LOGAN – House Bill 265 is Higher Education Strategic reinvestment, was signed by Governor Spencer Cox and went in effect on March 26, 2025. The bill affects Utah State University’s budget by $12.6 million.
Utah State University’s plan is to eliminate programs and combine colleges as well. They have gone through those programs and have proposed 36 programs that could be eliminated.
Amanda DeRito is the Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications for Utah State University.
“Some of the programs slated, or at least proposed to be eliminated, would include emphasis in economics degrees,” DeRito explained. “So one example is economic theory, emphasis and economics bachelor’s degree. Another example is the applied Associate of Science degree in business and commerce. And then, as far as you know, there’s also a Master’s of Science in financial economics.”
Utah State determined which programs to cut by looking at each outcome in the programs, and to determine which has the lowest outcome and which has the highest by students enrolling for the classes.
“Anyone who’s currently in those programs we were given to look at included enrollment data, completion rates, and professional outcomes once they were out of school,” DeRito explained. “State and local workforce demands, the cost of actually providing the program, and really where that fit into our mission and our role at Utah State University and Utah State University’s role within the state, right in each university really has a unique role within the state and provides unique things.”
Utah State’s reinvestment plan goes into effect in Fall of 2025 but students who have signed up for classes into the 36 different programs will not be affected, but will have a year or two to complete their degree. For the new students who are in the programs they will have to speak to their advisors to figure out next steps.
“We have specific programs we’re looking at to cut, but we’re always looking across the university at how to improve programs or change them so they better meet students’ needs. And that’s something that is always an ongoing process,” said DeRito
Despite making changes to programs and cutting them, Utah State is still trying to make sure every student succeeds and graduates.
“We’re really focused on making sure that students are really at the center of everything, so each student’s path to graduation matters, and whether through a teach out plan or a new academic path, we are absolutely committed to helping everyone who’s affected by program codes complete their degree and move into the workforce,” said DeRito.
The first day of fall semester at Utah State begins August 25th.