Student Success Starts Here: Our Guiding Principle
This is the second blog is a series about our commitment to provide every University of Utah student with an exceptional educational experience that helps them develop academically, personally, and professionally.
In higher education, student success is more than a goal—it is the guiding principle that shapes our decisions and priorities. At the University of Utah, it serves as our North Star, ensuring that the initiatives we pursue, the policies we implement, and the resources we allocate are focused on supporting students in completing their degrees and preparing for meaningful careers.
Removing Obstacles
Since beginning my role in 2023, I have worked to align resources and efforts with our mission of advancing student success and access to excellent education. I measure progress against that guiding principle by creating access to data so our leaders across campus can make informed decisions.
Our university values and supports each student as a future graduate and as a community member with potential to make an impact locally, nationally, and globally. However, like many of our peer institutions, we recognize that we have work to do. Our six-year graduation rate stands at 64%, slightly above the national average but lower than we would like, and our four-year graduation rate is the lowest among our Association of American Universities peers. These numbers tell us that too many students face barriers that delay or prevent them from earning a degree. Our responsibility is to identify and remove those obstacles.
To make progress, we partnered with the National Institute of Student Success (NISS) and the University Innovation Alliance (UIA) to develop plans for improvement. We have identified three key areas for action: enhancing the student experience, streamlining the admission process, and supporting our faculty.
The Need for Smart, Strategic Efficiency
Higher education is facing a period of rapid change. Rising costs, shifting public perceptions about the value of a degree, and a dynamic funding landscape require us to be more strategic in how we use our resources. At the U, we know that, for now, state funding increases are unlikely. To maximize our ability to fulfill our mission and reach the ambitious goals laid out in Strategy 2030, we must focus on making the most of the resources we have—ensuring that our resources and our efforts go further in supporting student success.
Efficiency in this context isn’t about doing more with less; rather, it is about being the best possible stewards of public funds as we create a more seamless experience for students. When processes are clearer and better connected, students spend less time navigating administrative hurdles and more time engaged in meaningful learning experiences. Not every student desires to graduate in four years; but, no student should be thwarted in their progress toward graduation because of inefficiencies at their university.
Enhancing efficiency helps us maintain affordability and access. Every additional semester a student spends in college increases their financial burden and raises the likelihood that they won’t complete their degree at all. By refining how we guide students through their academic journey, we can help them stay on track and reach graduation without unnecessary delays.
Improving the Student Experience
One of the most significant challenges students face is navigating academic requirements and support systems. Small barriers—such as inconsistent advising, difficulty transferring credits, or unclear degree pathways—can accumulate and become major roadblocks to graduation. The Navigate U initiative is designed to address these challenges at a systemic level.
Navigate U is a comprehensive tracking and communication system that supports student success by uniting departments, teams, and schedules across campus. Navigate U helps students keep up with general education requirements, makes it easier to change majors, and personalizes their academic journey. By streamlining these processes into a single tool, we eliminate barriers to student success and ensure a smoother path to graduation.
For example, students transferring to the U from community colleges or other institutions often face significant challenges in determining how their prior coursework applies to their degrees. Before implementing Navigate U, academic advisors worked in disconnected silos, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies. Now, with better coordination across advising teams through our Navigate U system, students receive clear, accurate information and avoid unnecessary delays.
We’re also improving coordination among graduate programs and the academic units that feed into them. By strengthening these connections, we broaden the undergraduate pipeline and encourage more students to pursue advanced degrees.
Navigate U addresses some of the top barriers to student success, including uncoordinated academic advising, unclear major choices, and financial challenges. Uncoordinated advising is frustrating for students, particularly as they progress through their studies or switch majors. Our goal is to provide more personalized and proactive advising that helps students define their goals and find a major that suits their strengths.
We recognize that affordability is a major factor in student success. The longer it takes a student to graduate, the more it costs. At the U, Pell Grant-eligible students graduate at a rate that is 13 percentage points lower than their peers. By improving advising and course availability and ensuring financial assistance is available for those in need, we aim to close this gap and ensure that all students, regardless of background, can complete their degrees in a timely manner.
Streamlining Access
The University of Utah is experiencing a record number of undergraduate and graduate applications, including growth in both in-state and out-of-state enrollment and a more dynamic and diverse student body. While increased demand strengthens our institution, it also underscores the need for continuous improvement in our admissions process.
One area of focus at the U is reducing the turnaround time for admissions decisions, ensuring that students receive clear, timely responses. Faster turnaround between applying for and receiving acceptance allows us to reduce the anxiety of students as they wait for a decision and hopefully bring in more highly qualified students who are prepared to succeed.
In addition, we’re expanding international recruitment efforts. Improving the application process for international students will attract a broader group of students, opening opportunities for partnerships, study abroad programs, and a more globally engaged campus community.
Supporting and Developing Outstanding Faculty
Our vision for student success also relies on recruiting, retaining, and supporting exceptional faculty. We are committed to building and developing a faculty that reflects our student body and the dynamic nature of our academic mission. Our faculty members bring a wealth of experience from varied personal and professional backgrounds. They contribute to a rich learning environment that prepares students for success in an ever-changing world.
By attracting faculty who are dedicated to education, research, and community engagement, we ensure that our students receive the best education possible. This commitment to faculty excellence is integral to creating an environment that fosters academic growth and prepares students to thrive in their future careers.
Empowering Students to Find Their Own North Star
As we refine our approach and implement data-informed solutions, student success will continue to be our guiding principle. Ultimately, our goal is that students will identify their own North Star—their personal path to success—through the education and experiences they gain by attending the University of Utah. By advancing student success, we not only transform individual lives but also expand our societal impact, ultimately driving both economic growth and community well-being. My hope is that our university helps guide each student to their brightest future and empowers them to make meaningful contributions to society, no matter where their journey takes them.
