Polytechnic-Focused Dixie State University to Offer Technology Skills Training to All Students, Faculty and Staff

Dixie State University in Utah has partnered with technology workforce development company Pluralsight to help boost students' technology-based skills. The deal will give all DSU students, faculty and staff free, unlimited access to Pluralsight Skills, a collection of online courses and hands-on learning experiences on topics such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, data science and software development. University alumni will also have access to the training at a discounted price.

DSU is in the midst of rebranding itself as Utah Tech University, a name meant to represent its comprehensive polytechnic academic mission. The new partnership will further its goal to "establish the university as an institution where students can advance their future career opportunities before even graduating," according to a news announcement.

"We're excited to partner with Pluralsight to provide all our students, faculty and staff with unlimited access to the entire library of technology courses available on Pluralsight Skills," said Michael Lacourse, vice president of academic affairs, in a statement. "Through this extraordinary partnership, all DSU students are now able to supplement their primary degree program with specialized tech skills."

Pluralsight will also establish a Center of Excellence that will provide additional support and training for faculty. The center will help "ensure students are receiving the latest and best technology instruction from faculty that supplements their experience with Pluralsight Skills," the announcement said.

"Pluralsight is thrilled to partner with DSU as an important part of the school's evolution as they prepare to transition to become Utah Tech University in the coming months," commented Gary Eimerman, general manager of Pluralsight Skills. "With access to on-demand assessment and training including hands-on learning experiences taught by the world's leading experts, students and faculty will have the necessary tools to develop crucial technology skills in an increasingly tech-driven world."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Digital clouds with data points and network connections

    Microsoft Makes Windows 365 Cloud Apps Available for Public Preview

    Microsoft has announced that Windows 365 Cloud Apps are now available for public preview. This allows IT administrators to stream individual Windows applications from the cloud, removing the need to assign Cloud PCs to every user.

  • university building with classical architecture is partially overlaid by a glowing digital brain graphic

    NSF Invests $100 Million in National AI Research Institutes

    The National Science Foundation has announced a $100 million investment in National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes, part of a broader White House strategy to maintain American leadership as competition with China intensifies.

  • Hand holding a stylus over a tablet with futuristic risk management icons

    Why Universities Are Ransomware's Easy Target: Lessons from the 23% Surge

    Academic environments face heightened risk because their collaboration-driven environments are inherently open, making them more susceptible to attack, while the high-value research data they hold makes them an especially attractive target. The question is not if this data will be targeted, but whether universities can defend it swiftly enough against increasingly AI-powered threats.

  • school building connected by lines to symbols of AI, data charts, and a funding document with a dollar sign

    ED Issues Guidance on the Use of Federal Grant Funds to Support Learner Outcomes with AI

    In response to President Trump's April 23 Executive Order on advancing AI education, the United States Department of Education has issued new guidance on how K-12 and higher education institutions may use federal grant funds "to support improved outcomes for learners through the responsible integration of artificial intelligence."