Utah Board of Higher Education

Granite School District

Friday, June 6, 2025

 

Committee of the whole

Minutes

 

Board Members Present                                          Board Members Absent

Amanda Covington, Chair (excused at 8:30 a.m.)                   Sharon Eubank

Steve Neeleman, Vice Chair                                                                 Aaron Skonnard

Javier Chavez Jr.

Jon Cox

Danny Ipson (excused at 2:00 p.m.)

Tina Marriott

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, Systems Administrator

Cassidy Dragunat, Assistant Commissioner of Financial Aid

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

Vic Hockett, Associate Commissioner of Talent Ready Utah

Richard Lainez, Facilities Director

Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist

Katie Mazzie, Assistant Commissioner of Strategic and Government Affairs

Hayley Mitchell, Administrative Assistant

Natalie Reidhead, Administrative Assistant

Brian Shuppy, Senior Assistant Commissioner for Budget and Finance

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

Chad Campbell, Bridgerland Technical College                        Shane Smeed, Utah Tech University

Clay Christensen, Mountainland Technical College               Al Smith, Utah State University (interim)

Paul Hacking, Tooele Technical College                                       Jim Taggart, Ogden Weber Technical College

Brad Mortensen, Weber State University                                     Stacee McIff, Snow College

Greg Peterson, Salt Lake Community College                           Aaron Weight, Uintah Basin Technical College

Taylor Randall, University of Utah                                                  Brennan Wood, Southwest Technical College

 

Others

Cathy Anderson, Chief Financial Officer, University of Utah

Michael Austin, Provost, Snow College

Sam Bertoch, Milliman

David Cowley, Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services, Utah State University

Joseph Fitzgerald, Legislative Financial Analyst, State of Utah

Brent Jensen, Milliman

Les Kartchner, Milliman

Michael Lacourse, Provost, Utah Tech University

Shauna Mendini, Interim Provost, Southern Utah University

Mitzi Montoya, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Utah

Paul Morris, Vice President of Administrative Affairs, Utah Tech University

Jim Mortensen, Vice President of Finance and Auxiliary Services, Utah Valley University

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

John O’Neill, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Utah State University

Rob Patton, Executive Communications Manager, University of Utah

Jason Perry, Vice President for Government Relations and Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics,      University of Utah

Val Peterson, Vice President for Administration/Strategic Relations, Utah Valley University

Jason Pickavance, Interim Provost for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, Salt Lake         Community College

Whitney Pugh, Executive Director, Budget and Planning Office, Utah State University

Laurie Sharp, Senior Associate Provost, Utah Valley University

Tim Tingey, Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services, Snow College
Natalie Tippets, Associate Director, Government Relations, University of Utah

Rebecca Walsh, Director of Communications, University of Utah

Scott Wood, Senior Director of Budgets, Utah Valley University

Ben Winslow, Reporter, FOX 13

 

 

Vice Chair Neeleman called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.

 

Committee of the Whole

 

Resolutions of Appreciation for Board Members Sharon Eubank, Tina Marriott, and Muskan Walia

 

Board member Chavez Jr. moved to approve the Resolution of Appreciation for Sharon Eubank. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Board member Ipson moved to approve the Resolution of Appreciation for Tina Marriott. Board member Cox seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Board member Marriott moved to approve the Resolution of Appreciation for Muskan Walia. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Board Leadership Election

 

Board member Cox moved to elect Amanda Covington as Chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education. Board member Ipson seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Board member Marriott moved to elect Jon Cox as Vice Chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education. Vice Chair Neeleman seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Shared Services Update

 

Nate Talley framed the presentation for the Board members. Brent Jensen, Les Kartchner, and Sam Bertoch from Milliman then presented the Feasibility Study for the Consolidation of Benefits and answered questions from the Board members and presidents. Board member Tetro moved to forward Milliman’s feasibility study to the Legislature for review and further recommendation, after amending well-managed comparisons in the report as discussed. Board member Ipson seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Higher Education Student Success Endowment Spending Policy and Recommendations

 

Nate Talley provided a status update on the Higher Education Student Success Endowment and presented the proposed endowment budgets for FY 2025 and FY 2026. Taylor Adams presented the endowment spending proposal. At the request of the Board members, Taylor will share work-study data with the Board as soon as it becomes available. Cassidy Dragunat discussed the current status of FAFSA completion. Board member Neeleman requested additional information regarding FAFSA growth. The Board members discussed financial aid gaps for students returning to higher education and ways to address these issues.

