Disruptions and opportunities: SLCC President Greg Peterson reflects on his first year on job

SALT LAKE CITY — It's only been a little over a year since Greg Peterson claimed the leadership reins at Salt Lake Community College, Utah's largest two-year education institution.

But even during his fairly brief tenure, the college president with a fondness for sporting Bruin-blue Converse Chuck Taylors has witnessed defining moments at a sprawling institution that enrolls tens of thousands of Utah students in programs ranging from accounting and aircraft electronics — to welding and mortuary science.

For starters, Peterson and his SLCC staff were recently required by the Utah Legislature — via HB265's strategic reinvestment initiative — to reallocate $5.2 million to campus programs determined to be of highest value to both students and Utah's economy.

Those reallocation efforts at SLCC happened amid historic disruptions to higher education across the country that included a stripped down federal Education Department and uncertainties for immigrant students.

And on a celebratory note, the Bruins baseball team made SLCC history in May claiming the Junior College World Series.

Peterson, a first-generation college graduate, visited Monday with the Deseret News and KSL editorial boards to discuss the challenges of his maiden year at SLCC — and the opportunities that await.

Meeting the challenges of HB265

When formulating its strategic reinvestment plan, SLCC focused on three "major outcomes" in support of the bill's goals to align funding to evolving student and workforce needs:

• Reinvesting in workforce and high-demand transfer programs — including over $2 million reinvested in technical programs, almost $1 million in the Gail Miller Business School and $586,000 in the School of Health Sciences.
• Reducing administrative overhead costs to reinvest in instruction programs by, in part, eliminating five administrator positions and through consolidation.
• And centering student outcomes in the decision-making process — prompting almost $600,000 in additional reductions that went beyond HB265's budget reduction requirements.

SLCC's proposal would result in decreasing the number of instructional offerings from 195 to 147 total certificate and degree programs, while also consolidating the School of Arts, Communication & Media.

"House Bill 265, for us, really was about how we are ensuring that our programs (are preparing) our students for the outcomes they're trying to achieve," Peterson told the Deseret News/KSL board.

Peterson said SLCC's strategic reinvestment proposals considered multiple factors — including salary outcomes of programs, program completion rates and whether a particular program "was providing something else significant for our community."

Many of the programs eliminated at SLCC, he added, were not meeting the changing demands of particular industries. Additionally, there were reinvestments in the humanities, sciences and business.

Looking forward, he said, SLCC is poised to meet the evolving demands of industries such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence — and in health sciences fields such as nursing, radiologic technology and surgical technology.

The vast majority of SLCC students are Utahns — so they flow naturally into Utah businesses with established connections with the college. "We've got great relationships with our local industries, especially in health care and with hospitals," said Peterson.

Related:

'Hard things lead to adaptation': Utah's colleges on what they'll cut, add following state pressure

A Utah Board of Higher Education meeting in June offered glimpses into the future of the state's eight public colleges and universities after new legislation was passed this year.

Despite the challenges presented by HB265, Peterson believes state lawmakers are friends of higher education. "The Legislature has made an investment — and continues to make an investment — in higher education."

Peterson added that he appreciates Utah's legislative leaders possessing "a willingness to engage."

When asked if the humanities and liberal arts studies are in peril in today's scrutiny of higher education, Peterson said that college campuses have sometimes bifurcated liberal arts from viable career paths.

He noted that today's SLCC programs, regardless of subject matter, are connected to career outcomes and building durable skills that will serve graduates well in Utah industries.

"We don't want welders who can't critically think — and we want English majors who can get a job," he said.

Peterson cited a recent study by the Utah System of Higher Education that revealed many graduates from the state's public colleges lack essential workplace skills.

While Utah industries were generally pleased with the preparedness of recent graduates, many former students had a scarcity of "durable skills" — those interpersonal skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, resilience and flexibility.

It's the evolving role of today's higher education institutions in Utah — including SLCC — to empower their students with both up-to-date technical skills and timeless durable skills, he said.

A campus defined by diversity, opportunity

Peterson also highlighted the unique role SLCC plays in offering a breadth of higher education and career paths to a diverse student body.

The school's challenge is to maximize each student's "return of investment" regardless of their educational and career goals, he said.

While 72% of SLCC graduates transfer to a four-year institution, others are on campus to claim an associate degree or technical certificate to immediately advance them in their chosen careers.

Many SLCC students are classified as "nontraditional." The average age at the school is 25 — but many are much older, especially those attending the school's Salt Lake Technical College. And 70% of SLCC students hold down jobs while attending school.

Meanwhile, 47% are first-generation students — while 33% identify as people of color.

At a national moment when immigrants and foreign students are facing challenges in American colleges, SLCC has sought ways to offer support.

Peterson points to the school's SLCC Dream Center in West Valley City that provides holistic assistance to students facing obstacles in pursuing higher education "due to challenges stemming from their experiences in a new country."

Such programs are linking SLCC with the communities it serves.

While credit-bearing SLCC students will be expected to pay about 3% more for tuition during the 2025-2026 academic year, the cost of school is not what prompts students to drop out, said Peterson.

In fact, 90% of students leave SLCC with no student debt, according to the school.

Instead, said Peterson, the rising cost of food, transportation, child care and other household expenses are forcing some would-be students to forgo higher education.

So SLCC prioritizes delivering services that will allow students to continue their studies.

"We have food pantries and partnerships that are accessible for students — and we have child care opportunities," said Peterson.

Peterson's own nontraditional academic path

Many look at AI as a looming danger for education. But Peterson sees opportunities.

He recalls a time, not too long ago, when many were fearful that the internet would upheave the classroom. Now, of course, the internet is fully integrated into the classroom.

"I see the same thing for artificial intelligence," said Peterson, adding that adaptability and focus-shifts will be demanded to optimize AI's emerging capabilities and tools.

Peterson revealed his humor when asked Monday how he came to be SLCC's ninth president: "Other people made poor choices," he said, smiling.

But his own nontraditional path through academia exposed him to folks of all backgrounds. There were times when he worked three jobs to save money for school. He still appreciates the courage demanded of many to walk into a college classroom.

Peterson also relishes those impromptu campus conversations that he has with SLCC students who may not know that the sneaker-clad guy they are chatting with is the college president.

Those conversations remind Peterson of his own college experiences.

"And they remind me of the commitments and promises that we have to fulfill."

Related topics