USU Strengthens Tech Ed Mission With Dual Reporting to Provost

Beginning fall 2026, Utah State University’s leadership for technical education will report to the USU Office of the Provost while maintaining a dual report to the dean of the Quinney College of Agriculture and Nature Resources. Professional and technical education will remain housed within QANR, and its associate and bachelor's degree programs will continue in the college without interruption.

“As Utah's land-grant, R1 research university, Utah State University is committed to expanding educational opportunities and meeting the evolving needs of the state and the communities we serve,” USU President Brad L. Mortensen said. “Technical education and strong academic pathways are an important part of that mission, connecting students to meaningful careers while creating opportunities to continue their education throughout their lives.”

This move aligns with the Utah System of Higher Education’s regional framework, which is designed to improve college access, affordability and quality. USHE has defined the northern region to include Utah State, Bridgerland Technical College, Uintah Basin Technical College and Tooele Technical College.

“I’m excited to build on the relationships we already have with these technical colleges and find ways to strengthen workforce development for our communities,” Mortensen said.

The university’s involvement in technical education expanded significantly in 2010 when the College of Eastern Utah merged with Utah State University, bringing with it the legacy of Southeastern Applied Technology College, which had merged with the College of Eastern Utah in 2007. This further strengthened Utah State's statewide role in technical education and workforce development.

Mortensen said that this organizational change builds on that legacy by strengthening the university’s technical education mission and enhancing academic pathways for students, while having minimal operational impact on students.

“This change reflects an important part of Utah State's mission,” Mortensen said. “By deepening coordination across our statewide campuses and academic colleges, we will create more seamless educational pathways, expand opportunities for students and better meet the workforce needs of Utah.”

Zak Konakis, who oversees technical education from the USU Eastern campus in Price, will have a title change to director of the USU School of Professional & Technical Education and vice provost for Technical Education and Academic Pathways. In this role, Konakis will continue to lead university-wide efforts to bolster technical education, expand partnerships with Utah's technical colleges and improve transfer and one-to-one course articulations with the university’s technical college partners. He will also continue to work with colleges on expanding associate degree opportunities where they best serve students and workforce needs.