Utah Students Advocate Lawmakers to Fund High Education

Utah students at the Capitol in Salt Lake City

On February 4, 2012 over 200 students and business leaders gathered on the steps of the Utah state capital to rally in support of funding for Utah’s higher education. Amongst this party were members of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF). The livelihood of Utah’s academic productivity directly affects the future economic stability and sustainability of its various mountain communities. As conscientious supporters of sustainable mountain development, these students joined the rally to ensure the solidity of the future of Utah’s higher education.

Enrollment in Utah’s higher education has continued to soar over the last decade, but funding to keep up with enrollment growth has not, and the next ten years this will prove to be detrimental to not only higher education but to Utah’s economy as well. Recent Georgetown University studies have shown, that by 2020 66% of all jobs in Utah will require a post-secondary degree or certificate. In anticipation of this necessity, the students of Utah have worked together to raise awareness. Over the last month, students have gathered over 32,000 signatures of support for the further funding of Utah’s higher education, and also to support the importance of a degree for Utah residents in the future.

During meeting with State representatives on February 04, 2012

In order to achieve the goal of having 66% of all Utah employees in possession of a secondary degree or certificate, students, with the assistance of the Utah Student Association and the system of Utah Higher Education, gathered collectively to lobby their legislators. Over the course of the

day, over 60 legislators were visited and lobbied by students. Three major points were addressed during this event: the first, for Utah to increase funding to ensure that Utah institutions of higher education are nationally competitive. The Utah legislature should increase funding for university expansion, ensuring that our institutions have state of the art technology, facilities, and teaching methods and can support growing enrollment. Second, retain world-class professors, researchers, and administrators at our institutions of higher education. The Utah legislature must support pay increases for professors, researchers, and program administrators to ensure that our school remain competitive, and to continue strengthening standards for faculty performance and expectations while leaving tenure in place. Third, to support the increase for financial aid and scholarships for areas of expertise that will be in demand in the future workforce of Utah.

Tax dollars to Higher Education as percent of all state tax dollars have gone from 17% in 2002 to 15.8% in 2012. State tax funds per student have dropped by $1,372 since 2008. (Even with tuition increases Utah is still spending $1,058 less per student than 2008. With tuition on average in the state of Utah at $3,679, this poses a financial burden to the student, and a potential threat to the qualification of Utah’s future workforce. The initiative taken by the students to assume the responsibility of securing the economic livelihood of Utah is a noble task, but the burden must be shared with the Utah state legislators. In order to secure the economic stability and the livelihood of Utah and its mountain communities, demands to the growing number of students must be met.

John McClure with Senator Valentine

Using opportunity to visit state representatives, members of the UIMF met with a number of them in order to push through state legislative body during spring session a special resolution about state of Utah joining the United Nations-related Mountain Partnership in Rome, Italy. Draft of the resolution was already submitted for consideration by state lawmakers by Senator John Valentine, who is famous through his initiatives to develop close and strong ties with counterparts from many mountainous nations overseas, including in Central Asia.

John McClure, UVU student, President, Utah International Mountain Forum