The course for higher education in Utah is set — at least for the next five years.
After spending an hour dotting i's and crossing t's, the State Board of Regents Friday unanimously adopted a policy delineating the roles and missions of each of the 10 units in the Utah System for Higher Education. Each school will be expected to remain within the parameters of its definition through the next five years, when another review will take place.
"Five years is as permanent as we can get," said Regent Jim Jardine, who headed the committee that has studied the issue for several months. The effort was undertaken to ensure a "something for everyone" range of educational opportunities for Utahns without unnecessary duplication and proliferation of programs.
Faced with the troublesome combination of increasing student numbers and state support that has failed to keep pace, the regents determined last year to define roles and missions and then require adherence to the guidelines.
"We wanted a good strong box with high sides so they can't crawl out," said Regent George Mantes, who has long been an advocate for controlling program growth in the system.
Some of the institutions that had hoped to expand their roles will be at least temporarily stymied. Utah Valley State College in Orem and Dixie State College in St. George, for instance, both had hoped to expand their baccalaureate offerings, but now will have to progress more slowly. Snow College in Ephraim had made tentative moves toward a limited number of bacca- laureate degrees, but now will have to rely on sister institutions to bring such programs to the campus if they are offered at all.
All of the institutions have contributed to the study process and expressed their concerns, but none of the presidents spoke Friday.
The regents used a classification system developed by the Carnegie Institution that has been adopted by many systems across the country. There are five categories, ranging from top-level research institutions to technical colleges. The regents created sub-categories in Type III to address the different maturity levels between UVSC and Dixie.
The roles and missions assigned Friday include:
Type I institutions, doctoral/research facilities that are expected to both create and disseminate information, offering a wide range of baccalaureate programs and graduate education leading to master's and doctor's degrees (University of Utah and Utah State University).
Type II institutions that offer degrees up to master's level and supply applied technology programs in high-demand job areas. Emphasis is on teaching and community service (Weber State and Southern Utah universities).
Type IIIA institutions offering certificate programs, associate and baccalaureate degrees but no graduate degrees. Focus is on teaching and community service (UVSC).
Type IIIB institutions, with primary focus on certificate and associate degree programs with a limited number of baccalaureate programs (Dixie).
Type IV institutions, community colleges offering certificates and associate degrees to prepare students for work or transfer to another institution for upper-division work (Snow College, College of Eastern Utah and Salt Lake Community College).
Type V institutions, technical colleges awarding certificates and associate degrees in an open-entry, open-exit format. The object is work preparation designed to meet local needs (Utah College of Applied Technology).
The effort will serve Utah well, said Utah Commissioner for Higher Education Cecelia Foxley. The role assignments leave no gaps in education offerings and ensure more stability in the system for the immediate future.
E-mail: tvanleer@desnews.com