Seven years ago my family moved back to Utah.  After looking around the valley for a place to live we quickly fell in love with South Jordan. I had always wanted to get involved in the community but was never sure what the best way to do that would be.  One night I decided to find out more about my new home and when looking at the official city website I found out about South Jordan University. I was so excited to find that such a program exists! It just makes so much sense. Every city should really have a program like this! Furthermore, every elected official in the city should graduate from this program as a prerequisite to holding office!  

Don’t let the name fool you. When you enroll in South Jordan University you don’t have to worry about tuition, the course is totally free.  Don’t like taking tests? Not a problem! There are no tests or quizzes and there isn’t even any homework! Attendance isn’t a problem either since the class is only one night a week (typically on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30).  South Jordan University offers you an amazing opportunity to learn things about your city that you never knew before.

With all of the news stories and communications from the City Council about Mulligans lately, you may have started to feel like you live in Mulligans City!  Residents that attended South Jordan University within the last year may have been pleasantly surprised to find out that there is so much more to South Jordan than just Mulligans. The course runs eight weeks and highlights approximately 20 different departments within the city including: 

The Spring Session of South Jordan University is currently in progress but you can still register to attend the Fall Session which typically begins in late August or early September. You can register by going to www.sjc.utah.gov/southjordanuniversity.asp or calling the city at (801) 254-3742.

South Jordan University is run by Melinda Nagai, the Associate Director of Administrative Services for South Jordan City.  Melinda is one of the many exceptional employees that help make South Jordan a great place to live and she brings that exceptionalism to this program. South Jordan University has been in place since 2007, has graduated more than 300 participants, and in 2010 received the “Making Democracy Work” award!  

I want to take this opportunity to also follow up my South Valley Journal article from March of 2013 titled “Do We Need To Be Compelled To Do Good Things?”  In that article I wrote about the unfunded mandate for certain businesses to provide public access defibrillators. I’m pleased to announce that earlier this month the City Council voted to establish a rebate program for businesses that complied. Hurry though!  You only have 90 days to apply for the rebate!