With less than two months until the University of Utah must finalize a plan to find a way to cut $19.5 million from its budget under HB265, the administration has provided few specifics about which programs will face reductions. Despite early discussions about potential strategies before the legislative session, the university has shared minimal details since January.
Under the bill’s “strategic reinvestment” mandate, the university must submit its cost-cutting plan to the Utah System of Higher Education by the end of June. While President Taylor Randall has offered some reassurance that the plan won’t immediately eliminate majors or specifically target arts and humanities programs, the administration has not publicly detailed which areas will bear the heaviest burden when changes take effect this fall.
Randall said whatever plan they develop won’t immediately eliminate majors, abruptly close resources on campus or target arts and humanities programs…