Students showing off school computers and other high-tech gizmos in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday offered a fitting backdrop for discussion in the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee over what to do about college technology spending.
The Utah State Board of Regents wants $76 million over the next four years to push the information superhighway, with $64 million of that obtained through bonding or one-time funds and $12 million from ongoing funds.Higher education officials want $19 million of that in the upcoming budget. Gov. Mike Leavitt is willing to pay $3 million in ongoing funds and $5 million in one-time surplus revenues.
But legislative fiscal analyst Boyd Garriott recommended no extra money be allocated until the system comes up with a comprehensive plan detailing exactly what will be purchased and done with the cash.
"What is the mission and the vision this will buy? What is it supposed to accomplish?" Garriott asked. "The plans we've received are rather sketchy."
Garriott said states that have plunged into the world of high-tech education without such planning have ended up in financial tatters.
He added that Utah's public schools moved quickly into technology learning but in some cases failed to provide enough teacher training to use the new equipment. That has resulted in the "computers as doorstops" scenario in certain schools.
But higher education officials were quick to point to technology success stories.
"It's kind of crazy to say there isn't a plan," declared Cecelia Foxley, commissioner of higher education. "It's been worked on for many years."
Foxley admitted there is no central written document. But she said the success of such things as university library networks, KULC-TV (TV college courses) and EDNET (interactive TV courses) showed planning and forethought.
KULC has seen enrollments jump from 965 students in 1988 to 4,336 last year, while EDNET has experienced an increase from 433 students eight years ago to 2,973 students last year.
Foxley said Utah is considered a leader in technology education in the country and draws educators from other states who want to learn about how they can plug into the information superhighway.