 

Board member Tetro moved to direct the Commissioner’s Office to work with community organizations, review scholarship education methods and policies, and make recommendations in the next Board meeting to address financial aid gaps for students who are returning to higher education. Board member Ipson seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Vice Chair Cox moved to approve the FY 2025 and FY 2026 Higher Education Student Success Endowment budgets as proposed. Board member Marriott seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Board member Ipson moved to approve new Board Policy R1101, Higher Education Student Success Endowment Spending Guidelines and Reporting. Board member Walia seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Vice Chair Cox moved to elect to allocate 90% of the FY 2026 Endowment proceeds to institutions according to formula and retain 10% for Board spending priorities. Vice Chair Cox further moved to allow the Board to determine its spending priorities and spend its 10% allocation within the next year. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Consent Calendar

 

Board member Tetro moved to approve the consent calendar. Vice Chair Cox seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Utah System of Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment Plans

 

Commissioner’s Office Introduction

 

Commissioner Landward and Nate Talley provided an overview and introduction of the Strategic Reinvestment Plans. This was an information item only; no action was taken.

 

Weber State University

 

Nate Talley introduced Weber State University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan, followed by the presentation of the plan from President Mortensen. Board member Chavez Jr. moved to approve Weber State University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan, conditional on the institution returning to the Board in or before September 2025 with sufficient detail and validation on all strategic reallocation items. Board member Marriott seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Southern Utah University

 

Nate Talley introduced Southern Utah University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. President Mindy Benson and Interim Provost Shauna Mendini presented the institution’s plan. Board member Ipson moved to approve Southern Utah University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. Vice Chair Cox seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Utah Valley Utah

 

Nate Talley introduced Utah Valley University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. Vice President Jim Mortensen and Senior Associate Provost Laurie Sharp then presented the institution’s plan to the Board members. Board member Ipson moved to approve Utah Valley University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Utah Tech University

 

Nate Talley introduced Utah Tech University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. President Shane Smeed, Provost Michael Lacourse, and Vice President Paul Morris then presented the plan. Board member Ipson moved to approve Utah Tech University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. Vice Chair Cox seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Snow College

 

Nate Talley introduced Snow College’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. President Stacee McIff, Vice President Tim Tingey, and Provost Michael Austin then presented the institution’s plan. Board member Marriott moved to approve Snow College’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. Board member Chavez Jr. seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Salt Lake Community College

 

Nate Talley introduced Salt Lake Community College’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan, followed by President Peterson’s presentation of the plan. Board member Chavez Jr. moved to approve Salt Lake Community College’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. Board member Marriott seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

University of Utah

 

Nate Talley introduced the University of Utah’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. President Randall and Senior Vice President Mitzi Montoya then presented the institution’s plan. Vice Chair Cox moved to approve the University of Utah’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan, conditional on the institution returning to the Board in or before September 2025 with sufficient detail and validation on all strategic reallocation items. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Utah State University

 

Nate Talley introduced Utah State University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan. Interim President Al Smith, Vice President Dave Cowley, Executive Vice President John O’Neill, and Whitney Pugh then presented the institution’s plan. Vice Chair Cox moved to approve Utah State University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan, conditional on the institution returning to the Board in or before September 2025 demonstrating further evaluation of reallocation opportunities in Instruction, and with sufficient detail and validation on all strategic reallocation items. Vice Chair Cox also moved to approve Utah State University’s Strategic Reinvestment Plan, conditional on review and approval by the next President of Utah State University. Board member Tetro seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

 

Vice Chair Cox 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 Marriott seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Closed Session

 

Vice Chair Cox moved to end closed session. Board member Neeleman seconded the motion, and the Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

 

Vice Chair Cox moved to adjourn. Board member Marriott 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: July 18, 2025