Dave Buhler's presentation on a recent survey of public opinion regarding higher ed in Utah.

1. Report to the State Board of Regentson Utah Public Opinion SurveyOctober 14, 2009 Research Conducted by Dan Jones & Associates For the Utah System of Higher Education 1

2. Survey of 675 adult Utahns statewide by Dan Jones & Associates. Conducted July 2009 for the Commissioner of Higher Education. “Oversampling” of Hispanic Population. Margin of error +/- 4.0% 2

3. 3 State Issues

4. Most Important Issue for the State of Utah: The Economy 4

5. Highest Priorities for Governor Herbert 5

6. Budget Choices 6 Education 92% Education 82% Prisons 6% Roads 8%

7. Budget Choices 7 Roads Healthcare Education Healthcare Roads Prisons

8. 8 Higher Education

9. Is College Important? 99% of respondents feel a college education is important. Why? 80%: Career & economic opportunities 17%: Societal benefits, “well-rounded”, helps in understanding the world 9

10. Is a college education more important or less important than it was 10 years ago? 10

11. Is higher education accessible to all Utahns? 11

12. “Grade” Higher Education 80% give colleges an “A” or “B” 81% in 2006 12

13. Should assisting economic development be a part of the mission of a state college or university? 13

14. Financial Aid & Student Loans 80% of respondents favor “increasing the availability of state-funded student financial aid for needy students” How much debt is reasonable? 14

15. Strategies to Handle Growth in Higher Education 15

16. New Taxes to Expand College Access? 16 *Salt Lake and Utah Counties favor by small majority (51%)

17. Preparation for College 17

18. Should Utah high schools require students to take more science and math classes? 18

19. Different standards to prepare for college than for the job-market? 19

20. What is the minimum level of education a female/male should complete? 20

21. College expectation gapMen vs. Women 21 “What is the minimum level of education a female/male should complete?” (4-year degree+, male minus female)

22. Saving for child’s college education? Parents & Grandparents Parents Only 22

23. Aware of UESP? 23

24. Qualitative Findings Focus Groups: Three focus groups were conducted: 2 with parents who themselves have attended or graduated from college and 1 with grandparents Main findings: By default, scholarships have become many parents’ college savings plans for their children Tax incentives the most attractive feature of 529 plans Pivotal points in a family’s life when they might start saving for college: Newborn 5 year-old beginning Kindergarten Junior high – grades start to matter When other financial obligations of the family free up -Qualitative Research Analysis of UESP, Dan Jones & Associates June 2009 24

25. Approaches to handling K-12 growth 25

26. Conclusions—Utahns Believe: Economy, creating jobs is top state priority. Higher Education is linked to economic success. Both men & women should attend college, “expectation gap” has narrowed. Higher education is accessible (except Hispanic Utahns don’t agree). Support significant priority for funding education over other state needs. 26

27. Report to the State Board of Regentson Utah Public Opinion SurveyOctober 14, 2009 Research Conducted by Dan Jones & Associates For the Utah System of Higher Education 27

28. Survey of 675 adult Utahns statewide by Dan Jones & Associates. Conducted July 2009 for the Commissioner of Higher Education. “Oversampling” of Hispanic Population. Margin of error +/- 4.0% 28

29. 29 State Issues

30. Most Important Issue for the State of Utah: The Economy 30

31. Highest Priorities for Governor Herbert 31

32. Budget Choices 32 Education 92% Education 82% Prisons 6% Roads 8%

33. Budget Choices 33 Roads Healthcare Education Healthcare Roads Prisons

34. 34 Higher Education

35. Is College Important? 99% of respondents feel a college education is important. Why? 80%: Career & economic opportunities 17%: Societal benefits, “well-rounded”, helps in understanding the world 35

36. Is a college education more important or less important than it was 10 years ago? 36

37. Is higher education accessible to all Utahns? 37

38. “Grade” Higher Education 80% give colleges an “A” or “B” 81% in 2006 38

39. Should assisting economic development be a part of the mission of a state college or university? 39

40. Financial Aid & Student Loans 80% of respondents favor “increasing the availability of state-funded student financial aid for needy students” How much debt is reasonable? 40

41. Strategies to Handle Growth in Higher Education 41

42. New Taxes to Expand College Access? 42 *Salt Lake and Utah Counties favor by small majority (51%)

43. Preparation for College 43

44. Should Utah high schools require students to take more science and math classes? 44

45. Different standards to prepare for college than for the job-market? 45

46. What is the minimum level of education a female/male should complete? 46

47. College expectation gapMen vs. Women 47 “What is the minimum level of education a female/male should complete?” (4-year degree+, male minus female)

48. Saving for child’s college education? Parents & Grandparents Parents Only 48

49. Aware of UESP? 49

50. Qualitative Findings Focus Groups: Three focus groups were conducted: 2 with parents who themselves have attended or graduated from college and 1 with grandparents Main findings: By default, scholarships have become many parents’ college savings plans for their children Tax incentives the most attractive feature of 529 plans Pivotal points in a family’s life when they might start saving for college: Newborn 5 year-old beginning Kindergarten Junior high – grades start to matter When other financial obligations of the family free up -Qualitative Research Analysis of UESP, Dan Jones & Associates June 2009 50

51. Approaches to handling K-12 growth 51

52. Conclusions—Utahns Believe: Economy, creating jobs is top state priority. Higher Education is linked to economic success. Both men & women should attend college, “expectation gap” has narrowed. Higher education is accessible (except Hispanic Utahns don’t agree). Support significant priority for funding education over other state needs. 52