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Southern Utah University reports enrollment growth, higher retention and regional workforce partnerships
Summary
Southern Utah University President Mindy Benson presented growth and completion data, highlighted student-success programs and regional industry partnerships, and outlined a pilot three-year path from high school to a master's degree in select fields.
President Mindy Benson told the committee that Southern Utah University (SUU) has doubled enrollment in the past decade and is the fastest-growing regional degree-granting institution in average year-over-year growth. She said SUU's total completion rate is about 61% and first-time, full-time freshmen completion is 57.2%; SUU reported a retention rate of about 75.5%, a roughly 15-point increase after interventions.
Why it matters: SUU emphasized programs that increase on-time completion and job placement. Benson said SUU has invested in peer-mentoring (ACES), data-informed student-success work and industry engagement: faculty and deans regularly visit employers in the region to align curricula and create internships. Benson described the partnership with Southwest Technical College that lets students take SUU classes at Southwest Tech tuition rates; she said that program has had 950 enrollments and saved students about $2 million in tuition to date.
Accelerated master's proposal: Benson said SUU is proposing an accelerated pathway that would allow a student to move from high school to a master's degree in three years in selected fields (nursing, business administration, communication and public administration). She described the plan as dependent on expanded concurrent-enrollment participation and advising to ensure students are ready for accelerated sequences; the proposal was in planning rather than implementation.
Regional impact and partnerships: Benson cited the Khem Gardner Institute's economic-contribution analysis showing SUU's regional economic impact and said SUU supports roughly 5,000 regional jobs. She emphasized SUU's role serving rural students and county-level outreach via monthly regional-development days and a "Future Ready" upskilling partnership with nearby institutions.
Student voice: Student Body President Colter Bennett described SUU as a place of opportunity for first-generation and working students, citing scholarships and involvement programs that shaped his path. Members of the committee thanked SUU for its focus on retention and noted SUU operates with lower per-student state funding than peers while expanding services.
Ending: Benson said SUU is efficient and focused on student success, and asked for continued legislative support for performance and growth funding and capital requests.
