EAC approves strategic reinvestment plans for seven institutions, defers Utah State for further review

The Executive Appropriations Committee on Sept. 15 approved strategic reinvestment plans submitted by seven Utah institutions and deferred a final determination on Utah State University pending further review by the board and the new university president.

The committee heard a systemwide overview from Jeff Landward, commissioner of higher education, and Nate Talley, chief financial officer for the Utah System of Higher Education. Landward described the reinvestment process as a three‑year statutory exercise intended to shift resources into instruction and workforce priorities, and he thanked campus leaders for participation. Talley said the board had reviewed plans for statutory compliance and reported more than $23 million in net reinvestments into instruction and research across the system as a result of the plans.

Institutions described reallocations that in many cases reduced administrative budgets, consolidated academic units, discontinued low‑enrollment programs and shifted resources into high‑demand workforce areas. Highlights presented to the committee included:

- Univ…