Utah Board of Higher Education Meeting

Utah Board of Higher Education

Utah System of Higher Education

Thursday, March 26, 2026

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES

Board Members Present

Amanda Covington, Chair

Jon Cox, Vice Chair

Javier Chavez Jr.

Jeremy Hafen

Jodi Hart

Danny Ipson

Garrett Largent

Steve Neeleman (excused at 8:30 a.m.)

Aaron Skonnard

Cydni Tetro

Board Members Absent

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, Systems Administrator

Trisha Dugovic, Director of Communication

Kevin Enright, Director of Finance and Facilities

Brynn Fronk, Executive Assistant to the Utah Board of Higher Education

Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner of Talent Ready Utah

Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist

Katie Mazzie, Associate Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives, Community and Government Relations

Hilary Renshaw, Associate General Counsel

Angie Stallings, Deputy Commissioner and COO

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

Darin Brush, Davis Technical College

Chad Campbell, Bridgerland Technical College

Clay Christensen, Mountainland Technical College

Leslie Durham, Weber State University (interim)

Stacee McIff, Snow College

Brad Mortensen, Utah State University

Taylor Randall, University of Utah

Greg Peterson, Salt Lake Community College

Jordan Rushton, Dixie Technical College

Shane Smeed, Utah Tech University

Jim Taggart, Ogden Weber Technical College

Kent Thygerson, Tooele Technical College

(interim)

Aaron Weight, Uintah Basin Technical College

Brennan Wood, Southwest Technical College

Others

Maddie Clements, Community Outreach Representative, Congressman Owens’ Office

Troy D’Ambrosio, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Innovation, University of Utah

Stephen Hess, Chief Information Officer, University of Utah

Cassie Meyer, Director of Campus Partnerships, Interfaith America

Rob Muir, Associate Vice President for Debt and Asset Management, University of Utah

Chris Nelson, Chief University Relations Officer and Secretary to the University, University of Utah

Rollie Olson, Assistant Director of Alignment & Strategic Communications, President’s Office, Interfaith

America

Eboo Patel, Founder and President, Interfaith America

Brad Patterson, Attorney, Gilmore Bell

Stephanie Patton, Catalyst Center Program Director, Utah State Board of Education

Rich Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, Proxima Careers

Tim Tingey, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, Snow College

Wayne Vaught, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Utah Valley University

Anthony Wagner, Chief Financial Officer, University of Utah

Rebecca Walsh, Director of Public Relations and Communications, University of Utah

Cameron Wright, Chief Operating Officer, Proxima Careers

Chair Covington called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

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 Hart seconded the

motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion

passed.

CLOSED SESSION

Board member Skonnard moved to end closed session. Board member Hart seconded the

motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion

passed.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Resolution of Appreciation for President Astrid S. Tuminez

Chair Covington highlighted the career of President Tuminez and thanked her for her dedication to Utah

Valley University. No formal action of the Board was required or taken since the resolution was simply

for recognition.

Interfaith MOU

Commissioner Landward introduced the Interfaith MOU. This was an information item only; no action

was taken.

The Promise of Pluralism

Commissioner Landward introduced Dr. Eboo Patel, and turned the time over to him to talk about the

broader principles of pluralism. Dr. Patel presented the Promise of Pluralism. This was an information

item only; no action was taken.

Government Relations Updates

Commissioner Landward expressed gratitude to the presidents and their staff for their tremendous work

during the legislative session. Katie Mazzie highlighted significant bills from the legislative session.

Chair Covington moved to direct the Office of the Commissioner to review the Board’s

bylaws and make recommendations for amendments to create a Board Committee on

Performance, Evaluation, Succession Planning, and Training. Vice Chair Cox seconded

the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The

motion passed.

Nate Talley reviewed the 2026 General Legislative Session appropriations and budget policies.

Board member Tetro moved to initiate the withdrawal of $10,541,400 from the Higher

Education Student Success Endowment in Fiscal Year 2026 in order to primarily execute

on the 2026 General Session legislative intent language requiring a backfill to the

corresponding reduction to the Board’s Student Assistance line item in Fiscal Year 2027.

