Board asks staff to seek a voting USBE seat on Utah System of Higher Education board

The Utah State Board of Education voted unanimously to direct staff to work with legislators on potential Utah code amendments to include a State Board of Education member as a voting member of the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) board.

Member Carrie moved the measure, saying teacher-educator programs administered by USHE increasingly intersect with K–12 responsibilities and that a voting seat would give the State Board a formal voice when higher-education policy affects credentialing and educator preparation. "There is a big difference between having a seat and being a voting member of a body," Carrie said, describing past experience as a nonvoting member on a charter school board.

Board members noted prior arrangements in which nonvoting USHE representatives sat on this board; Member Davis said representatives from USHE used to serve as nonvoting members on the State Board and that a voting seat could streamline communication on issues such as regent scholarships and program approvals.

Staff were directed to work with legislative partners to draft potential statutory language; the board did not approve final code text at the meeting.

The motion passed unanimously. The board’s action is a directive to staff to develop proposed code language for later board review and possible legislative introduction.