Dear Colleagues, 

Thank you for your commitment to the critical, shared work of student success at the University of Utah. Our mission in the Office of Undergraduate Studies is to put "Students First," and student success coaching is essential to that work. The Student Success Coaching team assists students in setting goals, strengthening academic skills, and more. Coaches support the university’s mission to prepare “students from diverse backgrounds for lives of impact as leaders and citizens.”  

Student Success Coaching is research driven and evidence shows career benefits when students have the tools needed to commit to a traditional timeframe for their degree. At the U, we have spent the previous academic year working in partnership with InsideTrack to leverage the power of coaching to directly support students in achieving better outcomes. Coaching meetings center on academic, career, financial, and health needs, as well as general support. Data show that coaches have made an impact on increased GPAs and reduced DEWI rates at the U. 

Undergraduate Studies has identified noticeable growth in student retention that can be attributed, in part, to coaches cultivating persistence among students who need tools to address obstacles that might be new to them in higher education. To learn more about Student Success Coaching at the U, visit ssc.utah.edu. 

And as always, Go Utah!
Chase

Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future

by Jean M. Twenge, PhD

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Lemonada Media

Navigating college can be complicated. From registering for classes, understanding program requirements and paying for tuition to navigating high-fail courses, students face multiple critical steps and potential points of failure on their way to graduation.

The University of Utah’s Office of Academic Affairs aims to increase student success by launching a new platform to help identify these pain points and alleviate them.

Read more in @theU.  

On Saturday, August 19, the Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP) held its fall orientation. More than 30 volunteers representing six universities attended the event! Institutions included the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, and Westminster University. 

Congratulations to this year's recipients of the Staff Excellence Awards for the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Their innovative thinking, commitment to excellence, and positive attitudes contribute significantly to the US mission of ensuring an exceptional educational experience for every student at the U.

Compass Award for Outstanding Ability to Collaborate Within a Team: Davor Simunovic, Student Success and Transformative Experiences

Edge Award for Excellence in Leadership: Adam Halstrom, Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence

Future+ Award for Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace: Julia Vincent, Academic Advising Center

Future+ Award for Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace: Jason Atherton, Academic Advising Center

The State of Undergraduate Studies address by Dean Hagood was held on August 16 in the Carolyn Tanner Irish Humanities Building. If weren't able to attend the event, a video recording is available.

The Office of the Dean of Students is collaborating with the Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence to offer 3 workshops this fall. These in-person workshops will provide critical information for instructors and administrators on the resources available from the Office of the Dean of Students for supporting student accountability, behaviors, and mental health needs. 

Overview of the Office of the Dean of Students

Participants will learn more about Student Support and Student Accountability processes, procedures, and interventions and Student Accountability, when to contact ODOS and how to support students navigating the care and accountability process.  

Introduction to Behavioral Intervention and Student Support

Attendees will learn will be introduced to the NABITA Risk Rubric and learn the difference between distressing, troubling, and threatening behaviors, and how to respond including when to refer to the office of the Dean of Students or other university departments for support.    

Supporting Students in Distress 

The training teaches participants how to identify students in distress, intervene, and report such behavior. Additionally, faculty and staff member will be given self-care strategies and resources when supporting students in need. 

Saturday Academies are part of the commitment students make to being a part of the First Star program. The academies offer a great opportunity for students to get help with schooling, learn practical life skills, and also have fun with their community—all part of keeping them on track to succeed in high school and after!

The focus of the September academy was on setting SMART goals and going over student subcommittees. After the work was done, students had delicious Afghani food for lunch and spent the afternoon bowling and playing games. 

Join Swoop, cheerleaders, students, alumni and fans for the U Alumni Scholarship 5K—a celebration featuring food, prizes and U spirit from start to finish! To help raise money for scholarships, $5 from each registration will go toward the U Alumni scholarship fund. The first 500 registrants will receive special-edition medals. 

When | Saturday, Sept. 30

Where | University of Utah Block U or Virtually

The UIA Black Student Success Initiative: Generation Next is an asset-based program at the University of Utah run by the Black Cultural Center. The program supports the post-graduation outcomes of students by centering a student’s cultural and communal assets as the cornerstones for mentorship, networking, career exploration, and skill development. Generation Next utilizes a cultural and identity affirmation framework that moves career development away from deficit and needs interventions to a practice that nurtures students’ talents and strengths while centering Blackness as a source of strength, confidence, and joy. 

University of Utah senior, Diyan Durovic has been awarded the 2023-2024 Utah Community Action (UCA) Scholarship. The scholarship provides tuition and room and board for one year for a University of Utah student who participated in a UCA Head Start Program as a child. The scholarship aligns with UCA’s mission of empowering individuals, strengthening families, and building communities through self-reliance and education programs.

Speaking of his time in Head Start, Durovic said, “Head Start was different, it was my home away from home. A place where I, a child of two refugees, was finally able to learn English and communicate with my peers.” He appreciates the impact the Head Start, program has had in his life. The program and his teacher were catalysts for inspiring his interest in creativity and the arts. They set him on course for pursing his current goals.

