2020-2025
Strategic Plan Accomplishments
letter from the president
Friends of Utah Tech University,
As you know, Utah Tech University and Trailblazer Nation are truly special places to learn, explore, and grow. In the short time I have been here since my tenure began on May 1, I have been amazed by the grit of our incredibly determined students, the commitment of our hard-working faculty and staff, the zeal of our accomplished alumni, and the unwavering support of our passionate community.
Thanks to all of you, remarkable accomplishments were achieved through Trailblazing Distinction, the strategic plan that guided our University’s growth and development between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2025. Building off the success of the prior plan, University Status to Stature, which provided the foundation and structure for shaping this fine institution into an open, comprehensive polytechnic university, Trailblazing Distinction has furthered the growth and successes of this community.
The work completed as part of Trailblazing Distinction made it possible for Utah Tech to distinguish itself as a global polytechnic leader in the unique position of offering a wide variety of educational experiences to anyone who desires it at an affordable cost. The past five years also included an increase in student enrollment and retention, supported by improved physical and IT infrastructure. Finally, the plan features accomplishments that ensure Southern Utah remains a remarkable place to live and Utah Tech a supportive place to work for decades to come.
Looking forward, we are eager to build upon the extraordinary momentum that Trailblazing Distinction created. We are in the process of creating our next strategic plan that will further
advance the University in its mission. With the foundations put in place in the last half decade, Utah Tech University is in a powerful position to change the lives of individual students and the community as a whole for generations to come. I look forward to partnering with you in this effort.
Congratulations on the success of Trailblazing Distinction. Let’s continue to blaze trails together.
Sincerely,
Shane B. Smeed 19th President of Utah Tech University
national accolades
2020
A DiversityJobs.com Top Employer
U.S. News & World Report’s 7th Top Public School in the West
U.S. News & World Report’s 12th Top Performer on Social Mobility among regional colleges in the West
U.S. News & World Report’s 24th Regional College-West
2021
Affordable Schools’ #1 Best Affordable Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Degree Program in Nation
#4 in Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges of the West
Best Colleges’ #5 Best Colleges with the Highest Acceptance Rates in the Nation
A DiversityJobs.com Top Employer
2022
#7 in Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges of the West
The Education Magazine’s 10 Most Prominent Arts and Science Colleges
Best Colleges’ #5 Best Colleges with the Highest Acceptance Rates in the Nation
2023
#4 in Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges of the West
Higher Education Digest’s 10 Prominent Universities and Colleges to Watch
Education Insights’ 10 Most Admired Universities
Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry
Insights Success’ Most Inspiring Thought Leaders Transforming Education
Industry Era’s 10 Most Inspiring CEOs
Insights Success’ Most Prestigious Universities Driving Student Success and Career Growth
College Consensus’ 100 Most Affordable Online Colleges #1 in Military Times’ Best for Vets in Utah
2025
Research.com’s #7 Best Value Colleges in the Western U.S. A U.S. Veterans Magazine’s Top Yellow Ribbon School
Education Insider’s Top Tech University
Education Insider’s Top Tech University 2025
academic Distinction academic Distinction
Over the course of Trailblazing Distinction, Utah Tech University integrated the tenets of an open, comprehensive, polytechnic education to establish and enhance regionally distinctive academic programs. As a result, our students experience exceptional learning and preparation for career and life success.
Distinction Distinction
New Academic Programs
To meet both student needs and workforce demands, Utah Tech has increased the number of our academic programs by 105%.
