Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Subject: Master of Public Policy (MPP) – University of Utah
Primary Status: Verified
1. Verification Data
Audits of academic credentials were conducted via the National Student Clearinghouse (the authorized agent for the University of Utah) and direct correspondence with University officials.
| Credential | Date | Current Status | Primary Source |
| Bachelor of Science | 2000 | Verified | DegreeVerify Certificate |
| Master of Public Policy | 2018/2019 | Unverified | University Registrar (via Clearinghouse) |
| Master of Public Policy | Apr-May 2026 | In Review | University Graduate School (as of May 7, 2026) |
| Master of Public Policy | Jun 2026 | Verified | Conferral date April 30, 2026 |
2. Chronological Analysis of Remediation
The following timeline contrasts the candidate’s established public claims with internal administrative actions taken at the University of Utah:
- April 20, 2026 (8:30 a.m.): Direct inquiry sent to the Rigby campaign regarding the lack of Clearinghouse verification (see below) for the claimed 2018/2019 Master’s degree.
- April 20, 2026: The candidate contacts the University of Utah Graduate School to inquire about her status in the MPP program.
- April 27, 2026: A University of Utah spokesperson confirms to the press that the candidate “did not graduate” from the MPP program.
- May 1, 2026: Acting on advice from the University after submitting additional information from professors, the candidate submits a “Spring 2026” graduation application, meeting the late-application deadline.
- May 7, 2026: The University of Utah Graduate School confirms they are “currently completing the necessary reviews to determine her eligibility for graduation.”
- June 9, 2026: Rigby posts an image of a diploma with date of April 30, 2026.
- June 30, 2026: University of Utah spokesperson Heather King confirms that Rigby was conferred a diploma on April 30, 2026.
3. Researcher’s Evaluation: Claim vs. Eligibility
A necessary distinction exists between initiating eligibility for a future degree and possessing a completed degree at the time of a legal election filing.
According to the University of Utah’s May 7 statement, the candidate’s academic record required the submission of “additional information from several of her professors,” resulting in a new application for a Spring 2026 graduation.
Key Finding: The official Voters’ Pamphlet and the candidate’s SEL 101 (below) filing claimed the Master’s degree as a completed, historical credential. However, verified University communications confirm that as of May 7, 2026, her graduation status remains actively under review for the current academic term.
4. Regulatory Context: Certification of Filings
Under Oregon election law, a candidate does not merely submit an SEL 101 filing; they legally certify that the information provided is true and accurate at the exact time of submission.
The documentary evidence indicates that while the candidate initiated a remediation process on April 20 to resolve her academic status, the degree had not been conferred at the time she certified its completion to the voters of Lincoln County.
Source Documents
Click on any image to download the underlying PDF.
