Name: Utah State University officials wait for millions in budget funds
Uploaded: 2025-12-16T08:43:18.001Z
Duration: 2 min 48 s
Description: Utah State University officials wait on lawmakers for millions in budget funds

Utah State University officials wait on lawmakers for millions in budget funds

Utah

Utah State University (USU) is currently awaiting the release of $12 million in state budget funds, which have been withheld as part of a new legislative requirement for all Utah public universities. The legislation mandates that 10% of the statewide higher education budget be withheld until universities present strategic reinvestment plans, including program or administrative cuts. 

USU has received only 30% of its withheld funds so far, with the remainder pending the outcome of a legislative audit into prior spending. University officials, including President Brad Mortensen, have expressed commitment to meeting legislative objectives and plan to invest the funds in student success initiatives, artificial intelligence, and programs that bridge the gap between college and career. The audit results are expected to be made public at a legislative subcommittee meeting scheduled for January 30.

Utah State University officials wait for millions in budget funds

So they merged my school and another school. So that was kind of like, are they going to cut our program? Whose program are they going to cut? Nellie Mauga goes to Utah State University. According to new legislation, lawmakers would withhold 10% of their statewide budget, or $60 million from all Utah public universities until they presented a strategic reinvestment plan by cutting programs or administrative roles. At Utah State University, that was for $12 million. I was told to treat it like it's a yellow light, like we're proceeding with caution. But we are proceeding. To decide where that amount saved would go, higher education leaders, including USU's new president Brad Mortensen, presented the plan to lawmakers. But they only granted the school 30% of those funds so far. The rest of it still hangs in the balance. Based on a legislative audit into the spending by the previous president. Continue in good faith that the rest of the funding will flow eventually. We're committed to meeting the objectives of the legislature and to address any problems that are coming forward in the legislative audit. We reached out to the legislature for comment and got a statement from House Speaker Mike Schultz, saying in part, quote, we have full confidence in President Mortensen and believe the changes he made to Utah State University's strategic reinvestment plan. At the same time, we strongly felt it was important to give USU additional time to review and make any additional changes to its plan in response to the forthcoming audit before making a final determination about its compliance with HB 265. This money that we should be allowed to use, and they still are unsure if we're going to use it. So it's just frustrating. It's been painful for all of the colleges and universities. But we'll be stronger at the end of the day if we do this right. President Mortensen said they are looking to put the money toward programs that might encourage more people to go to college and get a job afterwards. Some investments in artificial intelligence and helping the programs to grow there. We're putting about $1.4 million into helping student success initiatives to help our students be able to navigate the college process more easily. I think there's like a kind of a big gap, like a bridge between college and your career. And so just having something to help kind of close that gap. President Mortensen said the legislative audit subcommittee meets on January 30th. And that's when he expects the USU audit to be made public so they can respond to that and then hopefully get the rest of the funding soon after. At Utah State University in Logan, I am Maithili Gubbi, FOX 13 News, Utah.

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