Utah Board of Higher Education

Virtual Conference via Zoom

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

Minutes

Executive Committee Members Present                    Executive Committee Members Absent

Amanda Covington, Chair

Steve Neeleman, MD, Vice Chair

Javier Chavez Jr.

Office of the Commissioner

Geoff Landward, Commissioner of Higher Education

Alison Adams, General Counsel and Board Secretary

Trisha Dugovic, Director of Communication

Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner of Talent Ready Utah

Nate Talley, Deputy Commissioner and CFO

Melissa Van Hien, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner

Chair Covington called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

Executive Committee Meeting

Talent Ready Initiatives

Vic Hockett highlighted the Talent Initiatives and Talent Advisory Councils, which S.B. 192 Higher Education Amendments created. The bill consists of the following parts:

1. Talent Initiatives created and approved by the Board of Higher Education.
2. Talent Advisory Councils approved and created by the Talent Board.
3. For the Talent Initiatives, the Board of Higher Education will use a corresponding Talent Advisory Council created by the Talent Board.

Chair Covington asked how legislative requests and policies roll up to the Board. Vic explained that this initiative and the councils fit well within our current processes. Nate Talley shared that as part of the new RFA process, they will be brought forward in a way that they’re contemplated as a system request or not, which means earlier engagement on the system’s end. Board member Chavez Jr. asked where the ultimate report is. Vic shared that it depends on the different funding streams. Moving forward, if they need to make any adjustments, they’re more than willing to provide the Utah Board of Higher Education with any report out. Vice Chair Neeleman asked if there was any reading to show the impact of the efforts. Vic is putting together a council charter, which includes the goals and purpose of each council that he will share with the Board.

Vice Chair Neeleman moved to develop the following Talent Initiatives in response to SB 192 and Utah Code 53B-34-110(2)(a):

1. Deep Technology Talent Initiatives;
2. Life Sciences Workforce Talent Initiative; and
3. Health Professions Talent Initiative.

Board member Chavez Jr. seconded the motion. The Executive Committee members in attendance voted unanimously in favor, and the motion passed.

Chair Covington moved to adjourn. Board member Chavez Jr. seconded the motion. The Executive Committee members in attendance voted unanimously in favor, and the motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 10:12 a.m.