Education leaders hash out goals

CEDAR CITY — Utah's higher education leaders are hashing out new goals to beat lagging enrollments and restock the state's pool of college-ready students.

Utah Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell outlined a campaign to increase participation in higher education during the annual planning meeting of the Board of Regents on Thursday.

"We live on some perceptions in this state that in education all is well. We believe that all of our kids are going into higher education. It's not true that all is well," Kendell said Thursday at the meeting at Southern Utah University.

Regent members did not decide on one of three plans and budget scenarios that Kendell pitched, but each scenario aims to increase participation with a mix of student incentives for participation, better high school preparation and more money for faculty.

The most aggressive plan — at about a $294 million cost over the next five years — aims to increase enrollment by 0.5 percent annually. Tuition increases under that plan could start at 6 percent each year and potentially go up to a 22.6 percent increase each year if the state doesn't chip in to the plan.

Mark Spencer, executive director of the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority, noted the higher education budget will need an extra $264 million in base funding in the next five years even if enrollments do not grow. The enrollment growth plan would tack on an additional $30 million to that base.

"This is a good investment on the part of the state. They're investing in their citizens to get the underemployed, the underprepared, the minority kids and women into higher education," Kendell said. "It is good for the state, good for the economy, good for them."

Final details of the enrollment plan and a proposed 2007-08 budget will likely be hashed out in September. The plans to increase enrollment are particularly timely as Utah's colleges sit on the cusp of a projected 10-year dry spell. In particular, Kendell said he's concerned about the participation of minorities and women in Utah's colleges and universities.

About 10 percent of Hispanic residents in Utah get at least a bachelor's degree, compared to 27 percent of white residents. In addition, the percentage of women in Utah with bachelor's degree or higher has fallen from ninth place in the nation to 25th place since 1940, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"Females are lagging. Whereas we think of ourselves as being a highly educated state, we're losing ground at just the time when there is a need for higher education," said David Buhler, associate commissioner of public affairs.