This bill enacts and amends provisions regarding the strategic approach of and investment in certain programs in the higher education system.
This bill:
- defines terms;
- requires certain reporting to and a study by the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee;
- provides for disbursement of certain reinvestment funds that are dedicated to a given degree-granting institution for reallocation to certain strategic investments under certain circumstances;
- requires each degree-granting institution to create a strategic reinvestment plan to reallocate funding from certain programs and divisions of the institution to certain programs and divisions that merit additional investment;
- requires the Utah Board of Higher Education (board) to report to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the Executive Appropriations Subcommittee regarding each institution's strategic reinvestment plan and execution of the plan over the upcoming three fiscal years;
- authorizes declining use of reinvestment funds to phase out reduced or eliminated programs or divisions of institutions over the upcoming three fiscal years;
- limits the number of credit hours a degree-granting institution may require between general education and degree-specific requirements;
- requires the board to develop a process to grant conditional approval of accelerated three-year degrees;
- allows the board to transfer certain appropriations as an exception to the prohibition on line-item transfers in the Budgetary Procedures Act; and
- makes technical and conforming changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 53B-1-301, 53B-16-102, 63J-1-206
Amended 2/3/2025 11:02:66: 53B-1-301, 53B-16-102, 63J-1-206