Group wants more college degrees for Utah women

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah higher education officials say not enough women in the state are graduating from college and want that to change.

The Utah Women and Education Initiative aims to implement 10 key recommendations from a task force convened by Gov. Gary Herbert in 2011.

The recommendations include promoting the benefits of a college education, creating women-focused mentoring programs, and flexible attendance and credit options for students who want to balance education, family and work.

Officials say Utah women are particularly underrepresented in business, science, technology, engineering and math programs.

The state’s goal is to have 66 percent of Utah residents aged 25-64 earn at least a one-year degree by 2020. The state is at 43 percent now.

Officials say Utah women lag behind men in bachelor’s and graduate degrees.