2017 Legislative Update – Week 4
Higher Education Luncheon Regents, Trustees, Presidents and student leaders gathered on Friday for the annual higher education luncheon in the Capitol Rotunda. Attended by over 75 legislators, including members of legislative leadership, it was a good opportunity to re-emphasize USHE’s budget and capital development priorities. The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee […]
2017 Legislative Update – Week 1
Overview The 2017 Session of the Utah State Legislature got underway Monday, January 23, and will conclude Thursday, March 9. It is anticipated there will be several bills with potential impact to the Utah System of Higher Education, all of which will be tracked and responses coordinated by the Commissioner’s Office and institutions. 2017-2018 Budget According […]
Myth vs. Reality: How do college graduates fare in the workforce?
Recent headlines reported that for the first time in 130 years, more 18 to 34-year-olds live with parents than with partners. Some have attributed this trend to the lack of job prospects for college graduates, that the value of a college degree is diminishing, or that student debt is a drag on homeownership. Understandably, 18 […]
USHE institutions honor Sexual Assault Awareness Month with prevention & awareness activities
Utah’s public colleges and universities spent the month of April—designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month—hosting film screenings, rallies, art displays, workshops, group counseling sessions, and much more, all aimed at raising awareness of campus sexual assault. University of Utah The University of Utah participated in the national It’s On Us campaign, which aims to fundamentally shift […]
2016-17 Student Regent Application Now Available
The 2016-17 Student Regent Application is now available for any interested student planning to attend a USHE institution during the 2016-17 academic year. Governor Herbert will appoint the Student Regent for a one-year term and plays an important role in representing the voice of USHE students to the Board of Regents. Applications must be submitted by April 5, 2016.
2016 Legislative Update – Week 6
2016-2017 Budget The Executive Appropriations Committee approved its first round of funding items on Friday evening. For higher education, initial items include the state-funded portion of a 2% merit increase in compensation (plus funding for increases in health benefits), $5 million ongoing for market demand programs, $5 million in one-time funds for performance funding, and […]
Tech use in higher ed continues to increase, but less than 3% of students enroll solely online
Technology plays an increasingly important role in college students’ lives. Students use technology throughout their college education, from courses taught partially or entirely online, to registration, instructor evaluations, and tuition payments. Completely online programs offered USHE institutions now offer 1,738 fully online courses, 140 of which were added in the last year. There are also […]
2016 Legislative Update – Week 1
Overview The 2016 Session of the Utah State Legislature got underway Monday, January 25, and will conclude Thursday, March 11. It is anticipated there will be several bills with potential impact to the Utah System of Higher Education, all of which will be carefully tracked by the Commissioner’s Office and institutions. 2016-2017 Budget According to […]
Using the state’s Education Fund for higher ed is not only appropriate, it’s critical to Utah’s success
It’s been proven time and again that those with a college education have a significantly higher earning potential, lower unemployment rates, and better health and well-being than those with only a high school diploma. Higher education also breaks the cycle of intergenerational poverty and reduces reliance on government assistance. Utah’s affordable and high-quality public […]
10-year strategic plan for Utah higher ed unanimously approved by Board of Regents
Last Friday, the Board of Regents unanimously approved a 10-year strategic plan for Utah higher education. The strategic planning process started in the summer of 2014, with the Board of Regents reviewing several drafts of the plan in 2015. A draft of the plan was open for public comment in November 2015. The Utah State Board of […]