(1) (a) The commission shall develop a strategic plan aimed at meeting the future challenges of the state system of higher education. (b) The strategic plan shall address: (i) providing quality, accessible, and innovative postsecondary education that prepares Utahns for the twenty-first century; (ii) cost-effective and affordable modes of higher education delivery; (iii) the integration of prior learning and competency-based experiences to meet degree or certificate requirements; (iv) maximizing the role of the state system of higher education in workforce and economic development; (v) a statewide campus and technology master plan that reflects regional differences in projected student enrollment growth in the state system of higher education; (vi) governance of the state system of higher education, including studying best practices and recommending modifications; and (vii) other issues related to the state system of higher education as determined by the commission.

(a) The commission shall develop a strategic plan aimed at meeting the future challenges of the state system of higher education.

(b) The strategic plan shall address: (i) providing quality, accessible, and innovative postsecondary education that prepares Utahns for the twenty-first century; (ii) cost-effective and affordable modes of higher education delivery; (iii) the integration of prior learning and competency-based experiences to meet degree or certificate requirements; (iv) maximizing the role of the state system of higher education in workforce and economic development; (v) a statewide campus and technology master plan that reflects regional differences in projected student enrollment growth in the state system of higher education; (vi) governance of the state system of higher education, including studying best practices and recommending modifications; and (vii) other issues related to the state system of higher education as determined by the commission.

(i) providing quality, accessible, and innovative postsecondary education that prepares Utahns for the twenty-first century;

(ii) cost-effective and affordable modes of higher education delivery;

(iii) the integration of prior learning and competency-based experiences to meet degree or certificate requirements;

(iv) maximizing the role of the state system of higher education in workforce and economic development;

(v) a statewide campus and technology master plan that reflects regional differences in projected student enrollment growth in the state system of higher education;

(vi) governance of the state system of higher education, including studying best practices and recommending modifications; and

(vii) other issues related to the state system of higher education as determined by the commission.

(2) (a) The commission shall: (i) select a consultant to manage the strategic planning process in accordance with Subsection (3); (ii) guide the analytical work of a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) and review the results of the work; (iii) coordinate with a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) to engage in a strategic planning process and create a strategic plan; (iv) conduct regional meetings to gather stakeholder input during the strategic planning process; and (v) report to the Legislature and the governor in accordance with Subsection (5). (b) The commission may designate and assign working groups within the commission to address, study, evaluate, or discuss issues related to the commission's work.

(a) The commission shall: (i) select a consultant to manage the strategic planning process in accordance with Subsection (3); (ii) guide the analytical work of a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) and review the results of the work; (iii) coordinate with a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) to engage in a strategic planning process and create a strategic plan; (iv) conduct regional meetings to gather stakeholder input during the strategic planning process; and (v) report to the Legislature and the governor in accordance with Subsection (5).

(i) select a consultant to manage the strategic planning process in accordance with Subsection (3);

(ii) guide the analytical work of a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) and review the results of the work;

(iii) coordinate with a consultant described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) to engage in a strategic planning process and create a strategic plan;

(iv) conduct regional meetings to gather stakeholder input during the strategic planning process; and

(v) report to the Legislature and the governor in accordance with Subsection (5).

(b) The commission may designate and assign working groups within the commission to address, study, evaluate, or discuss issues related to the commission's work.

(3) Subject to direction from the commission, a consultant selected under Subsection (2)(a) shall: (a) collect and analyze data related to the current and future projected conditions of the state system of higher education, including: (i) relevant demographics and educational attainment; (ii) the state's economy, including workforce supply and demand; (iii) affordability and financing of higher education through tuition, state funding, and other sources; (iv) innovation by institutions of higher education, including research and research commercialization; (v) operational and capital facility efficiencies; (vi) accountability measures to assess the performance of the state system of higher education; and (vii) any other data collection or analysis requested by the commission; (b) based on the data described in Subsection (3)(a), make comparisons between higher education in Utah and higher education in other states or countries; (c) project the condition of the state system of higher education in the future under the state's current system based on the projected: (i) population; (ii) workforce needs; and (iii) funding requirements through tuition and state funding; (d) develop alternatives to the projection described in Subsection (3)(c) by modeling potential changes to: (i) industry and economic growth; (ii) student enrollment patterns; (iii) the portion of funding for the state system of higher education that comes from tuition and the portion of funding that comes from state funding; and (iv) investments in capital facilities or technology infrastructure; (e) recommend accountability or performance measures to assess the effectiveness of the state system of higher education; (f) in coordination with the commission, conduct the regional meetings described in Subsection (2)(a)(iv) to share information and seek input from a range of stakeholders; (g) recommend changes to the governance system for the state system of higher education that would facilitate implementation of the strategic plan; and (h) produce for the commission: (i) a draft report, including findings, observations, and strategic priorities; and (ii) a final report, incorporating feedback from the commission on the draft report described in Subsection (3)(h)(i), regarding the future of the state system of higher education.

