The Oquirrh Institute was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. The Institute's mission is to shine early light on public policy dilemmas and establish innovative solutions. "Oquirrh" is the name given to the mountain range which lies to the west of Salt Lake City. As the sun rises over the Salt Lake Valley, brilliant "early light" reflects off the Oquirrh Mountains.

The Oquirrh Institute is currently involved in four areas of concentration:

• Moving to Competency-Measured Education
• Improving Environmental Management
• Advancing Health Information and Research
• Enhancing Governance Through Technology