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MINUTES OF THE
HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Thursday,
February 1, 2024
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8:00 a.m.
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110 Senate Building
Members Present:
Sen. Keith Grover, Senate Chair
Rep. Karen M. Peterson, House Chair
Rep. R. Neil Walter, House Vice Chair
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Karen Kwan
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson
Sen. Evan J. Vickers
Sen. Chris H. Wilson
Rep. Walt Brooks
Rep. Brett Garner
Rep. Michael J. Petersen
| Rep. Rex P. Shipp
Rep. Mark A. Strong
Rep. Douglas R. Welton
Rep. Mark A. Wheatley
Rep. Stephen L. Whyte
Members Absent:
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Rep. Jon Hawkins
Staff Present:
Ben Leishman, Finance Manager
Joseph Ryan Fitzgerald, Financial Analyst
Lorna Wells, Committee Secretary
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Grover called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. |
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| Courtney White, Interim President, Utah Tech University gave an overview of UTU, with the assistance of Paul Morris, Vice President of Administrative Services. |
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| 3a-Utah Tech Presentation 24GS |
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| Rep. Karen Peterson asked about the lower completion rates. Pres. White responded. |
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| Rep. Shipp asked about the expenditures regarding scholarships over the past few years. Pres. White responded. |
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| 3.Approval of Minutes - January 30, 2024 |
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| MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the January 30, 2024 meeting.The motion
passed
with a vote of
14-0-6.
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| Yeas -
14 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
6 | |
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. B. Garner
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. K. Peterson
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. M. Strong
Sen. E. Vickers
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. S. Whyte
Sen. C. Wilson
| | Rep. J. Hawkins
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. M. McKell
Rep. R. Shipp
Sen. J. Stevenson
Rep. D. Welton
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| 4.Requests for Appropriation |
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| Sen. Grover explained this funding request with the assistance of Jason Perry, Vice President of Government Relations, University of Utah. |
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| 4b- RFA - 2024 Presidential Debate |
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| The University of Utah distributed coins from the Vice Presidential debate in 2020. |
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| Rep. Peterson asked how much was appropriated for the Vice Presidential debate. Jason Perry responded. |
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| Sen. Millner congratulated the university for procuring this important debate. She asked about specific funding allocations. Jason Perry responded. |
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| Rep. Garner asked what would happen to the money if the event did not take place. Jason Perry responded. |
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| Sen. Wilson asked who will be debating. Jason Perry responded. |
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| Chair Grover congratulated the University on securing this event. |
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| University of Utah Medical School Expansion |
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| Sen. Grover explained this funding request with assistance of Jason Perry and Dr. Michael Goode, CEO, University of Utah Health and Senior Vice President of Health Sciences. |
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| 4c- RFA - University of Utah Medical School Expansion |
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| Transitioning Partial to Fully Benefited Employees |
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| Rep. Casey explained this funding request with the assistance of Geoff Landward, USHE Interim Commissioner. |
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| 4d- RFA - Transitioning Partial to Fully Benefited Employees |
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| 5.Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Higher Education |
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| Phil Dean, Public Finance Senior Research Fellow, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and Carrie Mayne, USHE Chief Economist, gave this presentation. |
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| 5a-Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Higher Education |
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| RFAs (Continued) Statewide Energy Education & Workforce Initiative |
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| Sen. Stevenson explained this funding request with the assistance of Devin Wiser, Vice President for Government and External Affairs, Utah State University. |
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| 4a- RFA - Statewide Energy Education |
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| Comm. Landward gave an overview of shared services at USHE with the assistance of Russ Galt, Assistant Commissioner USHE. |
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| Sen. Kwan asked about if internships at the point of the mountain would limit access for students. She also asked about artificial intelligence contracts. Geoff Landward responded to both questions. |
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| Rep Whyte asked about the timeline for the various shared processes. Geoff Landward responded. |
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| Rep. Walter asked if there have been past studies or evaluations about possible savings that have been gained across the system. Geoff Landward mentioned the recent "Huron" study and will provide this information to committee members. |
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| Rep. Karen Peterson recognized that there are difficulties in making these changes and asked how Legislators could help accomplishing some of the proposals. Geoff Landward responded. |
