At the University of Utah, our core commitment to student success isn't just a motto; it's a lived experience, a promise, and a legacy we uphold every day.

As I reflect on the University's rich, historical tapestry, I feel a deep sense of honor and responsibility. I address you not merely as an educator with twenty years under my belt, but as a living example of the transformative power of higher education. As a native of the rural American South, raised in a working-class family, shaped by its resilience, and seeing the world through the lens of a first-generation student—my story, much like many of yours, is one of dreams, determination, and the yearning to rise above one's circumstances. And, then, pay that success forward to the next generation of students.

Being a first-generation student is a unique honor. We are the dreamers, the trailblazers, those who forge new paths to success. We understand the gravity of expectations, the exhilaration of achievements, and the lessons in failures and setbacks. Yet, it's through the journey that we find our true mettle, our voice, and our mission.

As part of First-Generation Celebration week, join me and the Center for First-Generation Success in demonstrating support for first-generation students at First-Gen Fest on November 8 from 2-5 pm in Child Hall at the Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building.

The landscape of higher education is a vibrant and evolving space. Still, at the University of Utah, one thing remains steadfast—an unwavering dedication to every student's exceptional educational experience.

As always, Go Utah!
Chase

“Whatever It Is, I’m Against It” Resistance to Change in Higher Education

by Brian Rosenberg

Harvard Education Press

UPEP is a national leader in creating ethical, prison-university partnerships. Andy Eisen, program director, and Sadie Ortiz, an intern with the program and ethnic studies major, explain how the program works and why it matters. 

The National Science Foundation has awarded University of Utah researchers $1.25 million for a pioneering program to recruit and train postdoctoral researchers to explore marginalization in STEM disciplines from a queer theory perspective. Annie Fukushima, associate dean of undergraduate research and associate professor of ethnic studies, will be a co-principal investigator (PI) along with Ramón Barthelemy, assistant professor of physics and astronomy.

The grant will fund three postdoctoral fellows to engage in research with mentors in STEM education fields, as well as queer, ethnic and gender studies. Read more in @theU. 

The Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP) was part of the 2023 State of Utah Black Affairs Summit at the University of Utah, where the theme was, "Building on Our Past and Moving Forward." Destiny Garcia shared her experience on “Life During and After Incarceration” alongside Andy Eisen and Paméla Cappas-Toro from UPEP, and Charlen “Cha” McNeil, the EDI + Reintegration/Re-entry Coordinator at Salt Lake Community College.

The Summit’s goal is to promote proactive strategies to reduce the potential of harm and threats on our campus and in our communities, supported by the University of Utah. Its diverse departments strive to improve the racial climate as well as promote student success, transform lives, and engage communities to improve health and quality of life. 

Julia Vincent joined the Academic Advising Center in 2012. An alumna of the University of Utah, she studied mass communication and leadership studies as an undergraduate and earned her master’s degree in information systems. Always an advocate for students, Julia is passionate about working with first-year students, students exploring majors, and underrepresented populations. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, reading books, renovating her home, and hanging out with her two black cats.

Drawing from over 13 years of experience in academic and student affairs within higher education, Jason Atherton is a dedicated leader focused on making a difference in the lives of students. With a proven track record of improving academic advising on campus, Jason is excited for his new role as co-director of the Academic Advising Center at the University of Utah. 

A division of Undergraduate Studies, the Academic Advising Center is the home for exploring students—those exploring majors, professional paths, or tools for success. With a team of over 20 academic advisors, they promote a transformative undergraduate experience by providing high-quality advising services to students and coordinating campus-wide advising efforts such as required advising appointments, academic standards, and advising technology. Their work takes many forms—meeting one-on-one with students, presenting across campus, hosting workshops, managing top U of U websites, advocating for policy, training the advising community at the U, but always with the shared vision to empower students with the knowledge and confidence to create their unique undergraduate journey.

The Office of Undergraduate Research is launching a new program with a simple application designed to remove as many barriers as possible for students who want to find an undergraduate research opportunity.

The Early Exploration Scholars program connects undergraduate students who have taken less than 60 credits of classes at the U with a research mentor. Students who are selected for the program will receive a $500 scholarship. In addition to attending the undergraduate research education series and orientations, students will also be able to take “research tours,” where they will be able to visit faculty labs and learn about different types of projects.

The Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP) partnered with NASA and the Clark Planetarium to bring the annular eclipse to 750 people incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility, Central Utah Correctional Facility, and Decker Lake Youth Center. They held a viewing party complete with moon pies, sun chips, and sandwiches!

The University of Utah, in collaboration with the Glendale–Mountain View Community Learning Center and Mountain View Elementary School, hosted the annual sCARE Fair. This remarkable event serves as a bridge to connect local youth and families with invaluable healthcare services, all easily accessible, and at no cost.

The event included the support of multiple healthcare organizations, including Friends for Sight, Manava Birth and Family Services, Salt Lake County, AUCH, Health Choice Utah, Safe UT, and various units and departments from the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College. These dedicated organizations came together to engage with the youth and families, underscoring the power of collaborative partnerships.

This year's sCARE Fair drew an impressive crowd of over 400 attendees, setting a new record for annual attendance. Notably, more than 200 youth costumes were generously donated to the Glendale–Mountain View CLC, ensuring that children who might otherwise have gone without a Halloween costume could join the festivities. The University of Utah remains committed to positively impacting the Glendale–Mountain View community and fostering the well-being of its residents.

Swoop made it to Fort Duchesne and delighted hundreds of trick-or-treaters at the Ute Indian Tribe's annual Trunk-or-Treat event at the Pow Wow Grounds. Thank you, Swoop for traveling 300 miles round trip to attend this event on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. The visit was a huge hit!  

Congratulations to Team Trio, the winners of Whooo Knows? Undergraduate Studies Quiz Game: Halloween Edition. Thank you to all those that joined us for the celebration and trivia contest. 

In October, the UIA hosted their fall convening on the University of Utah campus where staff and faculty from all 17 member institutions (e.g., Arizona State, Michigan State, and The Ohio State) attended to share progress and learning from UIA projects, discuss potential upcoming projects, and brainstorm innovative ideas and solutions to higher education’s most pressing challenges. The U continues to greatly benefit from its membership in the UIA through networking with other member institutions, access to grant funding opportunities and awards, and support for innovative solutions.

Read more in @theU. 

The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to share their 2022–2023 annual report. Learn about how the learning experiences beyond the classroom are a high-impact practice with student success where we offer campus-wide support to undergraduate research through funding, education, events, and support.

Nominated by transfer professionals and selected for their commitment to promoting transfer at their institutions, National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) ambassadors share their stories at the annual NISTS conference and play an integral role in communicating the power of connections in creating an inclusive and comprehensive transfer student experience. Congratulations, Emily!

CTE Workshop:
Supporting Students in Distress 

11 AM-12:30 PM

MLIB 1705

First-Gen Fest

2-5 PM

SFEBB 7th Floor,
Child Hall

CEL Workshop: Teaching and Talking About Race

11 AM-12 PM

Program Coordinator, Center for First-Generation Success

Joana is proud of her Mexican roots and says she is “de aquí y de allá” from here and from there. As a first-generation college graduate she credits her success to her supportive family, mentors, and first generation programs such as Opportunity Scholars. With their support she graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Utah. She has worked with students for over six years with organizations such as Utah College Advising Corp and Park City Education Foundation–Bright Futures. She is excited to continue supporting the U’s amazing first-generation students as the new First-Generation Program Coordinator. Outside of work, Acevedo can most likely be found reading, crocheting, running, or hiking.

Academic Standards Advisor, Academic Advising Center

Amanda is excited to be joining the Academic Advising Center as an Academic Standards Advisor. She is a Utah native and graduated with a bachelor's degrees in communication and psychology here at the University of Utah! She previously worked for Housing and Residential Education and she is looking forward to using her institutional knowledge, as well as learning more about advising and academic affairs, in her new role. She loves hiking the local trails with her lab/heeler mix, Ollie, and camping all around the state and Intermountain West!

Student Programs Manager, Community Engaged Learning + Scholarship

Gaëlle enjoys looking at the world from different perspectives and discovering connections between people and ideas. She is excited to help students find success and purpose in their projects. She is determined to provide a holistic mentorship experience to them while striving to grow the program.  

Gaëlle earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Utah, focusing her research on economic development, culture, and human rights. Before her doctoral program, she worked with multiple NGOs and the UN as a field officer and coordinator.  

Originally from the French countryside, she relishes any moment outdoors with her family. She constantly challenges herself to learn something new, which, at the moment, focuses on climate solutions and a new language.

Have something you'd like US to highlight in the newsletter? Email marketing@us.utah.edu