As the spring semester begins, it is clear that Undergraduate Studies is buzzing with energy and excitement. From innovative program initiatives to community engagement activities to cutting-edge research projects, we offer a dynamic approach to the student experience. There's never been a better time to be a student (or faculty or staff) at the U!

At the core of everything we do is a focus on student success and transformation. We are constantly exploring new, effective ways of enhancing the student experience. We are committed to bold and ambitious goals set to make incredible impacts on the lives of every student and of all Utahns across the state. 

Innovation at the U is ongoing and great things are happening with even more anticipated ahead! The work we do is motivated by a clear vision for the future. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and unwavering belief in the University of Utah. 

T. Chase Hagood, Ph.D.

Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Congratulations to Dr. Nina Feng, of the Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence, on being appointed as an Inclusion Co-Coordinator for the POD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Team for 2023-2025. 

The Office of Transfer Student Success hosts Transfer workshops throughout spring semester. These workshops connect students with high-quality experiences on campus such as service learning, internships, and study abroad opportunities. 

Throughout spring semester, the Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence is hosting several university-wide workshops for instructors, TAs, and postdocs. 

Undergraduate Studies convened its inaugural class of fellows in August 2022. This talented group of five faculty will contribute to several important projects during this academic year including updating and developing policies and procedures germane to undergraduate education and shepherding those policies through the faculty governance process.

The Office of Undergraduate Research will be hosting the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR) at the University of Utah this year. UCUR is an opportunity for undergraduates to present their work to students, faculty, field specialists, and community members in a scholarly setting. Presentations include both visual and oral displays of work across academic disciplines, from art history to molecular biology, as well as performance of creative research within the visual and performing arts.

Check out the Fall 2022 issue of Range: Undergraduate Research Journal. The primary goal of the journal is to make more visible the rich and diverse scholarship conducted by undergraduates at the University of Utah. 

As part of its $10 million Beyond Completion Challenge, Strada Education Network announced that the University of Utah is one of four recipients of a $1.5 million grant. The grants are designed to help higher education institutions expand efforts to improve long-term outcomes for students, especially those who historically have faced the greatest barriers in education and the workforce. The university will partner with UHealth to support underserved communities in West Valley, by creating clearer and more supportive pathways for students and adult learners to pursue health careers.

The UIA has received approval from Ascendium for a $2.5 million project, plus an additional $1 million from the DeLuca Foundation to support direct student progression grants and tuition subsidies, with a 1:1 campus match. The project will focus on scaling the full suite of Georgia State’s Accelerator Academy interventions across member campuses, including the U, (by expanding existing and adding new components) and on diagnosing/predicting drop, fail, or withdraw impediments on campuses in order to provide proactive intervention.

Dr. Akiko Kamimura from the College of Social Work has been selected to receive the 2023 John G. Francis Prize for Undergraduate Student Mentoring.

Dr. Kamimura is an associate professor of sociology whose primary areas of interest include social determinants of health, health disparities, minority and immigrant health, intimate partner violence, health promotion, health education, community-based research, survey research methods, health management and policy, and global health. Her work and dedication to undergraduate students stands out for the breadth of activities she is engaged in, the inclusion of undergraduate students in much of her work, and the creation of an environment of learning, collaboration, and support for undergraduate students to thrive.

Undergraduate students from the University of Utah, along with students from Utah State University, showcased their research for Utah lawmakers and the general public at the Utah State Capitol on Friday.

Research on Capitol Hill is an annual event that gives lawmakers and the public a glimpse of the breadth of research programs at the U and reinforces the value of state-funded higher education.

The 25 presenters from the U this year hail from broad disciplines across campus, including engineering, medicine and social sciences.

CTE Workshop: Supporting Faculty with Disabilities in Teaching

12:30 PM-1:30 PM

Transfer Alumni Experience Panel

6:00 PM-7:00 PM

Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR)

8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Registration opens for 2023 CRLA Regional Conference

Last day to withdraw from Spring 2023 courses

CTE Active Learning Strategies Workshop

6:00 PM-7:00 PM

Having taught at the U for over 40 years, she was the first faculty member to bring Reacting to the Past pedagogy to the University of Utah.  She is the backbone of the Pre-Law LEAP program, a multi-year cohort program for undergraduate students underrepresented in law, and an incredible mentor to both students and faculty. She loves teaching first-year students because of their openness and enthusiasm for learning. She enjoys helping them understand what college is like and what they can create for themselves. As a creator herself, she makes hand quilts and embroiders, plays the piano, sings alto and plays Granny to 8 grandchildren. She loves to travel and give back to the community; for example, she employed her writing skills to create biographies of athletes at the 2002 Olympics and more recently wrote biographies of some of the early women county elected officers for Better Days. Ask her about her favorite books she has read recently—she has been a member of a book group that has been in existence for over 40 years.

Jude is a proud non-binary trans man whose family relocated to the Salt Lake Valley from Central California nearly 17 years ago, calling Utah home ever since. They attended the University of Utah for three years, during which they were awarded 2 semesters of funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). When Jude is not working, they enjoy cycling, yarn arts, writing, singing, and spending quality time with family, friends, and partner. They hope to add a dog to their family soon!

Arturo Canela is originally from San Diego, California, and moved to Utah in 2013 to complete his undergraduate degree at Southern Utah University. Once finished with his master's degree, he relocated from Cedar City to Salt Lake City and was offered a staff position at the University of Utah. Since 2019, Arturo has worked in various programs and departments at the university. He is now the Education Pathways program manager for the University of Utah’s Office of Outreach and Engagement and is stationed at the Glendale-Mt. View Community Learning Center. Arturo is currently working on a doctoral degree at the University of Utah with a strong interest on Hispanic Serving Institutions and anticipates completing his education in 2026. When he is not working or doing school work, Arturo is an active boxing enthusiast who enjoys running with his partner and their fur baby.

Kayla is a web content specialist for the Office of Undergraduate Studies. She grew up in South Jordan, Utah and is currently studying software development at Utah Valley University. In her free time, Kayla loves to crochet and is currently working on amigurumi figures of her co-workers. She speaks Spanish and would love to travel to Colombia and experience its rich biodiversity. She also enjoys shopping on amazon.

Melissa is the Director & Liaison of Utah Global Instruction. Melissa has been teaching English for 20 years and loves her job, her classes, and her students.  She has taught all levels of ESL—from beginning to advanced—in four states, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Utah, and two countries, China and Bosnia-Herzegovina. She is currently an associate instructor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Utah. Her favorite group of learners are beginning level adult immigrants/refugees and teachers in training.

Melissa has a background in teaching academic writing and research, which is one of her favorite subjects to teach. Her current work involves training teachers in the TESOL Certificate Program and teaching Cross-Cultural Communication courses.

Melissa lives with her husband who is a professor in outdoor recreation at Salt Lake Community College.  They have been married for many years and have two beautiful dogs named Bird and Little Ann and a young daughter named Goldie Rae. The five of them love to dance, hike, watch TV, and hang out in their house.

Toya Jules is the program manager for Impact Scholars.  Prior to joining the University of Utah, Toya worked in many non-profit organizations supporting marginalized and underserved communities in Utah. Toya also served in a myriad of patient and community advocacy groups where she contributed insight on how to provide holistic and tailored care to meet the needs of various  communities. In an effort to broaden the impact of her work on a national scale, Toya plans to get a master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Utah.

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