Each state has a unique college governing structure. Utah’s is perhaps one of the most unique.
In 2023, the Utah Legislature introduced a new board structure to govern public post-secondary education. However, the subsequent replacement of the existing board and the Commissioner’s resignation led to a swift change – and perhaps an opportunity – in the face of coming enrollment and funding decreases.
The Utah Foundation’s newest report, A Primer on Utah’s Post-Secondary Education Governance System, may be used as a guide to better understand post-secondary education governance. The objective of this report is to:
- Help facilitate deeper conversations to improve this system.
- Explore how boards can be successful as the Utah System of Higher Education looks toward the future.
- Examine several facets of good board governance and provide suggestions for achieving them.
“All parts of the Utah System of Higher Education must work together to ensure that they are on the right track to best serve students,” said the report’s author, Ashley Marshall-Cantor. The report defines college as any formal education after high school. Ashley continued by saying, “Utahns should celebrate college at all levels… Utahns should brag about their community college degrees and technical certificates and certifications.”
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