PROGRAMS ADDED BETWEEN 2020 AND 2025 PROGRAM GROWTH SINCE 2025
ASSOCIATE DEGREES
American Sign Language
Biotechnology
Design
Earth and Environmental Science
English
Hotel and Resort Operations
Information Technology
Management
Pharmacy Preparation
Programming
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
ASL English Interpreting
Computer Engineering
Data Science
Digital Media
Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences
Electrical Engineering
Enterprise Management
Geological Sciences
Healthcare Administration
Hotel and Resort Management
Information Technology
Mechatronics
Professional Studies
Recreation & Sport Management
Respiratory Therapy
Respiratory Therapy Completion Prog
Software Engineering
Special Education
MASTER’S DEGREES
Healthcare Administration
Nursing Educational Leadership
Software Development
Sport Management
Studio Art
User Experience Design
DOCTORATE DEGREES
Occupational Therapy
ASSOCIATE DEGREES MINORS
2D Animation
3D Animation
Accounting & Information Systems
Advanced Design
Advanced Information Technology
Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Statistics I
Applied Statistics II
Bioinformatics
Chemical Laboratory Technology Advanced
Choral Conducting
Classical Acting
Community/Social Change
Costume Studies
Critical Reasoning
Cryptography
Cryptography II
Cybersecurity
Data Analytics
Data Science
Digital Film
Diversity
Editing & Publishing
Elementary Music Education
Ethical Judgment
Functional Genomics
Genetic Sequencing
Gerontology
Geographic Information Systems
Global Perspectives
Health Communication
Information Technology
Leadership
Lighting & Sound for Theatre and Film
Machine Learning
Machine Learning in Biology
Marketing
Mediation
Medical Laboratory Assistant Technology
Modeling & Simulation
Music Technology
Orchestral Conducting
Photography/Digital Imagery
Piano Pedagogy
Professional Communication
Protein Characterization
Public Relations
Recreation Management
Scenic Studies
Supply Chain Management
Sustainability
Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship
UI/UX Design
Virtual/Extended Reality
Visual Culture & Society
Web Design and Development
Wellness Coaching
Digital Film
Environmental Humanities
Gender Studies
Military Science
Philosophy
Political Science
Sports Communication
Sport Coaching
EMPHASES
Communication Studies:
Human Communication emphasis
Communication Studies: Professional Communication emphasis
Criminal Justice:
Law Enforcement emphasis
Earth, Energy, and Environmental Science: Environmental Science emphasis
Earth, Energy, and Environmental Science: Geoscience emphasis
General Technology:
Business emphasis
Information Technology: DevOps emphasis
Sport Management: Sport Performance Management emphasis
Theatre:
Acting emphasis
Theatre:
Directing emphasis
Theatre:
Design/Technical emphasis
Theatre:
Generalist emphasis
global polytechnic leader
In the fall of 2020, Utah Tech began implementing a polytechnic academic focus to elevate our offerings, enhance our students’ educational experiences, and meet area workforce demands. As part of this focus, students participate in hands-on learning experiences to ensure they graduate career-ready across all disciplines –
humanities, arts, education, health sciences, business, and STEM. Students make, create, and innovate in the classroom and online while gaining real-world active learning experiences through internships, clinical experiences, undergraduate research, industry partnerships, and service learning.
More than half of students participated in internships, clinical experiences, or similar opportunities over the last 3 years.
Students who graduated with a job increased by 12% between 2022 and 0204.
Further establishing ourselves as a leader in the polytechnic educational space, Utah Tech hosted 130 academicians from eight countries at the
Global Polytechnic Education Alliance’s 2023 Global Polytechnic Summit.
“active learning. active life.” experience
Piloted in the 2024-25 academic year and set to launch with all students this fall, Utah Tech’s “active learning. active life.” experience is a dynamic extension of our polytechnic mission that offers personalized hands-on opportunities
that support academic, personal, and professional growth. The program emphasizes involvement across 8 impact areas that empower students to shape their college journey in a way that works best for them.
HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES
To ensure all students are participating in the active learning experiences commensurate with a polytechnic education, UT implemented at least
two required high-impact practices in 100% of the University’s degree programs.
UT ONLINE
Online learning at Utah Tech has increased dramatically in the past five years.
ONLINE PROGRAM GROWTH SINCE 2025
Overall enrollment in online courses increased from 5,234 in Fall 2019 to 9,932 in Fall 2024, representing a 90% increase.
The number of students enrolled in fully online programs at Utah Tech increased from 286 in Fall 2019 to 685 in Fall 2024, representing a 119% increase in total headcount over five years.
The number of online courses offered at Utah Tech increased from 208 in Fall 2019 to 405 in 2025, representing an increase of 95%.
