MEMORANDUM

November 3, 2023

Update: Common Application for Admission

A Timeline of Simplified Admissions in Utah

In 2016, the Utah System of Higher Education first considered simplifying admissions processes for

potential students. At the time, USHE commissioned a feasibility study to explore this opportunity and

found that an admissions simplification initiative would reduce barriers for Utah high school students and

adults and increase enrollment, specifically for underrepresented populations.

More recently, the Utah Board of Higher Education re-engaged in this conversation and adopted language

in its strategic plan to address this initiative and consider simplifying the admissions process as a key

strategy for removing barriers to access. Furthermore, Utah statute directs the Board of Higher Education

to initiate and implement a common application.

Over the past year, the Commissioner’s office has

guided institutions, the Board, and the Utah Legislature in discussions related to a single admissions

application in Utah.

To address access issues related to the admissions application process, the Commissioner’s office, under

the direction of the Board, formed the systemwide Simplified Admissions Taskforce in April 2022. The

taskforce, made up of admissions and enrollment management professionals representing all 16 USHE

institutions, convened over the following nine months to discuss concepts related to simplifying

admissions, including the possibility of a common admissions application systemwide. Four concepts

formulated by the taskforce were presented to the Board in its January 2023 meeting. One of those

concepts was to engage with a strategic enrollment management consultant to determine the feasibility,

cost, and necessary considerations of implementing a common application.

Common Application Consultation

In July 2023, USHE contracted with the Huron Consulting Group to explore creating a unified admissions

application spanning the unique and complex admissions environments of the 16 USHE institutions. This

work included identifying considerations to increase the percentage of K-12 students applying and

enrolling for USHE institutions, reduce access barriers of complexity, cost, and time for Utah

communities, and streamline the transition of students from K-12 into higher education in Utah.

2016 common application feasibility study conducted by Education Direction

Utah Code 53B-1-402

MEMORANDUM

The Huron team engaged in a 12-week data collection process, including stakeholder focus groups with

students, families, and counselors; interviews of USHE institutions and internal personnel; and

comparisons of peer state systems with similar admissions initiatives.

Their team’s final recommendations to USHE and the Board include:

1. Deploy a unified admissions application to remove barriers and increase applications for all 16

USHE institutions.

2. Eliminate admissions application fees for students.

3. Develop partnerships across USHE and K-12 to enhance the long-term value of a unified

admissions application.

Huron anticipates that implementation of a unified admissions application will take 18-24 months and

require one-time and ongoing funding. Despite the risks, costs, and complexity of running a statewide

unified admissions application, Huron concludes this initiative will remove barriers to applying to college

and increase access to Utah’s postsecondary institutions.

Commissioner’s Recommendation

The Commissioner recommends approval from the Board to seek an appropriation request during the

2024 legislative session for the purposes of contracting with a vendor to build, implement, and maintain

a common admissions application. This request is for $2,215,000 ongoing and $4,375,000 one-time

funding.