Plateau tuition: How can it help students?
In July 2013, the Utah State Board of Regents, with the support of presidents in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), adopted a Completion Resolution, which encourages the implementation of five key strategies to improve college completion in the state. What is Plateau Tuition? Plateau tuition – or “banded” tuition – is a set […]
New report analyzes factors for rising tuition
A new report released by the national public policy organization, Demos, uses national data to explain the primary causes for tuition increases in the past 10-15 years. There is no shortage of pundits attempting to explain the rise in tuition. Is it administrative bloat? Increased spending on construction? Decreased state support? The report argues more […]
New report compares state by state spending on higher education
A new report by the State Higher Education Executive Officers association (SHEEO) indicates state funding support for higher education has increased in recent years nationally. However, when adjusted for inflation, spending on higher education is still below pre-recession levels. For the first time in years, public colleges’ reliance on tuition revenue dipped slightly — nationally […]
2015 Legislative Summary
Overview In preparation for the 2015 Legislative Session, the Board of Regents established a multi-layered budget strategy to continue addressing the most critical needs of USHE institutions as well as prioritize STEM needs in capital development. The Board, with the support of institutional presidents, prioritized merit-based compensation increases, continued support for Mission Based Funding, expanded […]
2015 Legislative Update – Week 6
2015-2016 Budget The Executive Appropriations Committee approved its first round of funding items on Thursday. For higher education, initial items include a beginning 2% merit increase in compensation, $8 million in performance funding ($2 million ongoing, $6 million one-time), and $2.5 million for growth in the Regents’ Scholarship. In addition, three of the Regents’ capital […]
2015 Legislative Update – Week 5
2015-2016 Budget With revised revenue projections announced last week, significant budget decisions continue to loom before a final budget takes shape, including Medicaid expansion and possible gas tax revisions. There is still a lot of work to be done on the budget as well as several bills that continue their march through the legislative process. […]
2015 Legislative Update – Week 3
2015-16 Budget – Performance Funding The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee discussed performance funding for the Utah System of Higher Education in several of its meetings. Key components of a basic framework have been identified, and legislation is anticipated to specify performance funding as a category in future USHE budget requests. If funding is provided implementation […]
The impact of a 2% budget cut
As part of the one-time budget reduction made by the Executive Appropriations Committee before the 2015 legislative session, all appropriations subcommittees were requested to identify a 2% cut to existing base budgets, including higher education. The stated intent is to “stress test” areas of the state budget to help inform budget priorities for the upcoming […]
2015 Legislative Update – Week 2
There is additional legislation with potential impact to higher education. Much of the focus continues on the budget, and the Higher Educations Appropriations Subcommittee continues to meet this week. 2015-2016 Budget. Six USHE presidents gave excellent presentations to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Presidents Wight and Huftalin presented previously). Their messages all provided relevant insights on […]
Board of Regents Advance Performance Funding Proposal for 2015 Legislature
The Board of Regents approved a performance funding model as part of its 2015-16 legislative budget request. The USHE budget request includes support for employee compensation, student participation, distinctive mission, and performance funding, all of which serve to further the strategic directions of the Board of Regents—affordable participation, timely completion, and innovative discovery. Performance Funding […]
