Utah System of Higher Education
Utah State University
Friday, July 16, 2021

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Minutes

Board Members Present     
Harris H. Simmons, Chair
Aaron Osmond, Vice Chair
Nina R. Barnes, Vice Chair
Wilford W. Clyde
Jesselie B. Anderson
Jera L. Bailey
Arthur E. Newell
Patricia Jones
Lisa Michele Church
Scott Theurer
Crystal Maggelet
Shawn Newell
Alan E. Hall
Mike Angus
Sanchaita Datta

Board Members Absent
Stacey K. Bettridge
Alan Hall

Office of the Commissioner
Dave R. Woolstenhulme, Commissioner of Higher Education
Rich Amon, Chief Financial Officer
Geoffrey Landward, Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel
Julie Hartley, Associate Commissioner of Academic Education
Jessica Gilmore, Associate Commissioner of Workforce Development
Spencer Jenkins, Chief Student Affairs Officer
Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist
Melanie Heath, Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives
Malissa Jones, Office Manager

Institutional Presidents Present 

Committee of the Whole

Chair Simmons called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

Student Update

Student updates were provided by Ali Romney from Bridgerland Technical College and Ben Tenangueno from Utah State University. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Strategic Plan Update (TAB A)

Melanie Heath provided an update on the Strategic Plan to the Board members. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Committee Updates (TAB B)

Committee updates were provided by Board member Church, Board member Arthur Newell, Board member Shawn Newell, and Board member Clyde. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

USHE Building Update

Richard Lainez gave a brief update on the status of the USHE office building. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

University of Utah Presidential Search Update

Board Chair Simmons and Geoff Landward provided an update on the Presidential Search at the University of Utah. This was an information item only; no action was taken. 

Adult Learners Update

Randy Shumway, Lexi Maggelet, and Talmage Lamb from Cicero reviewed the Non-Traditional Students in Utah Research Report to the Board members. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Envision Utah

Vice-Chair Barnes introduced Ari Bruening and Jason Brown from Envision Utah, who reviewed the data from their report on barriers to college for Utah students to Board members. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Statewide Higher Ed Advocacy & Awareness Campaign (TAB D)

Trisha Dugovic provided an update on the Statewide Higher Education Campaign to the Board members. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

UHEAA Board Update

Board member Church provided an update to Board members on the UHEAA Board. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Program Duplication

Julie Hartley and Kim Ziebarth provided information on the Program Duplication process. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Southern Utah University Interim President

Board Chair Simmons proposed Mindy Benson from Southern Utah University be installed as interim president. Vice Chair Barnes motioned that the Board appoint Mindy Benson as Interim President of Southern Utah University, effective July 26, 2021. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Osmond, and the motion passed.

PolicyR312, Weber State University, Dixie State University, Polytech (TAB F)

Julie Hartley provided information on the proposed changes to R312 submitted by Weber State University and Dixie State University.

Board member Arthur Newell made a motion to amend Board Policy R312 to include the proposed change to Weber State University’s mission. The motion was seconded by Board member Datta, and the motion passed.

Vice Chair Osmond made a motion that Board Policy R312 be updated to include the definition of “polytechnic” as noted in the board materials with the following changes: eliminate the words “regional” and “local” and add “educational partners” as discussed during the meeting. The motion was seconded by Board member Shawn Newell, and the motion passed.

R312-5. Polytechnic Education: Degree-granting institutions may adopt a polytechnic educational model, which is a student-centered, comprehensive, interdisciplinary, applied learning model that integrates the liberal arts with intensive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs and that prepares graduates for professional careers in collaboration with education and industry partners to meet economic needs.

5.1. Institutions that adopt a polytechnic educational model have not altered their statutory and Board designated roles and shall maintain strategic planning, academic programs, communications and marketing that reflect those roles.

Board member Jones made a motion to amend Board Policy R312 to include the proposed change to Dixie State University’s mission. The motion was seconded by Board member Datta, and the motion passed.

Credit Implementation Policy (TAB F)

Kim Ziebarth provided Board members with information about the Credit Implementation Policy.  Board member Shawn Newell motioned that the Board approve Policy R474, Clock-Hour to Credit-Hour Transition. The motion was seconded by Board member Clyde, and the motion passed.

General Consent Calendar (TAB G)

Board member Theurer made a motion to approve the consent calendar. The motion was seconded by Board member Datta, and the motion passed.

• Minutes – Minutes of the Board meeting May 21, 2021
• Finance and Facilities Items
• Technical Education Items
• Student Affairs Items
• UHEAA Items
• Grant Proposals
• Awards

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Date Approved:  09/17/2021