- The Utah System of Higher Education approved strategic reinvestment plans for the University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State University.
- Plans focus on reallocating funds to high-impact programs like nursing and engineering.
- Legislative approval is pending, with $52 million supporting instruction and research initiatives.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah System of Higher Education's board on Tuesday approved updated strategic reinvestment plans from the University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State University.
In June, the Board of Higher Education approved plans for Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University, Utah Valley University, Snow College and Salt Lake Community College.
Tuesday's move now clears the way for all public degree-granting schools under the board's umbrella to advance their proposals to the Legislature for review.
Earlier this year, the Legislature passed HB265 — the so-called "strategic reinvestment" initiative requiring Utah's eight public colleges and universities to reallocate millions of dollars to programs determined to be of the highest value to both students and Utah's economy.
The institutions' respective proposals outline how each university will reallocate funding from administrative efficiencies, underutilized courses and lower-priority areas into "high-impact instruction, critical research and workforce-aligned programs such as nursing, engineering and artificial intelligence, among many others," said a release from Utah System of Higher Education.
Once the schools' respective plans are approved by the board and eventually by the Legislature, they can reclaim the 10% of their annual budget that was cut during the recent legislative session.
"We challenged our institutions to think boldly and strategically about how to direct resources toward the greatest impact for students and the state," Amanda Covington, chairwoman of the Board of Higher Education, said in a statement. "These updated plans reflect that systemwide commitment. From health care and STEM fields to timely degree completion and career readiness, Utah's public colleges and universities are ensuring that strategic reinvestment translates directly into stronger educational quality and outcomes."
Across the Utah System of Higher Education, over 85% of all reinvestment dollars — nearly $52 million — further support instruction and research, with a net increase of nearly $24 million in those areas. Notable investments include health care programs, STEM fields, expanded technical education capacity and initiatives aimed at improving student success.
As for the latest three universities' updated plans, the University of Utah saw 95% of its reinvestment allocations directed to instruction and research, good for an 82% net increase in reallocations to those areas.
Utah State wasn't far behind, with 83% of its reinvestment allocations devoted to instruction for an 18% net increase. USU's approval is conditional upon review by the university's next president.
Weber State University's reinvestment came via 75% of its allocations dedicated to instruction, representing an 8% net increase, with investments across science, health professions, business, and emerging technologies sectors.
Now that the board's approvals are finalized, all of the strategic reinvestment plans will be presented to the legislative Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Aug. 19 and subsequently to the Education Appropriations Subcommittee for statutory approval. Once final legislative approval is secured, reinvestment funds will be appropriated to institutions to advance their respective strategies over the coming years.
Institutional summaries and reinvestment plans from Tuesday's meeting can be found here.