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| 7.Student Success Endowment |
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| Geoff Landward explained this endowment program with the assistance of Marlo Oaks, Utah State Treasurer. |
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| 7a-Student Success Endowment |
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| Sen. Riebe asked about the Board that is mentioned on Slide 7. Marlo Oaks responded. |
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| Rep. Karen Peterson asked if USHE is considering where there are gaps across the system. Geoff Landward responded. |
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| 8.Utah College Advising Corps |
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| Geoff Landward gave a brief introduction to the UCAC program. |
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| Taylor Adams, USHE Associate Commissioner of Student Affairs and Richard Gonzales, USHE Assistant Commissioner for Access explained this program. |
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| 8a-Utah College Advising Corps |
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| Sen. Kwan asked for more information about community partnerships. She also asked for clarification about the financing. Taylor Adams responded to both questions. |
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| Rep. Walter discussed some of the issues with engaging high school students and their awareness about the importance of grades starting in ninth grade. Taylor Adams responded. |
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| Rep. Peterson discussed the past funding challenges. Taylor Adams responded. |
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| 9.Requests for Appropriation |
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| Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth Programs |
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| Sen. Derrin Owens explained this funding request with the assistance of Nathan Caplin, HEIY Program Director, Utah Tech University. |
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| 9c- RFA - Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth Program Presentation |
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| 9c- RFA - Higher Education for Incarcerated Youth Program Handout |
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| Business and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Expansion |
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| Rep. Watkins explained this funding request from Douglas Anderson, Dean, Huntsman School of Business and USU; and Doug Miller, Chief Administrative Officer, USU Eastern & Price. |
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| 9a- RFA - Business and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Expansion Handout |
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| Sen. Hinkins mentioned the importance of changing the Utah East Region's image. |
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| Digital Forensics Crime Lab Training Expansion |
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| Rep. Brooks explained this funding request with the assistance of Mark Spooner, Director of the UT Crime Lab and Kylie Bucanan, student intern at the lab. |
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| 9b-Digital Forensics Lab 1 |
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| 9b-Digital Forensics Lab 2 |
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| Sen. Riebe congratulated the Crime Lab on the great work. |
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| K-12 STEM Outreach Community/Rural Expansion |
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| Rep. Joseph Elison explained this funding request with the assistance of Jessica Davis, Director of STEM Outreach, UTU. |
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| 9d- RFA - K-12 STEM Outreach Community Rural Expansion Presentation |
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| 9d - RFA - K-12 STEM Outreach Community Rural Expansion Handout.pdf |
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| Utah Academic Library Consortium |
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| Rep. Dan Johnson explained this funding request with the assistance of John Ostler, Director of Libraries, Snow College; and Jennifer Duncan, Dean of Libraries at USU. |
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| 9e- RFA - Utah Academic Library Consortium Presentation |
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| 9e- RFA - Utah Academic Library Consortium Handout |
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| Tanner's Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities |
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| Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost explained this funding request with the assistance of Mary Ann Lee, Director and Lisa Thornton, attorney, and mother of student with intellectual disabilities. |
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| 9g- RFA - Tanner's Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities |
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| 9g - RFA Tanner's Dance Program LEADD video |
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| USHE Marine Sciences Laboratory Partnership |
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| Sen. Kirk Cullimore explained this funding request with the assistance of Brent Anderson, Founder CEO, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. |
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| 9f- RFA - USHE Aquarium Marine Sciences Laboratory Partnership |
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| MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion
passed
with a vote of
15-0-5.
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| Yeas -
15 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
5 | |
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. B. Garner
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. K. Kwan
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. K. Peterson
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. S. Whyte
Sen. C. Wilson
| | Rep. J. Hawkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
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| Chair Grover adjourned the meeting at 10:32 a.m. |
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