(a) collect and analyze data related to the current and future projected conditions of the state system of higher education, including: (i) relevant demographics and educational attainment; (ii) the state's economy, including workforce supply and demand; (iii) affordability and financing of higher education through tuition, state funding, and other sources; (iv) innovation by institutions of higher education, including research and research commercialization; (v) operational and capital facility efficiencies; (vi) accountability measures to assess the performance of the state system of higher education; and (vii) any other data collection or analysis requested by the commission;

(i) relevant demographics and educational attainment;

(ii) the state's economy, including workforce supply and demand;

(iii) affordability and financing of higher education through tuition, state funding, and other sources;

(iv) innovation by institutions of higher education, including research and research commercialization;

(v) operational and capital facility efficiencies;

(vi) accountability measures to assess the performance of the state system of higher education; and

(vii) any other data collection or analysis requested by the commission;

(b) based on the data described in Subsection (3)(a), make comparisons between higher education in Utah and higher education in other states or countries;

(c) project the condition of the state system of higher education in the future under the state's current system based on the projected: (i) population; (ii) workforce needs; and (iii) funding requirements through tuition and state funding;

(i) population;

(ii) workforce needs; and

(iii) funding requirements through tuition and state funding;

(d) develop alternatives to the projection described in Subsection (3)(c) by modeling potential changes to: (i) industry and economic growth; (ii) student enrollment patterns; (iii) the portion of funding for the state system of higher education that comes from tuition and the portion of funding that comes from state funding; and (iv) investments in capital facilities or technology infrastructure;

(i) industry and economic growth;

(ii) student enrollment patterns;

(iii) the portion of funding for the state system of higher education that comes from tuition and the portion of funding that comes from state funding; and

(iv) investments in capital facilities or technology infrastructure;

(e) recommend accountability or performance measures to assess the effectiveness of the state system of higher education;

(f) in coordination with the commission, conduct the regional meetings described in Subsection (2)(a)(iv) to share information and seek input from a range of stakeholders;

(g) recommend changes to the governance system for the state system of higher education that would facilitate implementation of the strategic plan; and

(h) produce for the commission: (i) a draft report, including findings, observations, and strategic priorities; and (ii) a final report, incorporating feedback from the commission on the draft report described in Subsection (3)(h)(i), regarding the future of the state system of higher education.

(i) a draft report, including findings, observations, and strategic priorities; and

(ii) a final report, incorporating feedback from the commission on the draft report described in Subsection (3)(h)(i), regarding the future of the state system of higher education.

(4) The State Board of Regents and the Utah System of Technical Colleges Board of Trustees shall provide the commission and a consultant selected under Subsection (2)(a) with data and data analysis as requested by the commission.

(5) (a) On or before November 30, 2018, the commission shall report on the commission's progress to: (i) the Education Interim Committee; (ii) the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; (iii) the Legislative Management Committee; and (iv) the governor. (b) On or before November 30, 2019, the commission shall provide a final report, including a strategic plan and any recommendations, to: (i) the Education Interim Committee; (ii) the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; (iii) the Legislative Management Committee; and (iv) the governor.

(a) On or before November 30, 2018, the commission shall report on the commission's progress to: (i) the Education Interim Committee; (ii) the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; (iii) the Legislative Management Committee; and (iv) the governor.

(i) the Education Interim Committee;

(ii) the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee;

(iii) the Legislative Management Committee; and

(iv) the governor.

(b) On or before November 30, 2019, the commission shall provide a final report, including a strategic plan and any recommendations, to: (i) the Education Interim Committee; (ii) the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; (iii) the Legislative Management Committee; and (iv) the governor.

(i) the Education Interim Committee;

(ii) the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee;

(iii) the Legislative Management Committee; and

(iv) the governor.