To support this rapid growth and ensure online students receive consistent access to services, Utah Tech established the UT Online One-Stop Service Office. Designed as a campus away from campus, this dedicated team serves as a single point of contact for online-only students across
all stages of their educational journey. Whether prospective, enrolled, or returning, students can call or email the one-stop team to get accurate answers, personalized guidance, or direct referrals to the right office, eliminating the runaround and increasing student satisfaction and retention.
This office has received consistently positive feedback from students who express deep appreciation for the personal support they’ve received. One student shared, “I don’t know if I could have done this without her,” highlighting the critical role this service plays in student success.
The Digital Flex Learning Initiative was created, resulting in the availability of 190 new online courses at Utah Tech. UT Online created the Course Design Institute–a 10-week professional
Custom VR activities marked the beginning of VR as a learning modality at Utah Tech. UT Online learning designers collaborated with faculty in several departments to design, develop, and launch courses that use original virtual reality content and activities. A course in engineering was
development program in which UT Online learning designers guided faculty through designing and developing 190 courses for online delivery between 2021 and 2023.
the first rolled out in 2021, followed by courses in dental hygiene, physics, and exercise science. UT Online has hired current Utah Tech students studying computer science and 3D animation to assist with these projects, giving them real-world learning experiences.
open educational resources
In 2023, Utah Tech received a Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education that helped faculty members redesign their courses to include free Open Educational Resources instead of requiring
students to buy textbooks. Taking advantage of these teaching, learning, and research resources expanded UT’s capacity to serve thousands of students and makes learning more affordable.
“The OER learning materials was better than other textbook courses because it focused exactly what we were working on in class and was able to answer any of my questions directly. It also helped me get a better understanding of the class overall and help me succeed in the class because it was written by my professor.”
“I took the charge to focus on OER to heart and created a class entirely from the ground up with OER as my focus. Providing an affordable, accessible set of readings provides students the opportunity to wrestle with some of the foundational questions on what it means to be human without having to worry about books breaking the bank.” - Dr. John Wolfe
READ MORE FACULTY OER EXPERIENCES
Strategic enrollment Strategic Enrollment
With extending educational opportunities to everyone at the core of our mission, Utah Tech placed a concentrated effort on decreasing economic, technological, geographical, and institutional barriers that prevented students from enrolling or continuing their education. As a result, we saw a significant increase in student enrollment over the last 5 years.
enrollment growth Enrollment growth
ENROLLMENT INCREASES FROM 2019 TO 2024:
Overall Fall Enrollment:
Overall Spring Enrollment:
New Student Enrollment: Minority Enrollment:
Enrollment:
RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES
Joined Common App, a nonprofit that helps students easily apply to a variety of schools at one time, organization in 2024
1,850 applications
45 states
55 countries
Joined Zeemee, a social media app in which prospective students interact with one another, in 2024
50% of Zeemee followers went from applying to registering
Increased followers by 29% from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025
Hired 5 part-time student staff who logged over 13,600 interactions with admissions counselors in 3 months in 2025
Logged 109,269 calls, texts, emails, school visits, and student appointments during the 2025 recruitment cycle
FINANCIAL SUCCESS & AFFORDABILITY
Created a Student Financial Success Center to remove financial barriers
Implemented Scholarship Universe to make scholarships more accessible
Revamped scholarship parameters to support retention
Maintained the lowest university tuition in Utah
ENGAGING WITH TRANSFER STUDENTS
To help students complete their degrees and enter the workforce in high-demand fields, Utah Tech made transferring to UT more accessible.
Conducted 35 annual visits to 22 two-year colleges in 6 states
Utah
Arizona
California
Idaho
Nevada
Wyoming
Established or significantly expanded articulation agreements
Salt Lake Community College
Snow College
College of Southern Nevada
Dixie Technical College
Maricopa Community Colleges (system of 10 colleges in the Phoenix area)
Increased virtual events offered to 25+ per year
Davis Technical College
Saigon Business School
Universae in Spain
RETENTION
In 2020, the University set out to improve its first-time, full-time, bachelor’s degree-seeking retention rate to 66% by 2025.
