Higher education is Utah’s economic engine, according to new study
A recent survey by the Economic Development Corporation of Utah found companies looking to relocate to Utah place high-skilled workers as the top factor in its decision to relocate to Utah. With 99% of jobs filled in today’s post-recession economy by college educated individuals, higher education is Utah’s primary economic engine—more important than all other factors including […]
Enrollment at Utah’s public colleges & universities increases by over 4,000
Utah’s public colleges and universities are seeing another increase in student enrollment this fall semester. The first “snapshot” of college enrollments for the 2016-17 school year (fall semester, third week) shows the number of students at the state’s public universities and colleges increased by 4,739 students, for a net increase of 2.78% over last fall. […]
New national data shows 1 in 5 USHE students transfer institutions
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is a system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) within the United States Department of Education. It is considered one of the primary sources for postsecondary data. For example, the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) uses IPEDS data to measure […]
Utah Scholars 2015-16 annual report
91% of eighth graders plan to attend college. However, statistics show, only about 50% of Utah high school students enroll in college after graduation. The Utah Scholars program is designed to increase the number of well-prepared students going on to college after high school by helping them set college goals before they get to high […]
Gift aid a significant factor in assisting students towards degree completion
Scholarships and grants play a significant role in how students pay for college. 54% of USHE students who enrolled in both fall and spring semesters in 2014-15 received some form of gift aid, averaging $4,070.23 per student—roughly 75% of the average tuition and fees at institutions in the Utah System of Higher Education. “Gift aid” is funds […]
Utah joins national consortium to improve availability of online classes and programs
Utah has received formal approval to join a 43-state partnership that will help students more efficiently access online courses and programs. As online degree programs have rapidly grown in recent years, attracting students from different states, securing the authorization from other states for those students to enroll has become increasingly costly and administratively burdensome. Previously, colleges […]
ACT releases 2016 Condition of College and Career Readiness report
Today, ACT released the 2016 Condition of College and Career Readiness report, based on ACT test results for the 2016 graduating class. Utah is one of 20 states that allows students to take the ACT at no cost to the student during their junior year. Thus, 41,446 students in the 2016 graduating class have taken the ACT (817 more students […]
New report takes aim at data-driven approaches to help college students succeed
Higher education leaders across the country have long-wrestled with improving student retention and degree completion. A new national report highlights the disparity between the intentions of college students and their often short-term impulses, especially during their first year of college. The report, from non-profit research organization ideas42, focuses on behavioral science—applying insights from psychology and […]
Improving teacher preparation: A K-20 partnership
Teacher preparation is a top issue among education leaders—not just for K-12, but for higher education as well. The issue rose to the top of several higher education issues at a recent roundtable event hosted by the Utah Business Magazine. Weber State University President Chuck Wight observed, “Right now we have 1,240 computer science majors, […]
Which measures are most effective at placing students in the appropriate college math course?
A recent USHE analysis found that using multiple performance measures (e.g., GPA, ACT score) to successfully place a student in a general education math course is key to successful course completion. Furthermore, a student’s cumulative GPA is the most significant academic performance predictor of success in general education math courses that fulfill the USHE Quantitative […]
