The Utah Board of Higher Education today approved updated strategic reinvestment plans from the University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State University, clearing the way for all public degree-granting institutions in the Utah System of Higher Education to advance their proposals to the Legislature for review.
These updated approvals follow conditional approvals granted in June by the board, after which the three institutions worked closely with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to add further detail and refine their reallocations.
As with the reinvestment plans approved in June for other institutions, these updated proposals outline how each university will reallocate funding from administrative efficiencies, underutilized courses and lower-priority areas into high-impact instruction, critical research and workforce-aligned programs such as nursing, engineering and artificial intelligence, among many others.
“We challenged our institutions to think boldly and strategically about how to direct resources toward the greatest impact for students and the state,” said Amanda Covington, chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education. “These updated plans reflect that systemwide commitment. From healthcare and STEM fields to timely degree completion and career readiness, Utah’s public colleges and universities are ensuring that strategic reinvestment translates directly into stronger educational quality and outcomes.”
Highlights of the updated plans include:
- University of Utah – 95% of reinvestment allocations are directed to instruction and research, resulting in an 82% net increase in reallocations to those areas.
- Utah State University – Over 83% of reinvestment allocations are dedicated to instruction, representing about an 18% net increase, with approval conditional on review by the university’s next president.
Weber State University – Nearly 75% of reinvestment allocations directed to instruction, representing an 8% net increase, with investments in science, health professions, business, and emerging technologies.
Systemwide, more than 85% of all reinvestment dollars, almost $52 million, support instruction and research, with a net increase of nearly $24 million in those areas. Notable investments across USHE include healthcare programs, STEM fields, expanded technical education capacity, and initiatives aimed at improving student success.
With the Board’s approvals finalized, all USHE Strategic Reinvestment Plans will be presented to the legislative Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee on August 19, 2025, and subsequently to the Education Appropriations Subcommittee for statutory approval. Upon final legislative approval, reinvestment funds will be appropriated to institutions to advance these strategies over the coming years.
Institutional summaries and reinvestment plans from the meeting today can be found here and are available here for the June meeting.