Used Navigate software to identify and help students needing support
Expanded Trailblazer Connections, UT’s first-year experience course, to more than 100 sections supported by 42 peer coaches, resulting in more than 8,000 first-year students receiving the support and information needed for a successful college experience
Adopted a full-time advisor model, professionalizing and standardizing advising
Expanded Academic Success to include 34 full-time professional advisors across 7 colleges
Held 26,723 academic advisement appointments during the 2023-24 academic year
All recruitment and retention efforts have resulted in Utah Tech awarding 18,912 degrees in the last five years.
community as university Community as university
Over the past five years, Utah Tech University strengthened our partnerships with cities in Washington and Kane counties to leverage the University’s resources to improve communities, enhance quality of life for all residents, and create an integrated and vibrant Southern Utah learning ecosystem that provides exceptional learning opportunities and catalyzes the economic and social development of Southern Utah.
university university
EDUCATION CENTERS
To offer educational experiences to rural community members of all ages, Utah Tech expanded programming and community partnerships at new and existing UT Education
Centers within our region through Perkins Special Project Grants. We went from one center in Hurricane to four UT Education Centers, building new centers in Kanab, Hildale, and Panguitch.
Expanded Hurricane Education Center’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy, doubling the cohort size. Also added a Community Education Garden, CNA testing, and motorcycle training
Now offer general education courses, full CNA programs, and design certificates at all Rural Education Centers
Grew Concurrent Enrollment in rural communities by hosting CE at Rural Education Centers
Kanab Center: 600% increase
Water Canyon Center: 150% increase
Panguitch Center: 600% increase
STEM OUTREACH
The University established the STEM Outreach Center in Atwood Innovation Plaza in September 2021 as a hub for innovative classes, workshops, and community events. Here, students in kindergarten through 12th grade learn valuable tech know-how and are prepared to eventually fill the demand for qualified tech talent.
Offered 475 programs
Interacted with more than 55,000 kindergarten-12th grade students
CITY ALLIANCE
Utah Tech University established and implemented the UT City Alliance Program, a mutually beneficial initiative that helps create an economically strong and socially vibrant future by connecting campus resources with community needs. Each year, City Alliance brings together a partner city and Utah Tech students and faculty to work on initiatives that improve residents’ lives.
More than 500 students and 40 faculty members participated in real-life educational experiences
We built partnerships with five local municipalities
City of St. George
Santa Clara City
Springdale City
LaVerkin City
City of Hildale
PREPARING A RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP
To make civic engagement a tangible element of campus and community life and prepare students for responsible citizenship, Utah Tech’s Institute of Politics partnered with local media, interest groups, political parties, academics, county leaders, and others to create The Washington County Debate Coalition. Since its founding in
2021, the coalition has held numerous debates for congressional, state legislature, city council, mayoral, and county commissioner elections. Additionally, the Institute of Politics spearheads a wide variety of initiatives that are open to the community throughout the year.
Since its founding, The Washington County Debate Coalition has held 11 candidate forums
The Institute of Politics holds 14 Pizza & Politics sessions each year that feature guest speakers addressing relevant hot-button issues
Each year, at least 12 interns are placed in political internships on the local, state, and national levels
UT founded the Speaker Fellows Program and has hosted 5 prominent speakers such as a former Utah governor, prominent journalist, academic, and a former congressperson
The Institute of Politics hosts Constitution Day, voter dates, voter registration drives that have registered more than 600 students, and bi-annual surveys of students to inform politicians of what students are concerned about
“One city council debate for the city of St. George had over 500 hundred people show up. So many, that some listened to the event in the hall on the radio. Those numbers for a city council debate are sometimes not reached in cities ten times the size. Political discussion and debate is alive and well again in Washington County.”
— Vince Brown, Director of Utah Tech’s Institute of Politics and Chair of The Washington County Debate Coalition
CAMPUS RECREATION SUMMER CAMPS
Over the last five years, Campus Recreation Summer Camps have welcomed over 7,400 youth participants and generated approximately $400,000 in revenue and approximately $80,000 in profit for the department, which has been reinvested into student recreation programs and services.
