I’d like to acknowledge the important announcement made on April 19 by the University of Utah in response to HB 261. Effective immediately, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) centers—including the Black Cultural Center, American Indian Resource Center, Dream Center, and Center for Equity and Student Belonging—will be integrated into Student Affairs. Additionally, the EDI division will be eliminated on July 1.
Student Affairs is launching a Well-being Navigation Program in fall 2024 to provide personalized guidance, coping strategies, health education, and referrals to both on- and off-campus resources at no cost. The program, funded by the Communities That Care grant, will enhance health literacy by directing students to relevant health and wellness resources, encouraging them to take an active role in managing their well-being journey.
Student Affairs is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive environment where every student feels a genuine sense of belonging—empowering them to actively engage in their community, develop leadership skills, and fully immerse themselves in the authentic college experience. As a first step toward this goal, Student Affairs created the ‘Engagement and Belonging Task Force’ to reimagine social programming, foster collaborative relationships, implement streamlined processes, and address current challenges.
The Financial Wellness Center— specialized in enhancing students’ understanding of the role of finance in their lives and assisting them in making smart, informed decisions about their money—aims to improve the way it supports students by providing the right information at the right time to the right students.
Aligned with the Adapting to Students Needs strategic plan, Student Affairs is focusing on three key initiatives aimed at enriching the student experience, strengthening student skills development, scaling services to support a growing student population, and contributing to the realization creating “College Town Magic.”