What Utah’s colleges and universities dedicate much of their campuses to may surprise you. Hint: It’s not classrooms.

“It appears we have an extraordinary surplus of space,” said one lawmaker concerned about the study — and what the findings may indicate about administrative bloat in Utah’s system of higher education.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Academic and Administration Building at Salt Lake Community College campus in Taylorsville, Tuesday, Feb. 4. 2025. Public universities and colleges in the state overwhelmingly dedicate most of their space to one function: And it's not classrooms.