Started in 2020, Youth Kids, Sports and Climbing camps have consistently grown in terms of participants and revenue each year.
Swim lessons: 4000 participants
Youth Swim Team: 1125 participants
Dive Camps/Clinic: 356
Junior Lifeguard: 116
Water Polo: 34
Unique Summer Camp: 78
Mermaid Camp: 18 (started Summer 2024)
Winter Holiday Swim Camp: 151
Kids Camps and Sports Camps: 665 participants
Climbing Camps: 844 participants
This summer, our youth swim team won the Tri-State Championship.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Over the last five years, Utah Tech has maintained our commitment to providing our community with the benefits of having a university in town, including access to a wide variety of fun and meaningful events throughout the year. UT has continued to build the quantity and quality of public events that appeal to residents of all ages and draw thousands of community members to our campus every year. Over the years, the
southern Utah community has continued to come to campus to hunt for eggs at Trailblazer Nation Spring Fest; recognize our Nation’s independence at the 4th of July Celebration; support our Trailblazers during Homecoming; celebrate the spooky and sweet sides of the fall season at Tricks and Treats Night; and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at our Tree Lighting Celebration.
institutional capacity Institutional capacity
To ensure the accomplishments achieved under Trailblazing Distinction make the most meaningful impact possible on our campus and community, Utah Tech established a culture of evidence-based performance management to optimize financial, facility, human, and information technology capital to elevate capacity and effectiveness.
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Over the past 5 years, Utah Tech has significantly enhanced the teaching and learning environment by standardizing classroom technology across campus. With classrooms upgraded to a unified audiovisual technology baseline, instructors benefit from consistent tools and interfaces that reduce setup time, lower the learning curve for using new spaces, and minimize technical
disruptions. Students experience a more reliable and predictable learning environment, allowing them to focus on content rather than adjusting to varying classroom setups. This consistency also streamlines IT support and maintenance, enabling quicker issue resolution and more efficient resource allocation.
Upgraded 170+ classrooms to meet the new audiovisual technology baseline
Converted 3 classrooms to Active Learning Classrooms with enhanced audiovisual features to facilitate a collaborative learning environment
WEB SERVICES
Led a redesign of the University homepage, elevating both usability and visual appeal to better engage prospective students and stakeholders.
Launched calendar.utahtech.edu/events, a sleek, intuitive calendar that showcases campus life with a modern, mobile-friendly user experience.
Designed and built a custom digital signage platform to manage and display dynamic content across campus — providing real-time information, event highlights, and emergency alerts in high-traffic areas.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPUTING
Developed and deployed the Professional Licensure Database, a compliance solution that earned national recognition via a 2022 SANsational Award from the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies.
Launched the myUT mobile app and portal, enhancing student engagement and accessibility. The app was awarded Best Personalized Experience at the 2024 Modo Appademy Awards, and continues to evolve based on user feedback.
SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATION
Installed a 31-node 3D animation render farm using cutting-edge Dell and NVIDIA hardware, dramatically expanding instructional capabilities in animation and digital design courses.
Rolled out Single Sign-On across more than 150 applications, streamlining access while improving security and the user experience.
NETWORKING SERVICES
Expanded outdoor wireless infrastructure with the deployment of new outdoor access points, significantly enhancing campus-wide connectivity for students and employees.
Upgraded the University’s network core and building connections, ensuring ultrafast, reliable connectivity to meet growing bandwidth demands across academic and administrative services.
building up campus
With a dramatic increase in students, academic programs, and campus life experiences, Utah Tech’s campus also grew to accommodate student, employee, and community needs. In fact,
NEW BUILDINGS
Science, Engineering & Technology Building
Campus View Suites 2
Utah Tech has underwent 403 new construction, renovation, and upkeep projects on campus throughout the last 5 years.
