In the physiology of Utah's economy, most agree that the higher education bone is connected to the economic bone.

The problem, discussed Monday in a governor's forum about economic growth, is that the higher education bone is more specifically connected to the state funding bone, and in recent years, the state has been unable to fully support the weight of a fiscally demanding public higher education system.

Speaking to economists, college presidents, business leaders and others including Lt. Gov. Gayle McKeachnie, Utah Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell pointed out how other states like Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, California and Kentucky have backed higher education despite tough economic times.

"What is the state's direction?" Kendell asked.

When Gov. Olene Walker suggested in a small-group session that there needs to be a focus on finding other financial means than just the Legislature, Utah State University President Kermit Hall reminded her that USU could become privatized — and University of Utah President Michael Young nodded in agreement.

Earlier in the four-hour meeting, Walker used several examples of states that are saving money in public higher education by trying things like setting limits on the amount a state will fund the cost of a student's education, or completely revamping the way public higher education is governed.

Kendell said any economic plan put forward by the next governor won't be successful without higher education as a central component. The conclusion he and others reached was that there needs to be stronger partnerships that include higher education, the Legislature and the business community.

In an effort to get all sides thinking of new directions, University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd talked about the road to get his school ranked among the top 20 public universities in the country and to get public higher education on track.

Examples of what Todd said has worked in Kentucky included: develop matching fund agreements with the state for degree programs that bring "prominence" to the state; create state funding that rewards a school's performance in certain areas instead of how many students a school has; steer a school's athletic program toward funding itself; and allow the children of out-of-state alumni to attend the university at in-state prices.

Some of what Todd outlined is already happening in Utah, such as raising tuition to fill state funding gaps and eliminating the duplication of program offerings from one school to the next. One national study already ranks Utah as the most efficient at running its public higher education system.

Which brings school officials back to talking about things like the need for more physical space to do more research, the ability to attract and retain the best faculty and — in the case of the U. — a safer, revamped library, all of which currently relies to some extent on state funds.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com