DECEMBER 18, 2023| By Halen Hubbard
UVU’s Associate Vice President of University Relations, Dr. Steve Anderson, helps break down the upcoming legislative session and its impact on the University.
Funding
During Utah’s Legislative Sessions, UVU submits requests for funding while also paying attention to how the policies that are voted on will impact the UVU community.
“Every dollar the state invests in UVU, the University returns eight dollars to the economy,” Anderson said. “So, if we receive $100 million, our return is $800 million.”
One of the requests this year is to fund the Utah Lake Research Center. This center would allow faculty and students to collect samples on Utah Lake by boat and study them at the Lindon Marina. Along with a request to the State of Utah, Anderson put together a federal funding proposal in hopes of acquiring between $5 million and $10 million toward a $25 million goal.
2034 Olympics
An important topic of discussion this year is the 2034 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
“The Olympics impact our infrastructure as a state holistically,” Anderson said. Improvements to roads, freeways, and mass transit in preparation for the games will benefit many UVU students and employees commuting to the university every day.
It would be difficult to host Olympic events at UVU because there are not any facilities set up for winter sports on campus. However, Anderson confirmed that there are discussions about hosting soccer practices when the World Cup comes to the United States in a few years.
Innovation Community
Another important point of discussion during this legislative session is the development of Utah’s Innovation Community. This is a multi-year process building up the 600 acres of state land where the former prison operated. The state plans to partner with multiple universities, including UVU, to develop spaces in this area.
The 2024 Utah Legislative Session begins January 16 and ends March 1. If you wish to learn more about UVU’s legislative priorities, please visit uvu.edu/universityrelations.