Quarterly Interim Board Meeting
Virtual Conference via Zoom
1:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole
1:30 p.m. 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
Virtual Conference via Zoom
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Committee of the Whole Minutes
Board Members Present Board Members Absent
Steve Neeleman, Vice Chair Amanda Covington, Chair
Javier Chavez Jr. Sharon Eubank
Jon Cox
Danny Ipson
Tina Marriott
Aaron Skonnard
Cydni Tetro
Muskan Walia
Office of the Commissioner
Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner
Alison Adams, General Counsel and Board Secretary
Taylor Adams, Associate Commissioner of Student Affairs
TJ Bliss, Associate Commissioner for Academic Affairs
Trevor Cross, IT Support
Brynn Fronk, Executive Assistant to the Utah Board of Higher Education
Cynthia Grua, Assistant Commissioner of Academic Affairs
Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner of Talent Ready Utah
Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist
Katie Mazzie, Assistant Commissioner of Strategic and Government Affairs
Hilary Renshaw, Associate General Counsel
Angie Stallings, Deputy Commissioner and COO
Nate Talley, Deputy Commissioner and CFO
Kim Ziebarth, Associate Commissioner of Technical Education
Institutional Presidents Present
Mindy Benson, Southern Utah University Jordan Rushton, Dixie Technical College
Darin Brush, Davis Technical College Shane Smeed, Utah Tech University
Chad Campbell, Bridgerland Technical College Al Smith, Utah State University (interim)
Clay Christensen, Mountainland Technical College Jim Taggart, Ogden Weber Technical College
Paul Hacking, Tooele Technical College Astrid Tuminez, Utah Valley University
Stacee McIff, Snow College Aaron Weight, Uintah Basin Technical College
Brad Mortensen, Weber State University Brennan Wood, Southwest Technical College
Taylor Randall, University of Utah
Vice Chair Neeleman called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m
Committee of the Whole
USHE Staff Update
Vice Chair Neeleman welcomed new Associate Commissioner for Academic Affairs TJ Bliss. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Utah Tech Leadership Change
Vice Chair Neeleman welcomed new Utah Tech President Shane Smeed. He also thanked Courtney White for his service as interim president for the past 17 months. This was an information item only; no action was taken.
Program Review 2025-2026
Commissioner Landward presented the agenda item to the Board and recommended the Board take action, recognizing that the cut in reallocation process meets the responsibility that the Board has for doing the program review process. Board member Tetro moved to approve Board approved strategic reinvestment plans as meeting the program review requirements of Utah Code subsection 53B-16-102(7)(c) for degree-granting institutions for 2025-2026. Board member Cox seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
Consent Calendar
Board member Marriott moved to approve the consent calendar. Board member Skonnard seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
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 Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Alison A. Adams, Secretary
Date Approved: June 6, 2025
Utah System of Higher Education
The Gateway
60 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
General: 1-801-646-4784
Scholarships: 1-801-646-4812
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