Republican lawmakers in Utah are hoping to reallocate 10% of the state’s higher education budget towards high-performing degrees this year. They expect that this change will ensure a higher return on investment for students and the state.
The bill, known as HB 265, cites audits done by the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Auditors recommended that higher education institutions “develop and oversee a uniform methodology to calculate program-level return on investment, including program costs and completion rates.”
This cut is expected to affect programs institutions offer that have low enrollment and graduation metrics, such as some language-based majors. Majors that are favored within this change are those with dominantly high enrollment, such as nursing or software engineering.
If this bill passes, it gives lawmakers the ability to “modify, consolidate, or terminate programs of instruction, and may require an institution to develop a performance improvement plan and annually report back to the board regarding the plan.”
Many lawmakers oppose this plan.
“I’m a little bit concerned with the focus only being on, ‘did this person get a job? …did this person create a new venture? Did they create something in the new economy?” said North Odgen Sen. John Johnson. “Did they become the great leaders in academia or did we produce the next generation of thinkers that are going to be involved in the legislative process?”
Other lawmakers, such as Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, who is sponsoring HB265, argue that the reallocation is for the sake of students.
“It really is about making every dollar count in our system and making opportunities count for students in a way that provides them both general and specific education,” says Peterson.
In order to stay up to date with this bill and other local news, check out SUUNews’ webpage. State lawmakers’ contact information can also be found on the Utah State Legislature website.
Author: Tallon Taylor
Photographer: Anna Mower
Editor: Anna Mower
news@suunews.net
