USHE hosts first annual joint access & completion retreat
On April 21, 2017, the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) hosted a retreat on college access and completion at the Leonardo in Salt Lake City. Higher ed enthusiasts including USHE institution faculty, staff, and administrators, representatives from community and state organizations such as United Way and the Department of Workforce Services, and public ed supporters […]
USHE institutions hold prevention and awareness activities during Sexual Assault Awareness Month
During the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, public colleges and universities throughout Utah hosted a variety of events designed to raise awareness of campus sexual assault. University of Utah The University of Utah held events during the month focused around their 2017 theme of “Engage Voices, Challenge Rape Culture” to help […]
State funding is key ingredient to Utah’s efficient colleges and universities
Springtime in higher ed brings the excitement of commencements, graduations, and post-college adventures. In the next few weeks, over 30,000 USHE students will be awarded certificates and degrees, a major lifetime accomplishment that will prepare them for their future. Less visibly, spring is also the time when state budgets across the country are adopted for […]
What percentage of Utah high school graduates go to college?

The Board of Regents adopted a ten-year strategic plan in 2016 focusing on three key objectives, one of which was Affordable Participation. The benchmark for this objective called for the rate of college participation among Utah high school graduates to increase to 75% five years after high school graduation. On average, 52% of Utah high […]
USHE initiative helps students earn meaningful credentials on their way to a degree
Timely Completion is one of the three strategic objectives named in the Board of Regents’ ten-year strategic plan, approved in January 2016. As part of the focus on completion, the Board requested institutions develop ways for students to complete certificates and associate degrees within the overall path to bachelor’s degrees. This concept is known as stackable […]
Utah college students debate the issues in the Utah Intercollegiate Legislature
Since the November election, political rhetoric has heated up in Utah and across the nation. On March 30-31, 2017, 25 highly motivated college students met at the Utah State Capitol to debate the most pressing issues impacting our communities. The Utah Intercollegiate Legislature is a legislative simulation hosted by Utah Campus Compact each spring to engage interested higher education […]
CollegeCon 2017
CollegeCon 2017 is a free one-day conference that allows parents and students the opportunity to explore college possibilities through booths, keynote speeches, and small-group breakout sessions. This year’s event, held at Davis High School on March 18, drew over 1,400 attendees. Representatives from the Utah System of Higher Education attended the event. Hundreds of students […]
Distance-delivered courses are mainstream: 40% of USHE students enroll in at least one distance-delivered course

40% of the 175,509 students enrolled at USHE institutions during the 2016-17 academic year take at least one distance-delivered course (courses in which 80% or more of the course is taught at a distance), significantly higher than the national average of 28%. Online courses are by far the most popular distance-delivered courses, and are the […]
Utah ranked #2 Best State for Higher Ed, but completion rate leaves room for improvement
Utah was named the #2 Best State for Higher Education by US News and World Report in their new rankings last month. This was determined by looking at a variety of factors, such as debt load, graduation rate, and cost. Utah also ranked as the 9th Best State for Education overall, which included both higher ed […]
Board of Regents to adopt major governance revisions in 2017
The 2017 Legislature adopted some of the most sweeping governance revisions for the Board of Regents since its establishment in 1969 through SB 238, Higher Education Governance Revisions (Millner/Wilson). The legislation puts into the law significant areas of existing policy and practice of the board, including board member selection, board duties, the selection of institution […]