“I will forever be grateful to my second family [at Head Start] and the pathway that allowed me to strive to make all of my dreams a reality.”

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is  funding 204 students in Fall 2023 as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). Congratulations to all of the UROP students and faculty mentors!

Aksel Anderson, Cassandra Burdick, Kyle Harshany, Rui Jin, Maddie Lodico, Irvane  Nelson, Elizabeth Russo, Nick Thomson have been selected as 2023–2024 Dee Scholar recipients.  Thank you to the Lawrence T. Dee and Janet T. Dee Foundation for its generous support of UROP students. 

The Student Success Coaching team has tripled in size! As of Aug. 01, we have eight additional coaches. Coaches empower students to reach their full potential and thrive in their academic journeys. They recognize the individuality of every student and are excited to work closely with each of them to create a tailored roadmap to success.

Learn more about the Student Success Coaches at ssc.utah.edu.

How to Get Started with OER Materials in Teaching

11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Alumni Scholarship 5K

8:30 AM

University of Utah Block U

Introduction to Behavioral Intervention and Student Support 

11:00 AM-12:15 PM

MLIB 1705

Associate Director, TRIO

Bri earned a B.S in Family Life and Human Development & Interior Design from Southern Utah University and an M.Ed. from Westminster College. Prior to TRIO she worked as the assistant director for Westminster’s Student Diversity and Inclusion Center as well as First Scholars—a high impact program, for first- gen students. Bri is passionate about social justice, dismantling systems of oppression, identity development, first-gen students, college access, and advocacy. She is excited to actively work with and advocate for TRIO students both on campus and in the greater community. In her free time she enjoys going on mountain adventures with her dog (Indie), loves live music, cooking, and hosting dinner parties.

Student Success Coach, Student Success and Transformative Experiences

Elizabeth is the heart and soul of the Glendale – Mt. View Community Learning Center. As a community specialist, Elizabeth is passionate about bringing people together and enjoys supporting families to become involved in their children’s schools because, “families are the biggest part of the life of a student.” During her spare time, Elizabeth immerses herself in cooking and gardening, especially when combined, and transports fruits and vegetables “from the soil to the table.”

Art Program Manager, STEMCAP

Mollie is a painter with over 15 years of experience as an arts educator. She holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MFA from Indiana University. She has received artist grants from the Berlin Office of Cultural Affairs, the Queens Council on the Arts, the Salt Lake City Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Mollie started working with incarcerated youth while working as a visiting professor of art at Utah Tech University, and is interested in the ways art can be used to make connections between inside and outside communities. Her recent artistic research investigates working with groups to create large-scale "multi-vocal" paintings—images that celebrate a diversity of visual art styles and challenge traditional Western art's emphasis on the isolated individual. Send her an email if you'd like to see her work.

College & Career Navigator, Engage U

Christian has had the unique experience of having worked in both the corporate world and in higher education. Both are very different. Being able to teach has allowed him to meet and guide clients and students through the process of reaching their goals. Christian loves to travel and plans to retire one day in Medellin, Colombia! 

College & Career Navigator, Engage U

Emily joined Undergraduate Studies in August 2023 at the Herriman Campus. Before coming to the U, Emily worked at UVU in the Registrar’s Office assisting students, faculty, and staff with all things transfer credit and graduation. She loves helping students achieve their educational goals and is excited to help students get engaged at the U! In her free time, Emily loves reading, watching TV, cuddling with her cat, cooking, and running.

Sr. Director, Center for Action Research on Prison Education

Dr. Paméla Cappas-Toro, is a first-generation, Puerto Rican teacher-scholar, who earned her Ph.D.in Latin American and Caribbean Literatures and Cultures from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At the University of Utah, she serves as the operations director for higher education in prison. Before joining the University of Utah, Dr. Cappas-Toro held the position of associate professor of World Languages and Cultures, at Stetson University. Her passion for social justice, critical community engagement scholarship, and commitment to undergraduate education have been evident in her role as the co-founder and co-director (2015-2022) of the Community Education Project, a liberal arts higher education in prison initiative based in Florida. Dr. Cappas-Toro's ongoing research delves into inquiries about carcerality, critical service learning, translation, and higher education in prison. Noteworthy among her recent publications is a book translation of Dean Spade's Mutual Aid book titled "Ayuda mutua: construyendo solidaridad durante esta crisis (y la próxima)" and a second book translation project from Mariame Kaba's We Do This ‘till We Free Us, titled "Lo que haremos hasta que nos liberemos”. 

Academic Program Coordinator, Office of Undergraduate Research

Jennifer is an academic program coordinator for OUR, and her work includes coordinating the launch of the new Early Exploration Scholars Program. She is originally from New York where she completed her B.A. in Sociology. Shortly after, she earned her M.A. in Human Rights at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The mountains brought her to Utah and the University of Utah is keeping her here.

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