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Utah Board of Higher Education Strategic Plan

Access

Completion

Financial
Value

Economic
Development

Our Vision

Utah is an innovative global leader in providing world-class higher education and advancing research that enhances the quality of life in the state.

Our Mission

USHE operates cohesively across the state’s 16 public colleges and universities to provide valuable education that meets workforce needs and enhances the wellbeing and prosperity of all Utahns.

View Our Progress

2024-27 Strategic Plan

The Utah Board of Higher Education approved its 2024-27 Strategic Plan on August 30, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and accessibility of higher education.

The plan aligns with the Board’s vision to become a global leader in higher education and research. It also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between higher education institutions, industry partners, and state agencies. By fostering these partnerships, the Board aims to ensure that Utah’s higher education system is not only responsive to the current needs of students and the workforce but also proactive in addressing future challenges. 

Access

Increase the college-going rate of high school grads by 3% by the conclusion of academic year 2026-27.*

Strategies & Tactics

  • In coordination with the Utah State Board of Education and key government and industry partners, ensure the successful deployment of the First Credential Program.
  • In coordination with the Utah State Board of Education and other stakeholders, develop and implement comprehensive practices that ensure more K-12 students and adult learners pursue additional education after high school and enhance their career opportunities.

*This access goal uses academic year 2021-22 as the baseline, when the share of Utah high school graduates who enrolled in a USHE institution within three years was 53.65%. This access goal also informs performance funding. Visit ushe.edu/attainment-dashboards for data visualizations.

Completion

Increase timely completion of degrees and awards by 3% by the conclusion of academic year 2026-27.*

Strategies & Tactics

  • Assist and incentivize institutions to develop appropriate sub-120-credit hour bachelor’s degrees.
  • Facilitate transfer and completion among institutions within the System by strengthening credential progession, requiring meaningful articulation, and completing the transition from clock to credit hours in technical education.
  • Incentivize timely completion by ensuring that performance funding is invested in interventions that advance progress toward institutional timely completion goals.

*This completion goal uses academic year 2021-2022 as the baseline, when the share of entering students who complete their programs within 150% of expected time was 48.8%. This completion goal also informs performance funding. Visit ushe.edu/attainment-dashboards for data visualizations.

Financial Value

Maximize the return on investment and value proposition of a USHE education for all stakeholders.

Strategies & Tactics

  • Develop, implement, and report outcomes of new shared service functions, with a focus on legislatively prioritized areas of technology, human resources, Title IX, and commercialization and areas that are most likely to result in budget savings, cost avoidance, and/or improved services.
  • Study and develop best practices related to efficient utilization of existing spaces and ensure new capital development investments are aligned with System and institutional long-term plans and strategies.

Economic Development

Leverage higher education to fortify the state’s economy, grow and develop industries, enhance Utahns’ quality of life, and position the state as an innovative leader in the global economy.

Strategies & Tactics

  • Incentivize high-yield awards by providing students the most relevant and meaningful information about labor market outcomes.
  • Ensure that performance funding is invested in interventions that advance progress toward institutional timely high-yield goals.
  • Develop legislative priorities, policies, and funding requests for workforce development initiatives.
  • Develop and promote workforce initiatives in collaboration with public education, industry, and state agencies.

*This high-yield graduates goal uses academic year 2021-2022 as the baseline, when the share of graduates from programs leading to in-demand jobs was 71.2%. This high-yield graduates goal informs performance funding. This completion goal also informs performance funding. Visit ushe.edu/attainment-dashboards for data visualizations.

Download the 2024-27 Strategic Plan

my529 Strategic Plan (Coming Soon)

The Point Innovation District Strategic Plan

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