2018 Legislative Update – Week 1
The 45-day 2018 Legislative Session commenced on Monday, January 22, 2018. With over 1,200 legislative bills filled, several are expected to impact Utah’s public colleges and universities. The early weeks of the session focus on the budget and capital development priorities; however, several pieces of legislation are up for consideration. 2018-19 Budget According to the […]
The ROI of Utah’s College Graduates
For every tax dollar the state invests in higher education, there is a 3 dollar increase in tax revenues to the state. Further, a Utahn who invests a year’s worth of tuition in a college education will realize at least a 41% wage increase in the first year working after college.
Making a Difference in Math
Legislative math initiative increases college math completion in high school by 28% SB 196 Math Competency Initiative (Millner/Gibson), passed during the 2015 Utah legislative session, encourages high school students to complete a higher education math, or Quantitative Literacy (QL), requirement prior to graduating from high school. A new issue brief from the Office of the Commissioner of […]
Federal action directly impacting higher education moves forward
The United State Congress and U.S. federal agencies have embarked on several actions in recent weeks impacting higher education. A lot of action is still in motion, with much of the focus on tax reform in the coming week. Below is an up-to-date summary of recent actions: House GOP Higher Education Authorization Bill Released The House Education […]
Higher Ed Appropriations approves performance funding model
The Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee approved the Board of Regents’ recommended performance funding model at its October meeting. The Board adopted a revised outcomes-focused model based on legislation passed in the 2017 legislative session. S.B. 117 – Higher Education Performance Funding (Millner/Wilson), establishes the Performance Funding Restricted Account. The account is funded from 14 percent of […]
Changes coming to the Regents’ Scholarship for the class of 2019
The Regents’ Scholarship is a state-sponsored scholarship that helps Utah high school students clearly understand the most important classes to prepare for college. Since 2008, with the financial support of the Utah Legislature, more than 17,000 students have received the Regents’ Scholarship, growing 20% annually. The academic accomplishments of the scholarship recipients are impressive: Average […]
Issue Brief: Developmental Education in Utah
The number of high school students who enroll in college after graduation has been on the rise the past several years. Many students, however, are surprised when they take placement tests and must enroll in developmental courses. This detour from college-level courses can be costly in terms of both time and money. Unfortunately, it often […]
Year-round Pell grants available July 1
The US Department of Education (ED) recently announced higher education institutions can begin to award year-round Pell grants for students starting July 1, 2017. Before these changes, students could only receive Pell grants for their fall and spring semesters. The change reinstates what was briefly implemented in 2009 but pulled back in 2012 due to […]
New reimbursement program encourages longevity in law enforcement careers
In an effort to encourage Utahns working in criminal justice to lengthen their careers, Senator Karen Mayne sponsored legislation during the 2017 Legislative Session to incentivize educational advancements in the criminal justice industry. The Peace Officer Career Advancement Reimbursement program provides up to half of tuition and fees (maximum of $5,000) per qualified student annually. […]
Utah’s Senator Hatch introduces Bipartisan College Transparency Act to improve reporting of student outcomes
A bipartisan group of senators led by Utah’s Senator Hatch recently introduced legislation to overturn a federal prohibition on tracking the educational and employment outcomes of college students. The bill sponsors—all members of the Senate education committee—unveiled the College Transparency Act of 2017, which would allow the federal government, as well as families and prospective […]
