Utah Valley University’s (UVU) School of the Arts (SOA) has partnered with the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy (BWA) to provide students, who meet certain qualifications, the opportunity to earn UVU college credit for their training at the Academy.
Pre-professional ballet students, who meet specific requirements and participate in a streamlined evaluation process, can earn college credit for their instruction and performance experience at the Academy, helping them fast-track their progress toward a college degree at UVU. They can apply their earned credits toward an associate degree in dance, paving the way to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).
“This partnership is a milestone in arts education and workforce development,” said Courtney Davis, dean of the School of the Arts at UVU. “By acknowledging the professional-level training students receive at Ballet West Academy, we’re not only supporting their academic and career goals — we’re creating a model for how institutions can honor the full spectrum of student achievement.”
The collaboration aligns with Utah’s statewide Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) workforce initiatives. CPL allows students to receive college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside the traditional college setting.
This program, beginning in Fall 2025, is among the first of its kind in the region, exemplifying how collaboration between arts institutions and higher education can drive meaningful progress toward educational equity and workforce alignment. The program supports USHE’s mission to improve access, equity, and college completion by recognizing diverse forms of learning and reducing time to degree.
