The Utah Board of Higher Education Executive Committee approved a resolution establishing a statewide strategic direction for integrating artificial intelligence across Utah’s public colleges and universities. The resolution outlines system-wide priorities to strengthen workforce readiness, enhance learning and ensure Utah maintains a pro-human, forward-thinking approach to AI adoption.
AI is reshaping Utah’s labor market, with employers forecasting significant automation of job duties, a growing demand for workers who can use AI tools effectively, and a rebound in job postings requiring AI skills. The resolution signals the board’s commitment to preparing students and incumbent workers for an AI-driven era.
“As we embrace the opportunities that AI brings to education and the workforce, we must never lose sight of our responsibility to future generations,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “Incorporating AI doesn’t just mean teaching new technical skills; it means doing so in a way that reflects Utah’s values. I’m committed to working with our institutions and partners to ensure our AI-driven initiatives both equip learners for tomorrow’s economy and honor our duty to invest wisely in the future of our state.”
The resolution establishes three strategic imperatives to guide USHE institutions and the board’s soon-to-be-established AI Task Force:
- Equip every student with pro-human AI skills and workforce readiness at scale. We will enable students — across all relevant majors and programs — to graduate with foundational AI literacy, applied skills, and workforce-ready competencies that are human-centered and give students a competitive advantage in addition to amplifying critical thinking, ethical reasoning, creativity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration.
- Harness AI to transform education and research. We will support institutions in responsibly integrating AI into teaching, student services, research, and institutional operations to enhance learning outcomes, increase personalization, expand innovation and foster efficiency across the System, and preserve the essential human elements of learning—mentorship, personal guidance, curiosity, and community.
- Reimagine higher education for an AI-accelerated economy. We will lead a system-wide review of higher education across the state to ensure USHE institutions are empowered to take full advantage of AI opportunities in ways that strengthen human capability and connection and statewide prosperity. This includes providing flexible pathways and future-focused programs, focusing on human and technical skills that support Utah’s economic and social vitality.
The resolution also emphasizes that innovation must remain grounded in responsible stewardship. As AI systems grow in scale, the board affirms the importance of developing robust safety and ethical guardrails.
Utah’s public colleges and universities are already advancing this work through applied AI institutes, industry partnerships, updated curriculum, short-term workforce training and expanded research opportunities. Investments through USHE’s Talent Ready Utah, including the development of new AI pathways in K–12, expansion of AI-aligned degrees and apprenticeships, and modernization of curriculum across targeted industry clusters, underscore statewide momentum.
“We are entering a transformative era that demands collective action,” said Cydni Tetro, Utah Board of Higher Education member. “Across Utah, extraordinary faculty, researchers and innovators are already advancing AI in meaningful ways. This initiative brings their strengths together to create greater impact, aligned with the Governor’s AI priorities and focused on expanding human possibilities. I deeply appreciate the institutions and teams leading this work and building on the momentum across our system.”
To guide implementation, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education will establish a statewide AI Task Force composed of Utah Board of Higher Education members, AI experts and institutional leaders. The task force will recommend actions the board should take to transform higher education for an AI-driven world, ensure recommendations uphold Utah’s pro-human AI philosophy, and emphasize solutions that enhance human capability, support educator effectiveness, protect student well-being and promote responsible innovation as they shape the future of teaching, research and workforce readiness across the system.