Utah faculty members lined up Wednesday at the Capitol to oppose a bill they fear could threaten the liberal arts. One pointed to Albert Einstein’s love of the violin as an example that science can benefit from art and music.
Faculty members lined up Wednesday at the Capitol to defend the liberal arts , pleading for programs not be cut under a new set of “high-performing” metrics for schools that place value on job placement and high wages.
They argued that education should be more than just preparation for work. One pointed as an example to Albert Einstein and his love of the violin,And they spoke about how classes in literature and culture help all students learn how to think, write and be better citizens. “This bill will throttle growth and opportunity for students,” said John Meisner, an assistant professor and director of accreditation atBut despite the near-unanimous opposition during public comment, lawmakers in the Senate Education Committee moved the measure forward on a 6-1 vote, with the sole Democrat opposed.goes next to the full Senate where it’s expected to pass final votes without any major hurdles. It has already passed the House, 63-9.and has already been signed by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. Typically, base budget bills are a simple approval of the previous fiscal year’s budget for an area of the state’s operations. But this year, legislative leadersThat money — a 10% cut to the funds for classroom instruction — was moved to a separate line item called “strategic reinvestment.” HB265 provides for how schools can get their share of the money back, only after showing that it will be reallocated for high-demand and high-wage majors. The state defined those programs inBut the measure has ignited concerns since it was first mentioned by legislative leadership last fall. Many professors here have worried that judging programs based on market terms — earnings, placement, demand —Those degrees, though, professors have said, provide other less tangible benefits to a student and their community. “A degree goes beyond the job you get when you graduate,” said Sean Crossland, an assistant professor of higher education leadership at, urged lawmakers to hold the bill until it could be updated and include protections for programs like art and writing. She majored in music atShe questioned the metrics and what numbers can actually show. “Data without a goal on the success we’re measuring is just data,” she said., brought up the example of Einstein. He mentioned how the famous physicist also depended on the work of lesser-known scientists before him.voiced concerns with the bill Riebe said she’d like the bill to spell out more involvement with university and college presidents when setting the metrics that will be used to ultimately make the cuts and reallocations. Others who spoke during public comment said faculty and students should also have a say. He said the board will create more guidance for schools that includes salaries and job placement, along with graduation rates, enrollment rates, student interest and the impact of a program — both for the state’s job needs and the value to a community. There will be flexibility, he said, so each college and university can evaluate programs based on what works best for their institution. But it will be a transparent process and all decisions “justifiable,” he said. Landward also reiterated that he doesn’t want the liberal arts to be eliminated. Many employers, he said, have been specifically asking the state’s institutions to graduate students with better communication and people skills. Those are often developed, he said, in a student’s required general education coursework that includes the arts and humanities. Sen. John Johnson, R-North Ogden, at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.“I believe this doesn’t just take a mathematical formula,” he said. “… I look back at my education, and some of the most valuable things I learned were from philosophers, from my French literature class, from my classes in the humanities and the social sciences.” He said he’d support HB265 Wednesday to get it out of committee because the money has already been shifted in the budget bill and schools need guidance on how to earn it back. But he won’t vote for the measure on the Senate floor, Johnson added, unless there are changes., said he wants the bill to specifically enshrine that it’s not an attack on liberal arts, and that a university education is different from the more job-focused certification of a technical college.The next president of embattled Utah Tech University will be an outsider. Meet the 3 finalists. Utah trans students banned from dorms that align with their gender identity, after Gov. Cox signs billPREMIUM‘The teachings of Jesus Christ are a whole lot closer to the teachings of Madison,’ scholar says, ‘than to the teachings of MAGA.”Provo’s tiny, budget-friendly airport is the ‘fastest growing’ in the U.S. — and bracing to get even biggerWhat Kansas coach Bill Self said about the Marriott and Huntsman centers
Utah Higher Education Utah Higher Education Cuts Geoff Landward Karen Peterson Strategic Reinvestment Utah University Budget Cuts Utah Budget Cuts Liberal Arts Utah Liberal Arts John Johnson Kathleen Riebe Opposing Bill
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Utah Football, Runnin' Utes Struggles, and More on The Utah CheckdownThis episode of The Utah Checkdown covers two former Utah football players' impact on the AFC Championship game, the challenges facing the Runnin' Utes men's basketball team, and the success of the women's basketball team. The podcast also discusses the inconsistencies in gymnastics judging and invites listeners to subscribe and tune in.
Read more »
Open house, dedication dates announced for Syracuse Utah Temple, the 31st in UtahThe Syracuse Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be dedicated on June 8, after an open house in May, the church announced Tuesday.
Read more »
U, Utah Tech propose partnership to address Utah's 'medical desert'The University of Utah is seeking $10.6 million in ongoing funding from the Utah Legislature to establish a medical campus in St. George.
Read more »
Snow Moon Peaks This Wednesday, Offers Best Viewing Tuesday and Wednesday NightsAstronomy enthusiasts can catch the Snow Moon, February's full moon, this week. The moon reaches its peak illumination on Wednesday at 8:53 a.m. EST, with optimal viewing opportunities on Tuesday night and Wednesday night. The moon will appear full until early Thursday evening. Various resources provide detailed moonrise times and sky clarity forecasts.
Read more »
Utah's hockey team name finalist: What do mammoths have to do with Utah?Spencer is a reporter and Multi-Media Journalist at FOX 13 News.
Read more »
Bill to give Utah students free breakfast and lunch stalls in Utah LegislatureJohn Franchi is a morning anchor and reporter for 'Good Day Utah' on FOX 13 News.
Read more »