATC), trustee Wayne Woodward said during a UCAT board meeting Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

"There is little or no competition between CEU and the SEATC," he said. "It's Utah State University that's CEU's real competitor."

Wednesday was the first time the UCAT board formally discussed the possible merger of the two schools. On Dec. 9, the state Board of Regents suggested a merger may be in order. The regents authorized a study - under the direction of Higher Education Commissioner Richard Kendell - to explore the pros and cons of merging CEU and the SEATC.

It's no secret that CEU has some unique circumstances, UCAT interim President Darrell White said. "The [regents'] proposal will look at more efficient ways to provide higher education services. We're happy to be a part of the study."

But Doyle Mortimer, representing the Mountainland applied tech school in Orem, is wary.

"If they start carving up the ATCs again, pretty soon, we're back to where we were," Mortimer said. "This has implications for all of us."

In 2003, concerns about costs and declining educational quality put the Richfield-based UCAT under control of Snow College. The new school is now Snow College-Richfield Campus. Still, there remain nine UCAT campuses from Logan to St. George.

Woodard said ATC trustees and administrators want the regents to recognize that SEATC serves a different population than CEU and has never offered the board-approved associate of applied technology degrees, which are not transferable to any other colleges.

"If the regents feel they can solve CEU's problems by turning it into Utah State University-Eastern Utah, that's fine," WoodÂard said. But it's frustrating. . . . It's a lot to do in six months and at the same time we are about to have a change in leadership at the top."

Last month, the regents announced the appointment of an 11-member search committee to assist the board in selecting a new UCAT president. White, who has been serving on a temporary basis, plans to retire March 31.

Miles Nelson, who oversees the SEATC campus in Price, agreed community needs ought to be the No. 1 priority. However, he added there shouldn't be any preconceived plans.

sykes@sltrib.com

College of Eastern Utah: What's at stake

The issue: The College of Eastern Utah has falling enrollment, is understaffed, and operates in a less-than-robust part of the state - while digging out from a $2.3 million deficit. Public school enrollment in Carbon and Emery counties has declined, so CEU must attract and retain 65 percent of its students from outside its immediate service area. CEU and the Southeast Applied Technology College (SEATC) are in Price, and Utah State University also operates an extension school in the area.

The proposal: Last month, the Utah Board of Regents authorized the state's higher education commissioner to explore the possibility of merging CEU and the SEATC - along with other options. As an applied tech school, SEATC provides training tailored specifically for businesses and industry work force needs, yet requires administrative assistance from CEU to remain viable.

What's next: A report and specific recommendations are to be made for CEU by June 30.