8:00 AM – 1:20 PM – Committee of the Whole
1:20 PM – 1:45 PM – Closed Session
Projected times for the various meetings are estimates only. The Board Chair retains the right to take action at any time. To ensure availability, individuals needing accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) for this meeting or the materials should notify Brynn Fronk at brynn.fronk@ushe.edu, 60 South 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84180 (801-646-4784), at least three working days prior to the meeting.
Utah Board of Higher Education
Utah System of Higher Education
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Committee of the whole
Minutes
Board Members Present Board Members Absent
Amanda Covington, Chair Tina Marriott
Steve Neeleman, Vice Chair
Javier Chávez Jr.
Jon Cox
Sharon Eubank
Danny Ipson
Cydni Tetro
Aaron Skonnard
Muskan Walia
Office of the Commissioner
Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner
Alison Adams, General Counsel and Board Secretary
Taylor Adams, Associate Commissioner of Student Affairs
Trevor Cross, IT Support
Trisha Dugovic, Director of Communication
Malin Francis, Director of Facilities
Brynn Fronk, Executive Assistant to the Utah Board of Higher Education
Julie Hartley, Associate Commissioner of Academic Education
Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner of Talent Ready Utah
Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist
Katie Mazzie, Assistant Commissioner of Strategic and Government Affairs
Will Pierce, Assistant Commissioner of Technical Education
David Pulsipher, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Compliance
Natalie Reidhead, Administrative Assistant
Hilary Renshaw, Associate General Counsel
Brian Shuppy, Senior Assistant Commissioner for Budget and Finance
Nate Talley, Deputy Commissioner and CFO
Melissa Van Hien, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner and Office Manager
Kim Ziebarth, Associate Commissioner of Technical Education
Institutional Presidents Present
Mindy Benson, Southern Utah University Brad Mortensen, Weber State University
Darin Brush, Davis Technical College Greg Peterson, Salt Lake Community College
Elizabeth Cantwell, Utah State University Taylor Randall, University of Utah
Chad Campbell, Bridgerland Technical College Jordan Rushton, Dixie Technical College
Clay Christensen, Mountainland Technical College Aaron Weight, Uintah Basin Technical College
Paul Hacking, Tooele Technical College Courtney White, Utah Tech University (interim)
Stacee McIff, Snow College Brennan Wood, Southwest Technical College
Other Guests
Aaron Anderson, Cicero
Cathy Anderson, CFO, University of Utah
Ben Aplanalp, Cicero
Mary Beckerle, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
Kathren Brown, Utah Valley University
Chad Burchell, VP for Instructional Services, Ogden-Weber Technical College
Dave Cowley, VP for Finance and Administrative Services, Utah State University
Maria Garciaz, Board of Trustees, University of Utah
Mark Halverson, Interim VP for Information Technology, Weber State University
Claire Harrison, Program Specialist, Department of Workforce Services
Stephen Hess, Chief Information Officer, University of Utah
Michelle Kearns, VP for Student Affairs, Utah Valley University
Casey Keller, CEO and Sponsor, Keller Development Group
Jeff Labrum, Chief Operations Officer, University of Utah
Frank Markley, SmithGroup
Sara Mathov, SmithGroup
Lori McDonald, VP for Student Affairs, University of Utah
LeiLoni Allan McLaughlin, Director, Center for Community and Cultural Engagement, University of Utah
Paul Morris, VP of Administrative Affairs, Utah Tech University
Jim Mortensen, VP of Finance and Auxiliary Services, Utah Valley University
John Mortensen, Associate VP, Course Management, Analytics and Strategy, Utah State University
Allison Nicholson, Special Assistant to the CFO, University of Utah
Rob Patten, Executive Communications Manager, University of Utah
George Wong, Cicero
Chair Amanda Covington called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
Committee of the Whole
Institutional Updates
President Stacee McIff from Snow College and President Aaron Weight from Uintah Basin Technical College provided updates on their institutions. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Academic Year 2023-24 Performance Goal Evaluation
Nate Talley provided a performance funding refresher and reviewed the statewide and institutional performance metrics for AY 2023-2024. The Board members and presidents discussed the redesign of performance funding. Board member Eubank moved to approve the proposed performance funding distributions related to previous appropriations from the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions and the Board’s newly requested $20 million in performance funding for the upcoming 2025 legislative session. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Academic Year 2024-25 Annual Performance Goal Setting
Nate Talley reviewed the systemwide and institutional proposed performance metrics for AY 2024-2025. Board member Ipson moved to adopt the proposed performance funding goals for Academic Year 2024-25. Board member Skonnard seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Utah State University Summer Tuition and Fee Schedule
Nate Talley highlighted the change to Utah State University’s tuition and fee schedule, which is included in the consent calendar. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Weber State University – Public-Private Partnership for Student Housing
Nate Talley presented Weber State University’s public-private partnership proposal for new student housing. The Board members asked questions about rent rates, the proximity to dining options on campus, and the Keller Development Group (KDG). Board member Cox requested that in future capital development project proposals, the question is baked into the proposal if a P3 model was considered and why it may not have worked. Chair Covington moved to authorize Weber State University to enter into a public-private partnership with KDG for the construction of the new student housing project as presented, provisional on the Attorney General’s approval of the final contracts as to form and legal authority. Board member Chavez Jr. seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Non-State Funded Projects
