Utah Board of Higher Education Meeting: Tuition and Fees

Utah Board of Higher Education

Utah System of Higher Education

Friday, March 27, 2026

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES

Board Members Present

Amanda Covington, Chair

Jon Cox, Vice Chair

Javier Chavez Jr.

Jeremy Hafen

Jodi Hart

Danny Ipson

Garrett Largent

Steve Neeleman

Aaron Skonnard

Cydni Tetro

Board Members Absent

Office of the Commissioner

Geoff Landward, Commissioner

Alison Adams, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board

Trisha Dugovic, Director of Communication

Brynn Fronk, Executive Assistant to the Utah Board of Higher Education

Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist

Katie Mazzie, Associate Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives, Community and Government Relations

Natalie Reidhead, Administrative Assistant

Brian Shuppy, Senior Assistant Commissioner for Budget and Planning

Angie Stallings, Deputy Commissioner and COO

Nate Talley, Deputy Commissioner and CFO

Melissa Van Hien, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and Office Manager

Trevor Cross, Systems Administrator

Institutional Presidents Present

Mindy Benson, Southern Utah University

Darin Brush, Davis Technical College

Clay Christensen, Mountainland Technical

College

Leslie Durham, Weber State University (Interim)

Stacee McIff, Snow College

Brad Mortensen, Utah State University

Taylor Randall, University of Utah

Greg Peterson, Salt Lake Community College

Shane Smeed, Utah Tech University

Jim Taggart, Ogden Weber Technical College

(interim)

Aaron Weight, Uintah Basin Technical College

Other Guests

Kimberly Adamson, Associate Vice President for Finance for the Academic Enterprise, University of

Utah

Kedric Black, Associate Vice President for Finance/GRAMA, Utah Valley University

Stephanie Carter, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Uintah Basin Technical College

Arnab Chakraborty, Dean of the College of Architecture + Planning, University of Utah

Maddie Clements, Community Outreach Representative, Congressman Owens’ Office

Dave Cowley, Vice President for Finance and Adminstrative Services, Utah State University

Kyle Cullimore, Student Body President, Utah Valley University

Roena Mae Delfin, Student Association President, Salt Lake Community College

Chris Farr, Assistant Director for Internal Audit, Utah Valley University

Mia Foster, Student Body President, Weber State University

Carson Hadley, Student Body President, Snow College

Mark Halverson, Vice President of Administrative Services, Weber State University

Marissa King, Sr. Director of Student Leadership and Involvement, Utah Valley University

Frankie Laanan, Dean of the College of Education, University of Utah

Landon Lee, Student Body President, Southern Utah University

Deven Macdonald, Board of Trustees Chair, Utah Tech University

Brandi Mair, Chief of Staff and Chief Administrative Officer, Salt Lake Community College

Darren Marshall, Associate Vice President of Budget Services and Financial Planning, Salt Lake

Community College

Kirk Michaelis, Vice President of Administrative Services, Mountainland Technical College

Mitzi Montoya, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Utah

Paul Morris, Vice President of Administrative Affairs, Utah Tech University

Jim Mortensen, Vice President for Finance and Auxiliary Services, Utah Valley University

Clinton Painter, Board of Trustees, Snow College

Alexis Palmer, Associate Vice President for Student Life, Utah Valley University

Val Peterson, Vice President of Administration and Strategic Relations, Utah Valley University

Keith Radley, Professor, University of Utah

Shellsea Ramirez, Student Body President, Utah Tech University

Alex Rose, Student Body President, University of Utah

Eric Schmutz, Board of Trustees Chair, Southern Utah University

Randy Shumway, Board of Trustees, University of Utah

Scott Smith, Board of Trustees Chair, Utah Valley University

Brandon Sorensen, Student Body President, Utah State University

Tim Tingey, Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services, Snow College

Keith Titus, Board of Trustees Chair, Weber State University

Peter VanderHeide, Senior Director for Internal Audit, Utah Valley University

Wayne Vaught, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Utah Valley University

Tessa White, Board of Trustees Chair, Utah State University

Scott Wood, Senior Director for Budgets, Utah Valley University

Chair Amanda Covington called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.

Committee of the Whole

Student Body Presidents

Board member Largent shared that the institutional student body presidents met at the Capitol during

the legislative session. They toured the building, met with legislators, and attended a Higher Education

Appropriations Committee meeting. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Commissioner’s Office Introduction

Nate Talley introduced the tuition and fees proposals to the Board members. This was an information

item only; no action was taken.

Board Policy Updates

Nate Talley presented the proposed changes to policies R510 and R516.

Board member Ipson moved to approve the amendments to Board Policy R510 as

proposed. Board member Hart seconded the motion, and the Board members in

attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Board member Neeleman moved to approve the amendments to Board Policy R516. He

further moved that subsequent Board action taken on AY 2026-27 general fee schedules

require institutional reporting and Commissioner’s office verification of compliance with

R516 food pantry provisions by July 1, 2026. Board member Tetro seconded the motion,

and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

USHE Technical College Tuition and Fee Requests, Public Comment, and Board Action

Commissioner’s Office Technical College Tuition and Fees Recommendations

Nate Talley reviewed the Technical College tuition and general fees request and the Commissioner’s

Recommendations with the Board members.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Chair Covington moved to approve:

1. 2. 3. 4. The Ogden-Weber Technical College and, subject to future Board action, the

Mountainland Technical College net-neutral, fee-to-tuition conversions;

The proposed adjustments to technical college differential tuition schedules;

The Utah State University and, subject to future Board action, the technical

education tuition and fee adjustments for Snow College; and

Remaining technical college tuition and fee schedules at current rates for AY

2026-27, subject to future Board action.

