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 addition, post-secondary education may be at a crossroads. Enrollment is expected to stagnate and even decrease in the coming years while institutions simultaneously feel a downward pressure on funding. At the same time, post-secondary governance must remain stable and effective. To achieve this goal, the Utah System of Higher Education must set a path for improved educational outcomes, which will help shape the future for Utahns and the state as a whole.
This 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.
In addition, it is appropriate to explore how boards can be successful as the Utah System of Higher Education looks toward the future. This report concludes by examining several facets of good board governance and provides suggestions for achieving them.
