SALT LAKE CITY – August 9, 2006 – Producing qualified new workers continues to be one of Utah’s greatest challenges, according to Utah’s university presidents. Utah State University (USU) President Stan Albrecht and University of Utah (U of U) President Michael Young discussed their concerns with leading technology and life science executives at a Utah Technology Council (UTC) roundtable discussion this week. Both presidents noted that Utah’s Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) is a tremendous step in the right direction toward the creation of many new high-paying jobs. While Presidents Albrecht and Young laud these critical efforts, they exhort Utah’s businesses and universities to work even more closely together to address Utah’s pressing higher education concerns. President Albrecht notes that lack of resources in Utah’s high schools means that our colleges are spending time providing students with the basic educations that they didn’t already learn. President Young agreed, noting that he worries about the majors incoming high school graduates choose: “We can’t make an engineer out of someone at a ninth grade math level. Are these students ready for intense engineering? No.” The presidents view USTAR as an immensely positive development that will start to bear fruit over the coming 3-5 years. Additionally, both Albrecht and Young are strongly seeking to increase the level of cooperation between universities and companies. They ask Utah’s CEOs to increase the number of internships they offer and to work with the universities in providing opportunities to give students hands-on business experience while they’re still in school. Within the universities, USU and the U of U are creating more cross-discipline and cooperative training among their classes in engineering, business and law. “As business and education leaders, we need to expose students at an early age to business situations and let them get excited,” Albrecht said. For more information about upcoming UTC events, readers can visit www.utahtechcouncil.org/events.
About Utah Technology Council
As the premier professional organization for Utah's 3,700- plus technology companies, the Utah Technology Council (UTC) exists to form closer relationships with industry and community leaders, develop superior management talent, sharpen professional skills and help gain access to capital. For more information on UTC, please visit www.utahtechcouncil.org. Agency Contact:
Cheryl Snapp Conner
Snapp Norris Group
T) 801 208- 1100 UTC:
Richard Nelson
T) 801.568.350 | 
