While it will take years for the school to evolve fully into a comprehensive regional university, the state Board of Regents, UVSC Trustees and administrators need to reach an agreement about resources needed to make the change over the next three to five years, the report said.

"It's difficult for the team to calculate a specific dollar amount, but we are firm in the belief that absent a commitment in excess of 10 million additional dollars over the next three to five years, a successful adaptation to university status will be seriously challenged," the report said.

The report was prepared by a team of three consultants led by Ken Mortimer of the Colorado-based National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

One of the requirements already has been met: During the 2006 Legislature, lawmakers gave UVSC $46 million to build a new digital library.

With the library in the works, UVSC President William Sederburg says the foundation of the new university has been set. He is especially pleased the consultant team doesn't anticipate the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities to object to a move to university status.

"The consultants were clear there should be no accreditation issues related to university status," he said. He anticipates UVSC being comparable to Weber State University - formally Weber State College.

While pointing to the needs and costs of UVSC becoming a university, the report noted the apparent demand for graduate programs at UVSC.

With its young and educated workforce, natural beauty and climate, Utah County has become a magnet for technology firms, retirees and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints returning to Utah, the report said.

Ample land for future development means there are no limits on growth in the near future, the report said, adding that "Brigham Young University's increasingly selective admissions policies remove it as an option for many local residents who seek undergraduate or graduate instruction."

Higher Education Commissioner Richard Kendell also pointed to Utah County's growth and its contributions to the state's business and economic development. "By following this blueprint over the next few years and securing needed financial resources, we can respond to the emerging needs of the community," he said.

sykes@sltrib.com