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Utah State highlights statewide campuses, rural programs and water research; student says in-person classes enabled her nursing career
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Summary
Utah State President Mortensen told the committee USU is refocusing reinvestment dollars toward statewide student support, rural workforce programs and water research; a USU Moab nursing student described how local in-person instruction made it possible for her to return to school and complete prerequisites.
Utah State University President Mortensen told the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee that USU's statewide campuses are central to the university's mission and economic impact, and he outlined recent changes to the university's reinvestment plan and capital priorities.
Mortensen said USU serves nearly 30,000 students systemwide with about 4,200 enrolled through statewide campuses and concurrent enrollment and that the system moved roughly $12.8 million in reallocation funds, shifting $2 million into priority areas including health professions, undergraduate research and technology-enhanced programs. He said USU registered gains on some performance metrics while noting areas that still need work, including some tech-cohort completion rates.
Mortensen highlighted several localized initiatives: a veterinary technician associate program serving Blanding and Eastern Utah, an expanded water research network tied to statewide extension and a planned animal science building remodel on the Logan quad with an estimated $19.5 million non-dedicated funding request and $280,000 in operations and maintenance. He also said USU is partnering with the state on a med-school expansion in St. George and pursuing targeted faculty hires and water-focused data analytics.
The committee heard a first-person testimony from Dani Rumba Barajas, a USU Moab nursing student, who described the barriers rural students face with large online classes and credited in-person instruction and local faculty mentorship with enabling her return to school. "At USU Moab, students are not numbers. Professors know our names," she said, describing improved engagement and support compared with broadcasted or large online formats.
Mortensen described research strengths including the Space Dynamics Laboratory and said USU performed about $500 million in research expenditures (with a large share tied to SDL) and noted the university's role in rural economic development, AI-adjacent programs and water policy research. The presentation closed with questions about the Center for Civic Excellence, performance metrics, and a formal capital request summary for committee review.
