2017 Legislature approves top 3 Regents’ building priorities
The 2017 Legislature approved funding for the top three priorities of the state-funded capital facilities requests of the Utah State Board of Regents. Each year, the Regents re-evaluate the capital facilities needs of USHE institutions. This prioritization is conducted after an extensive evaluation process including project site visits by the Capital Facilities Committee, space inventories, and […]
In 2015-16, USHE awarded the most degrees ever in its history
The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) has tabulated the total degrees and certificates awarded annually by Utah’s public institutions. In 2015-16, the most recent complete academic year, USHE institutions awarded the most degrees ever in its history. The details of the certificate and degrees awarded data are available in the USHE Data Book, published […]
Governor Herbert announces $2.1M in available Talent Ready Utah grants
At the Capitol Rotunda on March 21, 2017, Governor Gary Herbert unveiled the Talent Ready Utah initiative, including the accompanying grant program. Talent Ready Utah grants, formerly known as the Utah Cluster Acceleration Partnership (UCAP), has more than $2.1 million in grant funding available for the purpose of developing and enhancing programs to meet industry needs, […]
New pilot program to raise awareness of student debt
The Utah System of Higher Education worked with the 2017 Utah Legislature to adopt a new statewide program aimed at increasing awareness of student debt. Even though Utah students comparatively accrue the least amount of debt in the country, more awareness of student debt is needed. Some background on student debt in Utah: Utah has […]
Summary of the 2017 Legislative Session
The 2017 Legislative Session concluded on March 9, 2017. There were over 100 bills impacting public higher education during the 2017 Legislative Session on a variety of issues including mental health, student debt and student privacy. Commissioner Buhler will provide a more exhaustive report on the 2017 Session, including budgetary impacts, at the meeting of the […]
SLCC hosts third-annual Title IX Symposium
Last Friday, March 3, Salt Lake Community College hosted the third annual Title IX Symposium at its Jordan campus. This year’s event, Not Alone: Best Practices and Building Bridges Towards Inclusivity, featured a keynote by Liz Seccuro, who is an author, activist, and rape survivor. She spoke about the current crisis of gender-based violence, what we’ve […]
2017 Legislative Update – Week 6
2017-2018 Budget The Executive Appropriations Committee approved its first round of funding items on Friday. For higher education, initial items include: Compensation: 2% labor market adjustment increase (plus funding for health insurance rate increases), with the ratio of funding at 75% from state funds and 25% of tuition funds. Student Enrollment Growth: $3.5 million ongoing for […]
Higher ed in Utah is efficient, innovative and collaborative
*This op-ed from Commissioner David Buhler ran in the Deseret News on Sunday, February 26, 2017. In response to the recent editorial in the Deseret News, Utahns can be pleased that our eight public colleges and universities are the envy of the nation when it comes to scalable collaboration, innovation, and efficiency. Part of what […]
Making campus advocates confidential may help increase reporting & access to services
House Bill 251, Campus Advocate Confidentiality Amendments, by Rep. Angela Romero, prohibits the disclosure of confidential communications related to advocacy services at a Utah institution of higher education. As of today, the bill passed the House and has been sent to the Senate Rules Committee. Why do campus advocates need confidentiality? Currently, students and survivors on […]
2017 Legislative Update – Week 5
2017-2018 Budget With revised revenue projections announced last week, significant budget decisions continue to loom before a final budget takes shape. There is still a lot of work on the budget as well as several bills that continue their march through the legislative process. Legislation of Interest HB 100, Institutions of Higher Education Disclosure Requirements […]
