The presence of dozens of college students turned the heads of tourists at the state Capitol Wednesday, but students will have to wait until next week to know how the governor will react to their plea.
Students organized a rally at the Capitol to urge Gov. Mike Leavitt to veto House Bill 331 instead of signing the legislation.
The bill, which the House of Representatives and the Senate approved during the 2002 legislative session, requires out-of-state students to acquire 60 credit hours in Utah before being eligible for state residency.
Legislators drafted the bill hoping to create additional funding in a year were lawmakers hacked nearly $20 million from higher education’s portion of the state budget. State fiscal analysts estimated the policy change would create $5 million for the state’s colleges and universities.
Utah Student Association President Steve Palmer says $5 million is a “liberal” estimation. “Students within the state believe [the bill’s] costs are too great,” he said.
U student body vice president Mike Nelson said he hopes the governor will take a closer look at the impact of the bill. U administrators don’t agree with the legislation, but the U is dependent on the money the bill will create, said Dave Pershing, senior vice president for academic affairs. If Leavitt vetoes the bill and does not readjust the budget the U would lose millions of dollars, he said.
For Utah State University student Glenn Wiggam, the bill will force him back to the University of Wyoming.
“I just can’t afford it. I took out a loan for this year, but I was counting on gaining residency for next. I can’t go that far into debt,” he said. Wiggam said it was a move based on “convenience” because USU is closer to his hometown of Evanston, Wyo., than the University of Wyoming is.
After the student rally, USU President Kermit Hall met with Leavitt to discuss the bill.
“Leavitt understands what is going on and he was responsive to our concerns,” Hall said.
“It is our hope that [Leavitt] will closely consider HB331 and recognize the negative consequences that this legislation will undoubtedly have on Utah’s system of higher education,” Palmer said.
Leavitt is expected to make a decision before Tuesday.