Higher
Education
in 2010
The Basic Argument At a Glance...
Budget
• Almost 1:1 correlation between
• Higher Education received
educational attainment & the economy an overall 17% ($139 mil-
• Utah’s advantage is its workforce lion) budget reduction, 8%
of which was “backfilled” by
• It’s time to position Utah for a federal stimulus ARRA funds. • Undergraduate class sizes
comeback! • Over 940 FTE positions have
been eliminated (25% invol-
untarily).
Utah’s Higher Education Network Scholarships & Aid
• 29,596 Employees (Fall 2008)
• 152,228 Students (24,828 new students since Fall 2008)
• Award amounts for the
New Century and Regents’
• 25,415 certificates & degrees
Scholarships are being
• $400-$500 million/year in research awarded at the full amounts
• 24,000 students helped by UHEAA & UESP with recent commitment to
fund $1.5 million shortfall
due to increased demand.
• One of nation’s top 529 plans
• Legislation being drafted to
• Over $2.7 billion in assets clarify and improve desired
outcomes of programs.
• Lowest default rate in the nation • Student loan volume has in-
• $2.1 billion in loans creased 29% and student loan • The Board of Regents ap-
dollars have increased 34%
since FY 2008.
• College prep message to 8th grade • Changes in federal student
• Involves volunteers from business loan program will impose
additional costs on students
services such as financial aid
and counseling.
Impact to Students
• More adjuncts (many funded
on one-time money that
runs out in FY 2011).
• SLCC will cut 700 classes
despite a 15 % enrollment
increase.
have increased as much as
25%
• Fewer class sections - limit-
ing access for students, and
unintended “soft cap” on
enrollment.
• Less student services to help
students navigate their edu-
cation, and increased time
to graduation.
Enrollment & Tuition
• Student enrollment has
increased by 17% (28,428
students) in two years.
proved tuition increases of
less than 10%.
• If tuition funds had been
used to make up the total
budget cuts, it would have
to be increased over 50%
systemwide.
 2010 Legislative Priorities

1. Add back funds to reduce 17% cut.

Regents have prioritized needs with the goal of replacing one-time federal stimulus dollars with ongoing or one-time funds,
keeping higher education’s cut to approximately 9%.
2. Recognize efforts of colleges and universities to accommodate growth
Institutions are absorbing over 24,000 new students at the same time budgets are being cut. Colleges and universities are
demonstrating their commitment to students by maintaining core services and keeping tuition low.
3. Invest in economic development activities
USTAR has began to prove the valuable economic payoffs that come through an investment in higher education. USHE has
partnered with the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) to
launch three pilot initiatives focusing on accelerating the growth of targeted industries, expanding on the USTAR model on a
regionalized basis.
5. Bond for buildings
USHE is requesting bonding for higher education facilities. Approval for higher education facilities would help institutions
better meet the demand for skilled workers in these high-tech industries, while at the same time help improve the economy’s
“soft-spot” in the construction industry by moving forward with large construction projects, despite the state’s economic slow-
down.

Other key legislation

• College of Eastern Utah/Utah State University Affiliation (Sen. Hinkins and Rep. Painter)
Legislation is required to implement the recommendation of the Board of Regents in July to create an affiliation between the
College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University, with CEU as a Comprehensive Branch Campus. The Memorandum of Under-
standing now in progress between CEU and USU will inform the drafting of the legislation.
• Scholarship Amendments (Rep. Hughes and Sen. Valentine)
Amendments are needed to make the New Century Scholarship financially sustainable, as well as to improve the program.
Some minor amendments to the Regents’ Scholarship program will also be included.
• UESP Amendments (Sen. Niederhauser)
Technical amendments to the Utah Educational Savings plan statute.

Please feel free to contact us:

Bill Sederburg, Commissioner of Higher Education (801-321-7103, commissioner@utahsbr.edu)
Dave Buhler, Associate Commissioner for Public Affairs (801-321-7162, dbuhler@utahsbr.edu)

Updated November 4, 2009