Since 1953, Utah has partnered with and benefited from WICHE through regional collaboration, resource-sharing, sound public policy, and innovation.
Tuition Savings

Utah students saved $11.5M through WICHE’s Student Access Programs (Academic Year 2021-22)
- $7.8M saved through WUE
- $3.1M saved through WRGP
- $582,350 saved through PSEP

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) saves Utah undergraduate students on out-of-state tuition. They pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at partner institutions across the West.
- 1020 Utah students chose WUE schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 3,717 out-of-state students chose WUE schools in Utah (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WUE schools for Utah undergrads:
- Mohave Community College (124)
- Colorado Mesa University (55)
- Western Wyoming Community College (52)
- Top 3 Utah schools for out-of-state undergrads:
- University of Utah (1,669)
- Utah Valley University (738)
- Southern Utah University (448)

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) saves Utah students on out-of-state graduate certificate, master’s and doctoral programs. They pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at partner institutions across the West.
- 210 Utah students chose WRGP schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 237 out-of-state students chose WRGP schools in Utah (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WRGP schools for Utah students:
- Idaho State University (28)
- University of Idaho (25)
- University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (17)
- Top 3 Utah WRGP schools for out-of-state students:
- University of Utah (180)
- Utah State University University (38)
- Weber State University (11)

Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) students pursuing careers in 10 health fields can enroll in programs in the WICHE region and receive substantial tuition support from their home state/territory.
- 32 students paid reduced tuition and saved $582,350 for healthcare studies not offered by public institutions in Utah
- Utah institutions and their local economies benefit, too. This year, 25 PSEP students enrolled in public and private programs located in Utah. Institutions received $688,150 in support fees to reduce the students’ tuition costs
- 48% of STATE’s PSEP graduates returned home to practice (2007-2016). The state does not contractually require them to do so
WICHE Commissioners
*indicates Executive Committee member
Patricia Jones
CEO, Women's Leadership Institute and Member of the Utah Board of Regents
Patricia Jones
CEO, Women's Leadership Institute and Member of the Utah Board of Regents
Patricia Jones is the CEO of the Women’s Leadership Institute in Utah, an organization focused on elevating the leadership status of women in the state. Prior to this appointment she was the co-founder and former president of Dan Jones Associates for 35 years, a polling company based in Utah that conducts market research, economic analysis and strategy consulting for a variety of well-known national companies and organizations. Jones also served in the Utah legislature for 14 years, serving in leadership positions 12 of those years. She was a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2000-2006 and was elected to the Utah Senate in 2006-2014, serving eight years there, including serving as the first female leader in either party and in either House. Jones currently is a member of the Utah Board of Regents, the Board of Governors of the Salt Lake Chamber, the Intermountain Healthcare Community Care Foundation, and a member of the National Advisory Board of the University of Utah School of Dentistry. Jones has served on the boards of United Way of Salt Lake, Utah Symphony and Opera, St. Mark’s Hospital, Hale Centre Theatre, Columbus Community Center, University of Utah Alumni Association, Coalition for People with Disabilities, This is the Place State Park, Coalition for the Understanding of Substance Abuse Disease, and Zions Bank Women’s Financial Group. She is a communications graduate from the University of Utah.

* Ann Millner
Senator, Utah State Legislature
Ann Millner *
Senator, Utah State Legislature
Ann Millner serves as the state senator for Utah District 18. She serves in senate leadership as the senate majority assistant whip. She serves on several committees including the executive appropriations committee, the legislative management committee, co-chair of the Higher Education Strategic Planning Commission and the appropriations subcommittees for both public and higher education. Additionally, she is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures executive committee. She has sponsored legislation focused on economic development specifically related to business development strategy and workforce preparation, public and higher education, and improving affordable health care. In 2018, she was awarded the Utah Business Legislator of the Year by the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Utah Technology Council Legislator of the Year.
She is a Regents Professor of Health Administration and former president at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Under Millner’s leadership as president from 2002 to 2012, Weber State became a multi-campus institution, experienced a nearly 40 percent increase in enrollment, initiated a major facilities revitalization effort, expanded its network of community partnerships, launched WSU-Davis, emerged as a regional center for economic development, and earned national recognition for its undergraduate research and community-based learning initiatives.
Millner currently serves on the board of trustees for Intermountain Healthcare, the board of directors for Merit Medical and the advisory board for Zions Bank. In addition, she is chair of Ogden United, and a member of the advisory board for the Kem Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, and the Governor’s Taskforce on Educational Excellence.

David Woolstenhulme
Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education
David Woolstenhulme
Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education
Dave R. Woolstenhulme, Ed.D became Commissioner of Higher Education on July 1, 2020, after serving as Interim Commissioner of Higher Education since July 2019 for the Utah System of Higher Education. Previously, he served as Vice President of Statewide Campuses for Utah State University (USU), a position he held since 2018. Prior to that, he served as the Utah Commissioner of Technical Education where he was the CEO for the Utah System of Technical Colleges, providing state-level leadership and oversight for the eight technical colleges in Utah. He also served as Executive Vice Provost at USU, as well as the President of Uintah Basin Applied Technology College. Woolstenhulme received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Utah State University and his Doctorate of Education from the University of Wyoming.

Legislative Advisory Committee
Melissa Ballard
Representative, Utah State Legislature
Melissa Ballard
Representative, Utah State Legislature

Michael McKell
Senator, Utah State Legislature
Michael McKell
Senator, Utah State Legislature

* Ann Millner
Senator, Utah State Legislature
Ann Millner *
Senator, Utah State Legislature
Ann Millner serves as the state senator for Utah District 18. She serves in senate leadership as the senate majority assistant whip. She serves on several committees including the executive appropriations committee, the legislative management committee, co-chair of the Higher Education Strategic Planning Commission and the appropriations subcommittees for both public and higher education. Additionally, she is a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures executive committee. She has sponsored legislation focused on economic development specifically related to business development strategy and workforce preparation, public and higher education, and improving affordable health care. In 2018, she was awarded the Utah Business Legislator of the Year by the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Utah Technology Council Legislator of the Year.
She is a Regents Professor of Health Administration and former president at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Under Millner’s leadership as president from 2002 to 2012, Weber State became a multi-campus institution, experienced a nearly 40 percent increase in enrollment, initiated a major facilities revitalization effort, expanded its network of community partnerships, launched WSU-Davis, emerged as a regional center for economic development, and earned national recognition for its undergraduate research and community-based learning initiatives.
Millner currently serves on the board of trustees for Intermountain Healthcare, the board of directors for Merit Medical and the advisory board for Zions Bank. In addition, she is chair of Ogden United, and a member of the advisory board for the Kem Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, and the Governor’s Taskforce on Educational Excellence.
