Weber State University is reshaping operations under House Bill 265, eliminating positions in administration and reorganizing academics.
HB 265, titled The Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment Bill, aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Utah’s higher education system. This bill reallocates $60 million from the state’s higher education budget to target institutional needs.
“The passage of HB 265 requires Weber State to reallocate roughly $6.7 million,” Bryan Magaña, public relations director at Weber State, said. “We’ve had to be very thoughtful about how we can reimagine and restructure things moving forward, including high-level positions.”
For Weber State, these changes involve eliminating administrative positions. In a town hall meeting on March 10, the following positions were announced to be removed: Vice President of Information Technology, Assistant Vice President of Regional Partnerships, Vice Provost for High Impact Educational Experiences and Faculty Excellence and the Training Lead for Student Success.
The University is keeping an eye on policy shifts that may impact higher education on a broader level.
“We’re seeing a lot on the national scene, and we’re trying to monitor that, really relying on resources from the American Council on Education and American Association of State Colleges and Universities to represent our interests in Washington, D.C.,” President Brad Mortensen said. “We know we have some grants that could potentially be impacted by this.”
In a town hall meeting with President Mortensen, Jeremy Oller was announced as the new dean of the Goddard School of Business and Economics, Brian Rague as the dean of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology and Andrea Easter-Pilcher as interim provost beginning May 1.
Magaña said that Weber State is not seeking a dean for the Jerry and Vickie Moyes College of Education. This stems from plans to merge the education departments into other colleges.
“As we’ve been considering the implications of HB 265 during the search for a new dean for the Jerry and Vickie Moyes College of Education, it became increasingly clear that we should consider realigning academic programs in the Moyes College among closely related colleges,” President Mortensen said.
Among these departmental shifts, Weber State braces for the departure of key figures in leadership.
Provost Ravi Krovi said in a message shared with Academic Affairs that he will be stepping down as provost and senior vice president effective May 1.
Provost Krovi won’t be the only one turning a page. Brenda Kowalewski, vice provost of High Impact Educational Experiences & Faculty Excellence, International & Graduate Studies, is also leaving the university.
According to the University, Andrea Easter-Pilcher is set to serve as interim provost and hopes to find a replacement by the fall semester.
“We are trying to make sure that this is a balanced approach across the administrative and academic side of the institution,” President Mortensen said.
