Agency: State Board of Regents

Line Item: Economic Development

Function

This new line item came as a result of a restructuring of the State Board of Regents' Administrative line items during the 2009 General Session. This line item provides support for the Engineering Initiative, the Engineering Loan Repayment Program, and promotes economic development initiatives within the state.

Performance

The number of degrees awarded in engineering continues to increase, but the number of computer science degrees has taken a slight dip. Beginning in FY 2010, scholarships were available for engineering students.

Funding Detail

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Program: 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 was to double the number of graduates in engineering, computer science, and related technologies by 2006 and to triple the number by 2009. The Technology Initiative Advisory Board (TIAB) was created to assist the Board of Regents in the administration and allocation of the appropriated funds.

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 a total of $89.2 million since FY 2002 for this 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.

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.

Statutory Authority

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

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

Funding Detail

Program: Engineering Loan Repayment

Function

The Utah Engineering and Computer Science Loan Forgiveness Program (UECLP) began in 2001 as part of the Engineering and Computer Science Initiative created by the Legislature and Governor. The program provides qualified engineering and computer science students with a certificate of forgiveness which guarantees that upon completion of the requirements for loan forgiveness, the recipient will receive a direct credit for reduction of outstanding principal balances of the recipient's outstanding Stafford and Perkins loans.

Funding Detail

Program: Economic Development Initiatives

Function

This new program came as a result of a restructuring of the State Board of Regents' line items during the 2009 General Session. This program provides support to leverage USHE institutions' resources with the goal of sustaining and developing the economy of the state through regional and cluster acceleration efforts.

Funding Detail