Board member Skonnard seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance

voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Board member Skonnard moved to direct the Commissioner’s Office, in collaboration

with technical college presidents, to conduct an interim study on technical college

student-paid revenue sources, including base tuition, differential tuition, course and

program fees, materials fees, and other miscellaneous student fees. He further moved to

direct the Commissioner’s office to report the study results and corresponding

recommendations for AY 2027-2028 tuition and fee schedules to the Board no later than

October 2026. Board member Chavez Jr. seconded the motion, and the Board members

in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Mountainland Technical College

President Christensen and Kirk Michaelis presented Mountainland Technical College’s tuition and fee

increase proposal. Board member Ipson requested more information regarding the waitlist, which

President Christensen said he could share with Board members by email. The Board members debated

whether or not to grant the institution’s request.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Board member Hafen moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee

adjustments as requested by Mountainland Technical College. Vice Chair Cox seconded

the motion, and Board members Neeleman and Chavez Jr. voted in favor. All other Board

members in attendance voted to oppose the motion. The motion did not pass.

Uintah Basin Technical College

President Weight and Stephanie Carter presented Uintah Basin Technical College’s tuition and fees

increase proposal and answered questions from Board members.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Vice Chair Cox moved to proceed to the next item on the agenda. Board member

Skonnard seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted

unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

USHE Degree-Granting Tuition and Fee Requests, Public Comment, and Board Action

Southern Utah University

Nate Talley introduced Southern Utah University’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed the

Commissioner’s recommendation. President Mindy Benson, Trustee Chair Eric Schmutz, and Student

Body President Landon Lee presented the proposal and then addressed questions from Board members.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Board member Tetro moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee

adjustments, including adjustments to differential schedules, as requested by Southern

Utah University. Board member Hart seconded the motion, and the Board members in

attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Utah Tech University

Nate Talley introduced Utah Tech University’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed the

Commissioner’s recommendation. President Smeed, Trustee Chair Deven Macdonald, Paul Morris, and

Student Body President Shellsea Ramirez presented the proposal and answered questions from the

Board. The Board members requested a timeline and metrics for the Union Building, which President

Smeed noted he will present to the Board in the future.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Chair Covington moved to approve a 4.36% increase in tuition, including any related

general fee-to-tuition conversions, and a 6.73% decrease in general fees for Utah Tech

University, resulting in a combined tuition and fee increase of 2.80%. She further moved

to require Utah Tech to report annually on its progress toward the student union road

map and deliverables. She also moved to authorize Utah Tech University to work with the

Commissioner to make any subsequent technical adjustments, including rounding and

tuition schedule exclusions, necessary to finalize the increase prior to implementation by

the institution. Board member Neeleman seconded the motion, and the Board members

in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Snow College

Nate Talley introduced Snow College’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed the

Commissioner’s recommendation. President McIff, Trustee Chair Clinton Painter, Tim Tingey, and

Student Body President Carson Hadley presented Snow College’s tuition and fees increase proposal.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Board member Skonnard moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee

adjustments as requested by Snow College. Board member Chavez Jr. seconded the

motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion

passed.

Utah Valley University

Nate Talley introduced Utah Valley University’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed the

Commissioner’s recommendation. Wayne Vaught, Scott Wood, Jim Mortensen, and Student Body

President Kyle Cullimore presented UVU’s tuition and fees increase proposal.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Vice Chair Cox moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee adjustments as

requested by Utah Valley University. Board member Hafen seconded the motion, and the

Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Salt Lake Community College

Nate Talley introduced Salt Lake Community College’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed

the Commissioner’s recommendation. President Peterson and Student Body President Roena Mae

Delfin presented Salt Lake Community College’s tuition and fees increase proposal.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Board member Hart moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee adjustments

as requested by Salt Lake Community College. Board member Skonnard seconded the

motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion

passed.

Weber State University

Nate Talley introduced the Weber State University’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed the

Commissioner’s recommendation. Interim President Leslie Durham and Mark Halverson then

presented the proposal. The Board discussed the differences between the Commissioner’s

recommendation and Weber State’s proposal.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Student Body President Mia Foster presented the student fees and took questions from the Board.

Board member Tetro moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee adjustments

as requested by Weber State University. Board member Skonnard seconded the motion,

and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Utah State University

Nate Talley introduced the Utah State University’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed the

Commissioner’s recommendation. President Brad Mortensen, Student Body President Brandon

Sorensen, and Trustee Chair Tessa White presented the proposal and addressed questions from Board

members.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Vice Chair Cox moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee adjustments as

requested by Utah State University, with the following general fee revisions where

applicable:

• An Athletic Fees increase by 4.3% to $240.47

• A Campus Recreation Fees increase by 7.67% to $112.32

Chair Covington seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted

unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

University of Utah

Nate Talley introduced the University of Utah’s tuition and fees increase proposal and reviewed the

Commissioner’s recommendation. President Randall, Trustee Vice Chair Randy Shumway, Student

Body President Alex Rose, and Kimberly Adamson presented the proposal.

Chair Covington called for public comment, but none were made.

Board member Skonnard moved to approve the proposed tuition and general fee

adjustments, including adjustments to differential schedules, as requested by the

University of Utah. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in

attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Board member Ipson moved to adjourn. Board member Tetro seconded the motion. The

Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 2:29 p.m.