Governor's Executive Order EO/005/2011: Utah Futures Steering Committee

Issued: May 17, 2011

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EXECUTIVE ORDER

Utah Futures Steering Committee

WHEREAS, UtahFutures.org is a web-based advisement tool that allows students to make education and career plans online, manage Student Education Occupation Plans (SEOP) in public schools, and serve as an electronic education and career portfolio students may access and use throughout their lives;

WHEREAS, UtahFutures.org was launched through a memorandum of understanding entered into by the Utah State Office of Education, the Utah State Board of Regents, the Utah Division of Workforce Services, the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, GEAR UP and the Utah State Library;

WHEREAS, UtahFutures.org is currently overseen by a committee comprised of representatives of the agencies mentioned above, as well as representatives from the Utah College of Applied Technology and the Utah Education Network, named hereafter the Utah Futures Working Group;

WHEREAS, the Governor's Education Excellence Commission has recommended, as part of its "Vision 2020: 8 Proposals for 2011", that the State "improve internal alignments within government to align education with economic development objectives";

WHEREAS, UtahFutures.org presents an excellent opportunity to align the State's educational efforts with our economic development objectives;

WHEREAS, in order to build upon the solid foundation UtahFutures.org possesses, the State should expand the membership of the steering committee to more dynamically showcase and advance the Utah Futures database, strategically engage industry and business entities more fully within the Utah Futures system, and create a more enticing interface for UtahFutures.org;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gary R. Herbert, Governor of the State of Utah, by the authority vested in me by the laws and Constitution of the State, do hereby order that:

1. By June 1, 2011, the Utah Futures steering committee shall be formed, comprised of eleven members:

(a) the State Superintendent of Public Schools or the State Superintendent of Public School's designee;

(b) the Commissioner of Higher Education or the Commissioner of Higher Education's designee;

(c) the Executive Director of the Department of Workforce Services or the Executive Director's designee;

(d) the Executive Director of the Department of Community and Culture or the Executive Director's designee;

(e) a representative of GEAR UP, selected by GEAR UP;

(f) a representative of the Utah Education Network, selected by the Utah Education Network;

(g) the President of the Utah College of Applied Technology or the President of the Utah College of Applied Technology's designee;

(h) a student body president from one of Utah's institutions of higher learning, selected by the Governor;

(i) a representative from one of Utah's public high schools, selected by the Governor; and

(j) four representatives of the business community, selected by the Governor.

2. The student representatives shall serve a one year term;

3. The business representatives will be selected by the Governor to serve four-year terms, except that the initial terms shall be staggered;

4. Two members of the Utah State Legislature may serve on the steering committee as non-voting, ex officio members. Legislative members may be selected by the Governor from a list of three names provided by the Speaker of the House and a list of three names provided by the President of the Senate;

5. The Governor shall appoint the Chair of the steering committee;

6. All members of the steering committee serve at the will of the Governor and may be removed without cause. When a vacancy occurs in the membership of the steering committee, the Governor shall appoint a replacement;

7. The steering committee will be staffed by the Utah Department of Workforce Services with continued technical support provided by the Utah Commissioner of Higher Education/UHEAA and other participating agencies as needed;

8. The steering committee shall meet as often as needed in order to accomplish its objectives, but no less frequently than quarterly;

9. The steering committee shall provide direction to, and receive reports from, the Utah Futures working group, comprised of staff members from the public agencies assigned to the project and the UtahFutures Project Manager who serves as principle staff to the steering committee;

10. The working group shall coordinate efforts to fulfill the responsibilities assigned by the steering committee, as well as utilize their expertise in supporting and advancing UtahFutures.org;

11. The steering committee shall establish a plan that includes, but is not limited to:

(a) analytics that measure the effectiveness of the site;

(b) dashboard analytics to measure key performance indicators of economic development and education achievement, including:

(i) Utah state revenue indicators, including gross state product information, wage information and tax revenue information;

(ii) Utah occupational projections, including the Utah Occupational Projections Report generated by the Utah Department of Workforce Services; and

(iii) Utah occupational results, including occupational categories, number of jobs filled, length of unemployment, and education background to the extent such information can be feasibly gathered;

(c) include proven technologies in the areas of enterprise portal, social media/on-line interaction and collaboration, video streaming, education, and career planning applications;

(d) the ability to act as a one-stop exploration and planning system for career, high school courses, college major, financial aid, and other related transitions;

(e) explore the feasibility and desirability of a more streamlined process for completing a college admission application;

(f) have the ability to adapt to a user's needs as feasible;

(g) provide national and local information to assist the user in making informed decisions regarding the user's education plans and ultimate career goals; and

(h) provide multiple assessments of a program user to determine the best education and career options for the user.

12. The Utah Futures steering committee shall report the results of the program in an annual report to the Governor no later than October 1 of each year. The steering committee shall report to the Legislature's Education Interim Committee or the Public Education Subcommittee at least annually and, more frequently, as reasonably requested by the Utah State Legislature. The report shall include information that demonstrates the effectiveness of the program including:

(i) the total number of users;

(ii) the total number of active and completed program profiles;

(iii) the number of repeat users of the program, including the number of visits per user;

(iv) the average length of stay per visit;

(v) the activities performed by users; and

(vi) program usage by employees.

13. The Utah Futures steering committee shall be in existence until May 31, 2014, and will dissolve automatically on June 1, 2014, unless extended by future executive order.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF , I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the great Seal of the State of Utah. Done at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City, Utah, on this, the 17th day of May 2011.

(State Seal)

Gary R. Herbert
Governor

Attest:

Greg Bell
Lieutenant Governor

EO/005/2011

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