Legislative committee meeting discusses student debt and higher ed costs
The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee of the Utah Legislature met on Tuesday. Their discussions focused on the issues of student debt and increasing costs for higher education. The rising costs for students to enroll in college is a prominent topic nationally, and higher education institutions mistakenly shoulder the blame. However, a recent special report by […]
Board of Regents revises Performance Funding metrics
At the May 20 meeting, the Board of Regents adopted revised metrics to the performance, or outcomes-based, funding model, adopted in July 2015 as part of the legislature’s instruction via SB 232 passed in the 2015 Legislative Session. SB 232 requires the Board of Regents to maintain performance metrics in five specific areas: Degrees and certificates […]
2016 Legislative Update – Week 7
The 2016 Legislature adjourned on March 10, 2016. News coverage summarizing the legislative session are available here, here, and here. The following is an unofficial summary of the 2016 Legislative Session related to the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). A formal report will be provided by the Commissioner at the meeting of the Board of […]
2016 Legislative Update – Week 5
2016-2017 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. Key Legislation *HB 182, Concurrent Enrollment Amendments by Rep. Val Peterson, […]
Performance funding rewards Utah’s public colleges & universities for achievement in key areas
In January 2015, the Board of Regents and co-chairs of the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee Senator Stephen Urquhart and Representative Keith Grover, established performance metrics for a portion of the new funds appropriated for the Utah System of Higher Education by the 2015 Legislature. This year USHE’s 2016-2017 budget priorities includes $15,000,000 for Performance Funding, using the […]
2016 Legislative Update – Week 4
Higher Education Day on the Hill 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 […]
Merit-based compensation increase for USHE employees crucial to remaining competitive in a national market
A 3% merit-based compensation increase (and a 7.3% health increase) is the top budget priority for the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). Competitive compensation allows USHE to hire—and maintain—the best talent for Utah college students. Utah competes in a national marketplace for faculty talent. The average compensation for USHE faculty and staff is consistently lower […]
2016 Legislative Update – Week 3
Higher Education Budget The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee met for its final scheduled hearing this week, focusing on the Board of Regents’ budget priorities for USHE. The committee also considered other budget requests from other legislative sponsors. After the Board’s budget priorities by Chair Dan Campbell and Commissioner Buhler, Senator Howard Stephenson commented, “To the […]
2016 Legislative Budget Priorities approved by the State Board of Regents
The Utah State Board of Regents approved the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) budget priorities during its meeting on September 18 at Utah State University in preparation for the 2016 legislative session. “These budget priorities reflect the most pressing needs of our state’s higher education institutions as well as the strategic objectives of the Board […]
Regents establish performance metrics for new state funding
In January 2015, the Board of Regents adopted and advanced a Performance Funding proposal for legislative review. In working closely with the co-chairs of the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee of the Legislature Senator Stephen Urquhart and Representative Keith Grover, the Board of Regents established performance metrics for a portion of the new funds appropriated to […]
