Hall to elicit support of top Utah businessmen
In an effort to secure the support of top Utah businessmen for university research, President Kermit L. Hall will speak to the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce today, John DeVilbiss, university spokesman said.
Hall’s presentation, “Leadership Utah,” will emphasize the importance of state investment in its research universities, citing several examples of other states which have successfuly put long-term investments into their research universities.
“The main state we have worked with is Arizona,” DeVilbiss said. “They went in before the Arizona Legislature and made a case to combine efforts with the University of Arizona to turn research into jobs for the state of Arizona.”
The result was a long-term, $400 million investment by the Arizona Legislature into the two universities.
The return on a state’s investment into its research universities is substantial, DeVilbiss said.
DeVilbiss said the speech is being given to the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce because it is important to get the “movers and shakers” of Utah’s business community involved.
“Hall’s speech will make a bold and compelling case for his vision about transforming Utah’s model of thinking about the economic development potential of its research universities,” DeVilbiss said.
DeVilbiss said one reason behind the presentation is to “make them aware and get them excited.”
Hall hopes to present not only the importance to those attending, but the potential dividends that research university investment can bring to a state’s economy, Devilbiss said.
The presentation will focus on current and future collaborative efforts between Utah State University and the University of Utah, DeVilbiss said, hoping to convince those in attendance of the two universities potential impact of the economic future of the state.
Members of USU’s administration have visited Arizona State’s campus and have been very involved with them in order to find the best and most successful model for Utah leaders to follow, DeVilbiss said.
The presentation will take place at 4 p.m. at 175 East 400 South in Suite 600.
-bnelson@cc.usu.edu