Higher Education in Rural Utah

New polling suggests more Americans are re-evaluating the value of a college education. In this episode, host Jason Perry leads a discussion about how Utahns are feeling, and how state lawmakers are changing the way institutions are organized and funded.

THE DEEPER DIVE:
• Congressional debates are bringing the political process directly to college campuses across the state. Our expert panel discusses how this convergence helps prepare students for civic involvement later in life.
• For the past couple of years, Utah has been transforming higher education in the state. At Snow College, part of that process has involved establishing the Badger Ready Initiative, a program designed to help students develop the skills and confidence to be thoughtful leaders and active contributors in their communities.
• ⚖️ From a legislative level, the goal is for higher education institutions to be vibrant learning centers that approach issues from a position of neutrality. We explore how that allows students to grow without being told what to think.
• New Gallup polling shows that on a national level, a decreasing number of Americans view a college education as "very important". Our panel evaluates what is eroding public trust in these institutions and what can be done to restore public confidence.
• Polling from the Hinckley Institute of Politics shows that confidence is higher among Utahns compared to national numbers. Part of that trust may be due to the state's commitment to technical education and alternative education pathways. We discuss how Utah leaders have worked to expand opportunities for as many students as possible.
• We're in the second year of implementing a strategic reinvestment initiative for Utah's higher education institutions. This required colleges and universities to redirect funding into high performing and high demand programs. We evaluate how things are going at campuses across the state, but especially at rural schools.
• Utah's 18-to-24-year-old population is expected to keep growing until the year 2028 and then will decrease for the next two decades. This will likely present a serious enrollment challenge for the Utah System of Higher Education. Our panel discusses how these obstacles could allow higher ed to reinvent itself while still providing the learning opportunities Utahns need.

️ FEATURING:
• Stacee McIff – President, Snow College
• Rep. Karen Peterson – (R) Davis County
• Francis Gibson – Chair, Snow College Board of Trustees

Funding for The Hinckley Report is made possible in part by the Cleone Peterson Eccles Endowment Fund and by the financial contributions of PBS Utah members. If you would like to support the work we do, please visit https://pbsutah.org/supporthinckley