Campus View Suites 3
General Classroom Building
FEATURED NEW OR RENOVATED SPACES
Holland Centennial Commons
Welcome Center
Kanab Center renovation
Encampment Mall Heritage
Cove enhancement
Patent and Trademark Resource Center
Technology Building Improvements
O.C. Tanner Amphitheater site restoration (Springdale)
Eccles Concert Hall improvements
Habibian Athletics Center improvement
Smith’s Center Study and Presentation Area
Encampment Mall Pollinator Garden
Presidents Grove Statue Garden
SET Zebra Fish/Microscope Room Renovations
Jennings Humanities Remodel
University Inn update
Mosaic Mural repairs
Burns Arena new floor
Splash and Qdoba additions in the Gardner Student Center
HAZY 103 Macc Room renovation
International Student Center –Student Activities Center
Volleyball team room remodel and locker room improvements –Student Activities Center
Burns Arena seating replacement
Human Performance Center rooftop resurfacing
Atwood Innovation Plaza Courtyard
Shade Structure
Memory Gardens Reinstallation
Hurricane Center room remodel
Dunford Auditorium Stage Floor Replacement
faculty and staff faculty and staff
Utah Tech’s faculty and staff are the best and brightest in the industry. Because of our employees, UT is a special place with remarkable commitment to our students, mission, and continued success. In return, the institution has deliberately focused on providing fair compensation, establishing policies and practices to ensure efficient and effective progress, and fostering a positive work environment to recruit and retain ambitious, hard-working employees.
staff life staff life
faculty and staff life
Hired 139 ongoing faculty from 2020-2024
— 54% of them are from Utah
Implemented a remote work policy, making it possible to have employees in 6 states — Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Florida, and Texas
Created one-stop on-boarding resource for new part-time instructors
Established an employee Health & Wellness Committee, with various monthly wellness initiatives — Utah Tech won the Social Well-Being Award from PEHP in 2023 — Utah Tech won the Community Well-Being First Place Award from PEHP in 2024
Created the Advanced Degree Assistance Program and awarded $39,200 to 12 staff earning advanced degrees
Introduced the Child Care Assistance Program, helping 140 people from 2021 to 2025 find childcare and services like housekeeping and tutoring
Trained 70 employees in leadership by hosting 3 cohorts of Trailblazer Leadership Development Program
Offered 180 employees in two cohorts leadership training through the FranklinCovey Leadership Skills Program
Implemented a staff and faculty leadership mentor program for 10-20 mentor-mentee partnerships per year
campus successes campus successes
Over the past five years, Utah Tech University has implemented and expanded a wide variety of initiatives across campus to help us more effectively and efficiently fulfill our mission of offering active and applied learning opportunities that advance students’ knowledge and skills while shaping them into competent, resilient, lifelong learners who are prepared to succeed in their careers and personal lives as creators, innovators, and responsible citizens.
successes successes
supporting students
Over the last five years, Utah Tech re-imagined our Student Resource Center to better provide support, resources, and connections for all students as they navigate the academic process.
UT’s First Generation Student Services was named to the Center for First-generation Student Success’ First Scholars Network in 2023. First Generation Student Services is housed in the Student Resource Center. UT is a member of the Center for First-generation Student Success First Scholars Network.
The Blazer Pantry was revamped to offer fresh food including meat, fruit, dairy, bread, and vegetables through community grants.
— During the 24-25 Academic Year, the pantry facilitated 3,200+ visits distributing products worth $95,742 or 34,599 pounds. 74% of pantry users were retained or graduated.
The Come & Get It program was created in 2023 to alert students when extra meals are available from catered events and reduce food waste across campus.
BOOTH WELLNESS CENTER
The Booth Wellness Center held 16,184 appointments over the last 5 years.
TRAILBLAZER CHILD & YOUTH PROGRAM
Established in 2022, the Trailblazer Child & Youth Program is a partnership between Utah Tech University and the Navy Child and Youth Program in which college interns travel across the globe to host after-school and summer programs for the children of military personnel while earning academic credit. These internships also offer
a wide array of as professional development opportunities and even serve as a lucrative recruiting pipeline. In fact, 52% of Trailblazer CYP interns are likely to pursue full-time careers with the Navy CYP or Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
INSTALLATIONS SERVED
Hawaii Japan
Northwest
Europe Africa Central
TOP 5 INTERN MAJORS
Child Development
Early Childhood Development
Elementary Education
Mid-Atlantic Southeast Southwest Naval District Washington
Recreation and Sports Management Criminal Justice
SCHOLARSHIPS
A new fund for “active learning. active life.” has been created to support faculty in developing hands-on, career-ready learning experiences for students. Faculty can apply for funding to provide opportunities that help students develop essential skills for their future careers.
