Utah Board of Higher Education

Virtual Conference via Zoom

Friday, September 8, 2023

Committee of the Whole

Minutes

Board Members Present                                                Board Members Absent

Javier Chavez, Jr.                                                                      Sharon Eubank

Jon Cox                                                                                       Aaron Skonnard

Amanda Covington                                                                   Cydni Tetro

Danny Ipson

Tina Marriott Larson

Steve Neeleman

Holly Talbot

Office of the Commissioner

Geoff Landward, Deputy Commissioner and Government Relations Director

Nate Talley, Deputy Commissioner and CFO

Alison Adams-Perlac, General Counsel

Trisha Dugovic, Director of Communication

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

Lais Martinez, Assistant Commissioner for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Carrie Mayne, Chief Economist

Jefferson Moss, Innovation District at The Point Project Director

Melissa Van Hien, Office Manager / Executive Assistant to the Commissioner

Scott Wyatt, Senior Executive Director of Statewide Online Education

Other Guests

Michiel Bostick, Vice President of Instructional Services, Uintah Basin Technical College

Jeff Lund, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Davis Technical College

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

Patricia Walker, Vice President of Students Services and Marketing, Tooele Technical College

Institutional Presidents Present

Mindy Benson, Southern Utah University                            Brad Mortensen, Weber State University

Clay Christensen, Mountainland Technical College            Jordan Rushton, Dixie Technical College

Elizabeth Cantwell, Utah State University                            Jim Taggart, Ogden-Weber Technical College

Chad Campbell, Bridgerland Technical College                   Astrid Tuminez, Utah Valley University

Deneece Huftalin, Salt Lake Community College                Richard Williams, Utah Tech University

Stacee McIff, Snow College                                                     Brennan Wood, Southwest Technical College

Chair Covington called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

Committee of the Whole

USHE Updates

Chair Covington announced the members of the Board Executive Committee as Chair Covington, Vice Chair Neeleman, and Board member Javier Chavez Jr. At the request of the Chair, Deputy Commissioner Landward updated the group on Scott Wyatt’s contract with the System. Scott will work on the following areas: three-year bachelor’s degrees, onboarding higher education students in their first six weeks, disaggregating bachelor’s degrees, and higher education degrees awarded by third parties. This was an information item; no action was taken.

Roundtable Discussion with USHE Presidents

Chair Covington asked each president to discuss the opportunities and challenges at their institution. The following topics were areas of the most concern/interest among the presidents:

1. Three-year (90-credit) Bachelor’s Degrees, Maintain Pell Eligibility, Move as a System
2. Performance Funding Model, Reevaluate Some Things, Have Consistency in This and Other Metrics; Recognize Secondary Students in Funding Models; PT v FTE
3. Shared Services: Cybersecurity
4. Affordable Student Housing; Innovative Approaches
5. Credit Transfer Standards within USHE Institutions, Including Stackable Credentials, Articulation Accountability, While Not Diluting Success of Technical Education
6. Common Measurement For Economic Value/ Impact, Including Tech Transfer and Entrepreneurship and How that Brings Value to the State
7. One Size Does Not Fit All; Continue to Help Tech Colleges Stay Nimble to Industry Needs
8. Shared Services: Title IX Issues
9. Work Together Instead of Competitively/Incentives to Collaborate
10. Funding for Capital Projects; Evaluate for Renovation and Remodel; S.B. 102
11. Growth and Capacity for Tech Programs
12. Job Market/Employer Collaboration; Optimize Curriculum so Students are Prepared
13. Marketing to Promote Value of Higher Ed/ USHE Story
14. Shared Solutions to Increase FAFSA; Better Coordinate Financial Aid
15. Shared Services: Student Information System, e.g., Northstar & Other Student Technology

This was an information item only; no action was taken.

Board member Larson moved to adjourn. Board member Cox seconded the motion. The Board members in attendance voted unanimously in favor. The motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Geoffrey Landward, Secretary

Date Approved: November 3, 2023