Board member Chavez Jr. seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance

voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Non-Dedicated Capital Development Projects Prioritization

Nate Talley presented the Non-Dedicated Capital Development Projects Prioritization. The Board

members debated whether or not to reprioritize the non-dedicated projects.

Board member Skonnard moved that the Board elect to reprioritize non-dedicated

projects for degree-granting institutions and maintain the existing prioritization of non-

dedicated projects for technical colleges for the upcoming budget year. Vice Chair Cox

seconded the motion, Board members Hart and Largent voted no, and all other Board

members in attendance voted in favor. The motion passed.

Higher Education Student Success Endowment – Request for Board Allocation of FY 2026 Proceeds

Chair Covington recused herself from the item based on a perceived if not actual conflict of interest with

her professional life and turned the meeting over to Vice Chair Cox to lead. Nate Talley introduced the

agenda item and turned the time over to Rich Saunders from Proxima. Rich and Cameron Wright

presented Proxima’s work to the Board and their funding request.

Board member Tetro moved to authorize using $400,000 of the Board’s FY 2026 Higher

Education Student Success Endowment allocation to support Proxima’s mission and

request as proposed, with the addition of $50,000 for interventions focused in rural

Utah, for a total of $450,000. Board member Skonnard seconded the motion, Chair

Covington abstained, and all other Board members in attendance voted in favor. The

motion passed.

Fiscal Year 2027 Institutional Strategic Reinvestment Guidelines

Nate Talley provided an overview of the Fiscal Year 2027 Institutional Strategic Reinvestment

Guidelines.

Board member Ipson moved to adopt the year-two degree-granting strategic

reinvestment initiative guidance, and first-year technical college strategic reinvestment

framework and parameters. Board member Largent seconded the motion, and the Board

members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Planned Space Utilization for Newly Constructed Buildings

Nate Talley introduced the agenda item and then turned the time over to Kevin Enright, who presented

the item.

Board member Largent moved to certify that the capital projects as funded in the 2024

Legislative Session substantially meet intent language requirements for space utilization

plans. Board member Hafen seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance

voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

University of Utah Indenture Amendment Request

Nate Talley introduced the request and then turned the time over to the University of Utah. Tony

Wagner and Rob Muir presented the details of the request and provided additional explanation of the

transaction.

Board member Ipson moved to approve the University of Utah’s request to amend its

General Indenture, as the proposed excluded revenues comprise 9.96% of Indenture-

defined revenues, and the institution’s credit rating of AA+ (S&P) and Aa1 (Moody’s) has

been reaffirmed. Board member Largent seconded the motion, and the Board members in

attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Strategic Plan Update: Completion – Credit for Prior Learning

Katie Mazzie introduced the strategic plan update, which covered the completion pillar. As part of this

update, TJ Bliss provided an update on Credit for Prior Learning. Chair Covington asked to hear a report

on technical college Credit for Prior Learning at an upcoming Board meeting. This was an information

item only; no action was taken.

Approval of Bachelor’s Degrees Exceeding 120 Credits

TJ Bliss presented the agenda items to the Board members and addressed their questions.

Vice Chair Cox moved to approve the outlined bachelor’s degrees exceeding 120 credits due

to licensure or accreditation standards as authorized by statute with an evaluation of

standardization of these programs across the System. Board member Hart seconded the

motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion

passed.

Catalyst Center Grant Funding

Vic Hockett and Stephanie Patton presented an update on the Catalyst Center. This was an information

item only; no action was taken.

Athletics Oversight

Chair Covington shared the appointment of Board member Neeleman as Board liaison on the Athletics

Oversight Committee. The Board and presidents discussed the need for a flexible, transparent athletics

governance structure amid ongoing national and regulatory uncertainty, with agreement that further

study is needed.

Vice Chair Cox moved to direct the Office of the Commissioner to convene an Athletics

Oversight Committee composed of Board members, representatives from institutions,

and the Office of the Commissioner, to make recommendations to the Board for policies

regarding athletics oversight. Board member Ipson seconded the motion, and the Board

members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

Consent Calendar

Chair Covington 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 Hart seconded the

motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion

passed.

CLOSED SESSION

Board member Skonnard moved to end closed session. Board member Hafen seconded

the motion, and Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion

passed.

Chair Covington moved to adjourn. Vice Chair Cox seconded the motion, and the Board

members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.