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MINUTES OF THE
HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Monday,
February 5, 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. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Evan J. Vickers
Sen. Chris H. Wilson
Rep. Walt Brooks
Rep. Brett Garner
Rep. Jon Hawkins
| 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. Jerry W Stevenson
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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| 1.Call to Order and Recognition of Board Members |
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| Chair Karen Peterson called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. |
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| 2.Space Utilization Report |
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| Paul Leef, Principal, and Frank Markley, Higher Education Strategist, SmithGroup discussed the statewide space utilization report. |
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| 3a-Space Utilization Report |
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| Sen. Riebe asked about the need for ownership of space. Paul Leef and Frank Markley responded. |
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| Rep. Walter asked about the space requirements for online learners. He also asked about the balance between aesthetics and space utilization. Frank Markley and Paul Leef responded. |
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| Chair Karen Peterson mentioned much of the actual space on USHE campuses were not included in previous studies and asked if more of the actual space is being considered. Paul Leef and Frank Markley responded. |
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| MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to approve the minutes of the February 1, 2024 meeting.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
Rep. J. Hawkins
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. M. McKell
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. K. Peterson
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. M. Strong
Sen. E. Vickers
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. M. Wheatley
Rep. S. Whyte
Sen. C. Wilson
| | Sen. K. Grover
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
Rep. D. Welton
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| Geoff Landward, Interim USHE Commissioner gave a report regarding Concurrent Enrollment at the USHE institutions with the assistance of Kris Coles, Assistant Commissioner for Student Affairs. |
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| Sen. Kwan asked how many credits students are completing before finishing high school and the percentage of general education classes. She also asked for clarification on the disparity between the two scholarship amounts. Kris Coles responded. |
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| Sen. Riebe asked about the distribution of scholarships throughout the state. Kris Coles responded. |
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| Rep. Garner asked about the processes in place for right of first refusal for institutions. Kris Coles responded. |
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| Rep. Whyte asked if it is financially viable to keep the extremely low cost for Concurrent Enrollment and how long can that amount be sustained. Kris Coles and Comm. Landward responded. |
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| 4.Sub 120 Bachelor's Degrees |
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| WSU Pres. Mortensen, SUU Pres. Benson, and UVU Pres. Tuminez explained the Sub 120 Bachelor's Degree Programs. |
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| Sen. Vickers asked how to balance having breadth in a college experience. Pres. Benson, Pres. Tuminez, and Pres. Mortensen responded. |
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| Rep. Welton asked for more clarification of the nomenclature and accreditation issues. Pres. Mortensen and Pres. Tuminez responded. |
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| Sen. McKell expressed concern about this initiative. Pres. Benson, Pres. Tuminez and Pres. Mortensen responded. |
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| Sen. Kwan expressed concern about the initiative but was more comfortable having this have a very narrow focus and if they are leading to graduate programs. Pres. Tuminez and Pres. Mortensen responded. |
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| Chair Karen Peterson understands the hesitancy but is supportive of the initiative. |
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| Richard Ellis, Executive Director, Utah Educational Savings Plan discussed the My529 program. |
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| Sen. Riebe asked if there is a way to make this easier to give this as a gift. Richard Ellis responded. |
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| 6.Simplified (Direct) Admissions/Application Fee Waivers |
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| Geoff Landward introduced the simplified application and direct admission process. |
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| Kris Coles and Cydni Tetro, USHE Board Member, reported on the progress of the simplified application and the direct admission process. |
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| Sen. McKell asked for an update about fraudulent applications that occurred after the elimination of fees. Kris Coles responded. |
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| Rep. Garner asked if any of the funding request included fraud prevention. Kris Coles and Cydni Tetro responded and continued the presentation. |
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| 7.State Funded Financial Aid Report |
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| David Pulsipher, Senior Assistant Commissioner discussed the state-funded financial aid report. |
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| Sen. Riebe asked if the ethnicity and gender statistics equally reflect the demographics of the state. David Pulsipher responded and continued the presentation. |
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| Sen. Kwan asked about the disparity of funding between the Opportunity Scholarship and the Prime Scholarship. David Pulsipher responded and continued the presentation. |
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| Sen. Riebe asked about opportunities when students are already enrolled in college. David Pulsipher responded. |
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| 8.Requests for Appropriation |
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| Rep. Ryan Wilcox explained this funding request with the assistance of Pres. Mortensen. |
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| 9a-RFA - Completion Grant Pilot Catapult Scholarship Initiative |
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| Rep. Mike Petersen asked for clarification about reasons why students quit attending colleges. Pres. Mortensen responded. |
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| Utah Tech University Innovation Lab |
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| Rep. Joseph Elison explained this funding request with the assistance of Eric Pedersen, Dean of College of Science, Engineering & Technology, Utah Tech University. |
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| 9b-Innovation Labs Handout |
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| Rep. Brooks expressed support for this funding request. |
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| Utah Tech University Innovation District Management |
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| Rep. Colin Jack explained this funding request with the assistance of Michael Lacourse, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Utah Tech University. |
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| 9c-Innovation District Management Presentation |
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| 9c-Innovation District Management Handout |
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| Sen. Mike McKell explained this funding request with the assistance of Tammy Clark, Associate Provost, UVU and Risa Klaubdaung, Internship Student. |
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| 9d-RFA - Jobs CEO Council at UVU |
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| 9.Board Prioritization of RFAs and Introduction of Voting Packet |
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| Joseph Fitzgerald briefly explained the committee prioritization process. |
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| Sen. Millner asked about the basic needs requests. Joseph Fitzgerald responded. |
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| MOTION:Rep. Shipp moved to adjourn.The motion
passed
with a vote of
13-0-7.
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| Yeas -
13 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
7 | |
Rep. W. Brooks
Rep. B. Garner
Sen. K. Grover
Rep. J. Hawkins
Sen. K. Kwan
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. M. Petersen
Rep. K. Peterson
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. R. Shipp
Rep. M. Strong
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. M. Wheatley
| | Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. E. Vickers
Rep. D. Welton
Rep. S. Whyte
Sen. C. Wilson
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| Chair Karen Peterson adjourned the meeting at 10:47 a.m. |
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