Utah women's college task force provides recommendations to governor

The Utah Women's College Task Force presented critical recommendations to Governor Gary Herbert on Feb. 21 at the Utah State Capitol. Recommendations included:

Process and Accountability
1. Enlist Key State Change Agents to Lead in Implementing Recommendations
2. Create a “Hub” for Continuing Efforts to Increase Women’s Completion of Postsecondary Certificates and Degrees
3. Develop and Fund a Long-Term Social Change Media Campaign to Create a “College-going Culture” in Utah

Big Gear Initiatives
4. Expand Guidance and Counseling and Advisement Resources to Create a College-Going Culture
5. Create Women-Focused Mentoring Programs
6. Implement Strategies for Retaining Existing Female Students through Certificate and Degree Completion
7. Create Additional Flexible Attendance and Credit Maintenance Options
8. Identify Increased Support for Campus-Based and Community-Based Women’s Resources that Support College Completion
9. Support Enrollment Growth Funding
10. Identify Additional Financial Support Focusing on New and Continuing Female Students

To read the entire report, click on the headline of this post.

Upcoming presentation on UWEP research findings

Dr. Susan R. Madsen will present the findings of the two-year Utah Women and Education Project (UWEP) to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on March 24 at the Ogden Golf and Country Club.

Born out of the low college graduation rates of Utah women and the resulting statewide concern, UWEP was formed to investigate why Utah women have fallen behind the national average when it comes to college completion, and to identify ways through which women can be motivated to obtain higher educational degrees.

As the Project Director, Madsen led a research team of over 100 colleagues, students, advisory committee members, and community volunteers to assist in conducting the research and in leading change in the state. In addition, Madsen is the Orin R. Woodbury Professor of Leadership and Ethics in the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University. Her personal research focuses primarily on women’s leadership development.

Madsen’s presentation “Women and Higher Education in Utah: Moving Forward!” will demonstrate the critical findings of UWEP’s research and offer recommendations as to how we can individually and collectively influence the young women of Utah to attend and graduate from college, and thereby allow them to access the numerous benefits that are the outcome of higher education.

Utah Women's College Task Force: meeting the needs of Utah women

On September 28, 2011, the Utah Women's College Task Force met for the first time in order to facilitate dialogue regarding the low degree attainment rate of Utah women compared to their national counterparts, and to ultimately increase the number of women attending and graduating from institutions of higher education in Utah.

Born out of the research of the Utah Women and Education Project, headed by Dr. Susan R. Madsen, this subcommittee it co-chaired by former Governor Olene Walker and the State Board of Regents Vice-Chair Bonnie Jean Beesley. The task force is made up of 24 Utah leaders from sectors such as business, education, religion, politics, and non-profit work.

A goal has been set by Governor Gary R. Herbert to have 66 percent of Utah's future workforce better prepared for their occupations through obtaining postsecondary certificates and degrees by the year 2020. Thus, in the spirit of this goal, the task force is charged with doing what it takes to get women to and through college.