In an attempt to reach beyond the boundaries of the U campus and build up the state economy, the U will petition the Utah State Legislature for money to fund programs that will help expand regional economic development.
The U is seeking funding for two main areas: to create a new urban planning center in the College of Architecture and Planning and to receive $10 million more in annual funds for the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative.
Kim Wirthlin, vice president for government relations, said the U wants to bolster programs that can provide economic benefit to the state.
"The university wants to be responsive to the workforce and demands in the community, and train the workforce to meet job needs," Wirthlin said. "Our contributions should not only be on the educational side, but an integral part in stimulating the economy."
Urban Planning
In response to state growth and an increasing need for urban planners, the U is requesting $300,000 from the state to create the Center for the New Metropolis -- an urban planning center in the new department of city and metropolitan planning.
The College of Architecture and Planning would use the funding to hire two nationally known urban planners and support faculty research and salaries within the center.
Brenda Scheer, dean of the college, said one major scholar from the East Coast has already agreed to direct the center, but the college will not announce who it is until after the legislative session when plans will be finalized.
Scheer said the center is a product of the program's growth and a response to Utah's need for urban planners.
Student enrollment has quadrupled since the urban planning program started four years ago, increasing from 30 undergraduates to more than 100. It also hosts about 40 graduate students, Scheer said.
Utah is one of the top three fastest growing states in terms of urbanization, and the U has the only urban planning school in five states. Nevada, the fastest growing state, does not have an urban planning program, Scheer said.
"We need to get more planning professionals into the field in Utah to accommodate growth and not have the issues of the past," Scheer said, noting that the lack of urban planners has created problems with environmentalism, globalism, transportation and housing.
"This arena really allows us to grow...by bringing in people who are very experienced, ready and well thought of," she said.
The center would be housed in the College of Architecture and Planning and would not require major construction. If the Legislature approves the funding, the center would open in July.
USTAR Funding
When the Legislature passed a bill creating the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative in March 2006, it approved $25 million in ongoing funds to support research facilities at the U and Utah State University with the hope that this research would create commercial benefits for the state.
The legislature has already allocated $15 million of the funds, which was used to create a USTAR governing authority, but the U is now asking for the remaining $10 million to hire more "science superstars," Wirthlin said. The money is split between the two universities, giving $9 million to the U and $6 million to USU.
"If we want to recruit where the U has real expertise, we need additional funds," she said.
The U hired 10 USTAR faculty teams with the $9 million it has already received. When the U starts receiving $15 million from the total funds, it hopes to support 30 teams, said Jack Brittain, vice president for technology venture development and dean of the David Eccles School of Business.
Brittain said he is not sure if the Legislature will allocate the money this year because of concerns regarding the economy, because this legislative action would require the state to give $25 million each year instead of just $15 million. This appropriation would eventually become part of the state's main budget.
"It's anybody's call," Brittain said. "Right now, there's a lot of uncertainty on the economy, which makes the Legislature uncertain about ongoing funding."
He said USTAR will eventually be fully funded, even if it does not happen this year. No matter what, the Legislature will still allocate $15 million for USTAR.
The U has been successful with the first round of USTAR hires, showing the state the kind of benefits they can reap with this funding, Brittain said.
The first USTAR hire, Brian McPherson, brought in an $88 million energy research grant, helping the state benefit from federal dollars, tax returns and developments in the commercial enterprise.
"There is confidence created on our success," Brittain said.
r.mcconkie@chronicle.utah.edu
