The state-mandated strategic reinvestment plans for Utah’s public degree-granting colleges and universities are a step closer to being in front of lawmakers.
On Tuesday, the Utah Board of Higher Education approved updated strategic reinvestment plans for a trio of universities: The University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State University.
Board approvals were granted earlier this year for the strategic reinvestment plans of Utah’s other five degree-granting institutions — including Utah Valley University, Southern Utah University, Utah Tech University, Salt Lake Community College and Snow College.
In June, the board granted “conditional approvals” to the University of Utah, USU and Weber State — after which the three institutions worked closely with the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education to finalize plan details and refine their respective reallocations, according to the Utah System of Higher Education.
Each of the eight schools is slated to present the respective strategic reinvestment plans to the Legislature’s Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee next Tuesday.
Earlier this year, the Legislature passed House Bill 265 — the so-called “strategic reinvestment” initiative requiring Utah’s eight public colleges and universities to reallocate millions of dollars to programs determined to be of highest value to both students and Utah’s economy.
Over the past few months, representatives from the eight schools presented their respective plans to the board.
There’s much on the line.
If the schools can secure approval from the Legislature, they can reclaim the 10% of the annual budget that was cut during the recent legislative session.
“We challenged our institutions to think boldly and strategically about how to direct resources toward the greatest impact for students and the state,” said Amanda Covington, chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education, in the news release.
“These updated plans reflect that systemwide commitment. From healthcare and STEM fields to timely degree completion and career readiness, Utah’s public colleges and universities are ensuring that strategic reinvestment translates directly into stronger educational quality and outcomes.”
Implementing the respective strategic reinvestment plans will exact an emotional and academic cost. Majors, programs, courses — and jobs — are expected to be cut in the reallocation process.
Historic changes underway at Utah’s public colleges/universities
Co-sponsored by Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, and Sen. Ann Millner, R-Ogden, the “Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment” was championed by Republican leadership as a necessary step in ensuring wise use of tax dollars — while also facing criticism from colleagues across the aisle and others in the academic community.
A few Republicans expressed concerns during the 2025 legislative session about the bill that calls for dramatic changes in operations at Utah’s eight public degree-granting institutions. But they ultimately stayed within the partisan line, voting to support HB265.
HB265 calls for a strategic reinvestment fund for Utah’s eight degree-seeking colleges and universities. The state’s base budget approved by the Legislature in January removed $60 million from the combined budgets of the eight schools.
Each institution’s budget “cut” was different — accounting for, say, the size of each school’s student body and its unique institutional mission.
The University of Utah, for example, had $19.5 million pulled from its budget — while $12.6 million was withheld from Utah State University. Smaller, regional institutions Southern Utah University and Utah Tech University had $3.1 million and $2.5 million pulled, respectively. Meanwhile the state’s largest two-year institution, Salt Lake Community College, had $5.2 million removed from its annual budget.
Reallocating instruction dollars — and cutting programs
Highlights of the updated plans that were approved Tuesday by the board include:
University of Utah — 95% of reinvestment allocations are directed to instruction and research, resulting in an 82% net increase in reallocations to those areas.
Utah State University — Over 83% of reinvestment allocations are dedicated to instruction, representing about an 18% net increase, with approval conditional on review by the university’s next president.
Weber State University – Nearly 75% of reinvestment allocations directed to instruction, representing an 8% net increase, with investments in science, health professions, business and emerging technologies.
Last week, the University of Utah announced plans to cut more than 80 courses and programs — ranging in academic fields from modern dance to mining engineering.
Meanwhile, several USU programs, degrees and certificates are expected to be discontinued — including bachelor’s degrees in American studies, agriculture communication, deaf education; master’s degrees in financial economics, fitness promotion; and an associate’s degree in theatre offered at the school’s Price, Utah, campus.
And at WSU, dozens of majors, certificates and minors are being eliminated — including majors in applied physics, dance education, geography, German and computer science teaching.
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