January 24-28, 2022
Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee (HEAS) continued its meetings this week and received presentations from all technical and community college institutions. Below are links to the technical institutions’ presentations:
- Bridgerland Technical College
- Dixie Technical College
- Davis Technical College
- Mountainland Technical College
- Ogden-Weber Technical College
- Salt Lake Tech (SLCC)
- Snow College Tech
- Southwest Technical College
- Tooele Technical College
- Uintah Basin Technical College
- Southeastern Technical Education (USU)
Below are links to the Community College institutions’ presentations:
The subcommittee also heard updates from the Commissioner on several Utah Board of Higher Education initiatives. Vice Chair Nina Barnes participated in Friday’s presentation on behalf of the Board. The Learn & Work and Talent Ready Utah initiatives allow USHE institutions to provide tuition assistance to qualifying students and create, expand, and align short- and long-term workforce training solutions throughout the state of Utah.
In support of the Board’s access goal to increase the college-going rate of Utah high school graduates by 10% in 10 years, the Utah College Advising Corps is working towards this goal as they create a college-going culture by implementing more access to advisors on public education campuses. As a result of the recent expansion, 43% of students are completing FAFSA forms (+5% increase), 77% are applying to college, and 30% of parents are engaged with their childrens’ educational future.
Keys to Success also presented to the subcommittee on its partnership with USHE and its mobile application used in conjunction with Utah College Advising Corps. The app helps students earn and redeem points for prizes by researching pertinent information on scholarships, internships, and college. As of right now, we are seeing 92,500+ students enrolled and reaping the benefits of this app’s ability to eventually give scholarships, tuition assistance, and tuition waivers.
The remaining institutions to present next week are scheduled as follows:
- Tuesday, February 1, 8:00 AM: University of Utah; Utah State University
- Thursday, February 3, 8:00 AM: Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University
Legislation of Interest:
HB 96 – Government Records Amendments by Rep. Johnson — modifies provisions of the Government Records Access and Management Act, allowing a government entity to charge a fee for repeat requestors. The bill passed the House Government Operations Committee and awaits consideration by the full House.
HB 226 – Higher Education and Corrections Council by Rep. Snow — establishes a council to advise the Utah Board of Higher Education regarding postsecondary education in Utah’s prisons. The council is also responsible for analyzing the outcomes of prison education. The bill awaits a committee hearing.
SB 32 – Utah K-12 Reading Clinic by Sen. Millner — codifies the Utah K-12 Reading Clinic at the University of Utah. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee.
SB 42 – Higher Education Performance Funding Goals by Sen. Millner — codifies five-year performance goals for the Utah System of Higher Education and each institution of higher education. This bill has passed in the Senate and is currently with the House Education Committee.
SB 71 – Financial Education and Savings Plan to Benefit At-Risk Children by Sen. Fillmore — creates the Parental Coaching to Encourage Student Savings Program that would provide financial training to parents of children experiencing intergenerational poverty, encourage the parents to save money for their child’s higher education expenses, and offer a financial contribution to a my529 savings account.
SB 143 – Office of Student Health Affairs by Sen. Kathleen Riebe — creates the Office of Student Health Affairs within the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate services provided by the department with public and higher education throughout the state. The bill awaits a committee hearing.
