Members of the USHE's Task Force on Minority and Disadvantaged Students presented legislators Thursday with a range of strategies to help increase enrollment of minority students in Utah's state colleges and universities.
"We want to create an expectation in this state that students need to graduate from high school with a program that will prepare them for higher education," said David Doty, assistant commissioner and director of policy studies with USHE. "We just don't believe that expectation is there. The expectation is too low."
The task force suggested five ways of boosting minority enrollment: offering campus academic support for minorities, better preparation from pre-school through 12th grade, financial aid incentives, mentoring and outreach programs and a public relations campaign.
"This issue of admission particularly for minorities is a big concern in all of our campuses," Doty said.
The requested $8 million in scholarships would be parceled out in $1,000 increments to students who complete a rigorous program during high school.
Doty told legislators Utah is among states with the fewest number of students seeking and getting competitive federal grants.
Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, asked why the state should create its own incentives when federal grants are under-used.
"What are we doing as an institution to try to improve the information or access to the federal programs?" Holdaway asked.
Federal grants are often only available to students at the low end of the income scale, Doty added.
The state scholarship program would reach high school students in the middle of the spectrum.
Total funding requested for the five categories adds up to more than $10 million.
