Record Enrollment Growth for Utah's Public Colleges and Universities

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) student enrollment for the spring 2010 semester increased by 13,104 total students over spring 2009, a 9.48 percent increase. This is the largest year-over-year increase in USHE history.

An unprecedented enrollment boom combined with historic budget cuts are stretching campus resources, making it difficult to expand capacity to meet the demands of new growth without needed state funding. The result is decreasing services, program eliminations, less course availability and potential future enrollment caps.

“Our universities and colleges have been tightly managing budget cuts for the past 18 months,” said William Sederburg, commissioner of higher education. “Our presidents have truly exhibited remarkable leadership in managing such large enterprises in these circumstances.

“However, we are in unchartered territory. We are worried about maintaining an affordable quality education in such challenging circumstances. It is very difficult to project how much leaner these institutions can become with such a boom in enrollment combined with the state’s historic budget cuts.”

Utah’s colleges and universities were dealt a historic 17 percent budget cut in the 2009 legislative session. Those cuts were mitigated with an 8.5 percent one-time “backfill” from federal stimulus funds that run out in July 2010. Gov. Herbert has recommended permanently funding this “backfill” to avoid any further cuts. In contrast, legislative leaders are currently considering cuts as deep as 22 percent by July 2010.

“The Board of Regents made it clear last November that it supports the governor’s budget recommendations.” said Jed Pitcher, chair of the board of regents. “Further budget cuts will certainly jeopardize the state’s ability to feed the talent development pipeline needed to keep Utah’s economy competitive.”

“We are encouraged that legislative leaders recognize the long-term, irreparable impacts of such drastic cuts.” said Sederburg. “We are in continuing conversations and hope the cuts won’t run that deep.

“Higher education is lifeblood to our state. Our campuses provide a valuable opportunity for those impacted by today’s tough economic climate, our presidents are committed to maintaining the needed access to our institutions despite the circumstances.”

Unlike public K-12 schools whose budgets increase based on enrollment, in recent years colleges and universities have not received increased state funding for student enrollment increases. Furthermore, in-state tuition covers only 38 percent (on average) of a student’s full cost of a college education, highlighting the critical need to maintain state-funded support to make up the remaining 62 percent cost of services.

The budget-related full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount, which approximates the number of students enrolled full-time per semester (15 semester hours for undergraduate students and 10 semester hours for graduate students), also increased by an historic 11.11 percent FTE system-wide.

The Utah System of Higher Education includes all of the state’s nine public colleges and universities: The University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Snow College, Dixie State College, College of Eastern Utah, Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College.

Utah System of Higher Education

Total Enrollment Spring 3rd Week 2010

Total Headcount*

USHE Institution	2009	2010	Change	%
University of Utah	29,251	30,429	1,178	4.03%
Utah State University	21,866	23,229	1,363	6.23%
Weber State University	19,347	20,953	1,606	8.30%
Southern Utah University	7,395	7,448	53	0.72%
Snow College	3,541	3,851	310	8.75%
Dixie State College	6,052	7,693	1,641	27.12%
College of Eastern Utah	1,790	2,135	345	19.27%
Utah Valley University	23,214	26,322	3,108	13.39%
Salt Lake Community College	25,832	29,332	3,500	13.55%
USHE Total	138,288	151,392	13,104	9.48%
*Headcount can reflect multiple students attending multiple institutions.

Budget-related FTE**

USHE Institution	2008	2009	Change	%
University of Utah	22,328	23,413	1,085	4.86%
Utah State University	14,612	15,553	941	6.44%
Weber State University	11,115	12,265	1,150	10.35%
Southern Utah University	5,426	5,802	376	6.93%
Snow College	2,281	2,819	538	23.59%
Dixie State College	4,144	5,261	1,116	26.93%
College of Eastern Utah	1,223	1,488	265	21.67%
Utah Valley University	14,969	17,278	2,309	15.43%
Salt Lake Community	13,832	16,043	2,211	15.98%
USHE Total	89,931	99,922	9,991	11.11%
**FTE change total rounded to the nearest one (1)