Nate Talley presented two revenue bond requests, the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute Vineyard Facility and Utah State University’s Student Housing Project. The Board members asked questions regarding potential cost escalation, the RFP process, cost differentials, and pledged revenue for the revenue bond. Vice Chair Neeleman moved to authorize the University of Utah and Utah State University to seek legislative approval of bond issuances associated with the U of U Huntsman Cancer Institute Vineyard project and the USU Student Housing project. If the Legislature approves the bonds, institutions’ requests for an approving resolution should include financial analyses that document the feasibility and sufficiency of revenue streams necessary to support the institutions’ currently outstanding indebtedness and the proposed revenue bonds, as well as any other information required by statute or policy. Board member Ipson seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Higher Education Student Success Endowment Financial Record Review &
Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Adoption
Nate Talley presented an update on the Higher Education Student Success Endowment and asked the Board to approve a revised FY 2025 budget and the newly proposed FY 2026 budget. Board member Chavez Jr. moved to approve the FY 2025 and FY 2026 Higher Education Student Success Endowment budgets as proposed. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Higher Education Space Utilization – SmithGroup Analysis 2024
Nate Talley introduced Sara Mathov and Frank Markley from the SmithGroup, who presented the results of the space utilization study. The Board members and presidents discussed the analysis and provided some recommendations. The Office of the Commissioner will continue to review the study and the presidents’ feedback. Recommendations will be provided to the Board at the January 2025 meeting around which elements of the analysis will be proposed for adoption. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Academic Year 2025-26 Guidelines for Institutional Review and Recommendation of
Tuition and General Fee Adjustments
Nate Talley presented the Tuition and Fee Guidance for Board adoption and the Commissioner’s dissemination to institutions for next Spring’s tuition and fee setting hearing. Board member Cox moved to approve the Academic Year 2025-26 Institutional Tuition and Fee Setting Guidance and directed the Commissioner to disseminate to institutions. Board member Skonnard seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Southern Utah University – Revision to Institutional Endowment Investment Policy
Nate Talley presented a request from SUU to modify its endowment investment policy. SUU wants more flexibility in how it invests its endowment, and the policy requires the approval of the Board and institutional Board of Trustees. Board member Cox moved to approve Southern Utah University’s proposed revisions to its endowment investment policy. Board member Eubank seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Cicero’s Workforce Preparedness Study
Aaron Andersen, Ben Aplanalp, and George Wong from Cicero provided an executive summary of their impending Workforce Preparedness Study. The Board members and presidents discussed the report and provided feedback, which will be addressed in the final report. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Board Policy R404, Technical Education Program Alignment and Initiative Update
Kim Ziebarth provided an update on Board Policy R404, Technical Education Program Alignment and Initiative. Board member Skonnard moved to approve Board Policy R404 and to direct the Office of the Commissioner to develop and issue guidance for implementing the policy. Board member Walia seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Program Review by Discipline
Carrie Mayne shared the Program Review by Discipline webpage with the Board members. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Consent Calendar
Members of the Board asked questions regarding Board policy updates included on the consent calendar and the impact of the institutional cultural centers. Chair Covington requested a report on the effectiveness of the cultural centers. Board member Eubank moved to approve the consent calendar. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Role of the Research Institution
Commissioner Landward introduced the agenda item and stated that the presentation was to ensure the Board fully understands the missions and roles of each type of institution in the system. President Betsy Cantwell and President Taylor Randall presented the role of the research institution. Presidents Cantwell and Randall asked the Board to consider adopting policies to help fund research, including policies and consider allowing flexibility in the net tuition model, making direct investments in research, and creating a research investment fund, as well as helping research universities develop research partnerships, not just workforce partnerships. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Board member Ipson moved to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual; impending litigation; or the sale of real property. Board member Skonnard seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Closed Session
Board member Cox moved to end closed session. Board member Skonnard seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Board member Skonnard moved to adjourn. Board member Cox seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 2:12 p.m.
_____________________
Alison A. Adams, Secretary
Date Approved: January 9, 2025
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