An anonymous donor has given the University of Utah $30 million to build the state's first dental school, but lack of support from the state has left the school's prospects in doubt, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
University officials want at least $2 million a year from the state to run the school, but the prospects are dim since the Legislature is trying to cut higher education spending, according to the Tribune.
The Utah Dental Association wants the school built but only if properly financed, and some members have questioned the idea because the state has a surplus of dentists, Executive Director Monte Thompson said in the article.
Currently the state reimburses Utah residents $18,000 a year toward the cost of studying at universities in other states if they return to practice in Utah, the newspaper reported.
