Utah’s public institutions will lose approximately $60 million in July due to budget cuts, but can recover this funding via program reductions tailored to meet workforce demand. Under House Bill 265, schools must reform to bolster enrollment, improve job placement, and consider workforce needs. Some universities plan to eliminate low-enrollment programs, such as certain ethnic and gender studies minors, to invest in areas like online pathways and social work, reflecting the law's emphasis on aligning education with immediate economic needs.
"Academic freedom was never designed to prop up programs with declining enrollment or poor outcomes for students." -Rep. Karen Peterson, a Republican state lawmaker who sponsored HB 265
"A big part of our strategic reinvestment plan, and the key objective of HB 265, was to better align our offerings with workforce needs." -Bryan Magaña, a Weber State spokesperson.
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