Agency: State Board of Regents

Line Item: Engineering Initiative

Function

In the 2001 General Session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 61 which established an Engineering and Computer Science Initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to double the number of graduates in engineering, computer science, and related technologies by 2006 and to triple the number by 2009. A Technology Advisory Board was created to assist the Board of Regents in the administration and allocation of the technology appropriations.

The Legislature recognized that a significant increase in the number of engineering and computer science graduates from the Utah System of Higher Education over the next several years would stimulate critical technology occupations of the State.

To advance the initiative, the Legislature has appropriated $39.2 million to the USHE since the inception of the Initiative. An important component of the legislation requires USHE institutions to evaluate current program offerings and reallocate funds internally to leverage the state appropriated dollars to enhance the objective of this initiative. The following table demonstrates how the institutions have complied with the spirit and intent of this technology initiative:

It should be noted that even during the period of the State's weak economy, engineering and computer science graduates received job offers in Utah at higher than average starting salaries. Increasing support for engineering and computer science will have a positive impact on the economic development of the State.

Statutory Authority

The following statute applied to the Engineering Initiative in addition to the laws previously mentioned in Chapter II:

• UCA 53B-6-105 establishes the Engineering and Computer Science Initiative and defines the duties of the advisory board.

Funding Detail