AWAREDED PROJECTS
Community Voices: Survey Research Experience
Social Ethics Philanthropy Fund
Translating Academic Research through Zines
Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility
Marketing Mistakes Casebook
12 applications funded
$45,720 awarded
Improving VR Motor Control Labs
Athletic Training Mannequin
Antenna and RF Device Measurement System
Surface Roughness Tester
Laser-Focused Experiences
Short Animated Film for Festival Circuit
Study Abroad – Evolutions of Capoeira
capital projects
AMERICA FIRST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
With support from America First Credit Union, the Utah State Legislature, Washington County, and community donors, the performing arts center on campus is currently undergoing a major renovation including expanding the lobby, rehearsal spaces, box office, concessions and restrooms as well as adding a balcony with
more seating, upgrading lighting and equipment throughout the building, and more. This renovated venue will serve as the official home of Southwest Symphony, Southern Utah Heritage Choir, and Utah Tech University’s student and professional art programming. The America First Performing Arts Center is slated to open Spring 2026.
BLACK DESERT PRACTICE FACILITY
Black Desert’s golf course, designed by Tom Weiskopf, is the home course for the University’s golf programs. Black Desert offers the resources necessary to strengthen player development and bolster the team’s competitive edge. Among the exclusive amenities offered to Trailblazer golf athletes are a driving range and a 1.5-acre putting green. Looking ahead, plans are underway to
build a state-of-the-art golf facility featuring toptier amenities, including locker rooms, a swing mechanics lab, a fitness room, a player’s lounge, study areas, and coaches’ offices. In addition, the creation of a Founder’s Club is also in the works, offering exclusive opportunities to support and engage with the program.
TRAILBLAZER ATHLETICS
Trailblazer student-athletes continue the tradition of working hard on the field and court, in the community, and in the classroom. In 2020, UT transitioned from a Division II school competing in the PacWest and Rocky Mountain conferences to going Division I in the Western
Athletic Conference. Since then, Trailblazer student-athletes have continued to break athletic and academic records. Looking forward, UT Athletics will continue to build and grow, as we have accepted an invitation to join the Big Sky Conference in 2026.
ATWOOD INNOVATION PLAZA
Over the course of Trailblazing Distinction, Utah Tech continued to enhance and expand Southern Utah’s premier business development pipeline, Atwood Innovation Plaza. Opened in 2019, it offers no-cost consultations and incubator workspace through the Business Resource Center;
resources to create prototypes and perform small-run manufacturing though the Makerspace; assistance with research, patents, trademarks, and copyrights through Innovation Guidance & Solutions; and help getting businesses up and running through the Startup Incubator.
INNOVATION GUIDANCE AND SOLUTIONS CENTER
760 new clients
3,964 appointments
186 patent applications
23 copyrights granted
138 trademark applications
PATENT AND TRADEMARK RESOURCE CENTER
The United States Patent and Trademark Office designated Utah Tech University as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center in 2022. Housed in the Holland Centennial Commons Library, the
center provides access to a network of intellectual property experts, enhancing entrepreneurs’ ability to file patents and get them granted.
MAKING A LASTING IMPACT
Not only is Utah Tech University making an impact on the community by educating the populace, the institution is also a large economic contributor to its Southern Utah
ECONOMIC
CONTRIBUTION
Region, according to data gathered by Grayson Consulting, LLC in the 2023 Utah Tech University Economic Impact Study.
UT’s total output in the service region was $252.6 million, including both direct spending and the ripple effects of university-related expenditures
Statewide, UT generated a total output of $341.3 million
UT’s service region supported 1,779 jobs, including 962 direct jobs, 318 indirect jobs, and 499 induced jobs, generating $65.8 million in labor income
At the state level, 1,966 jobs were supported, including 961 direct jobs, 343 indirect jobs, and 662 induced jobs, generating $97.9 million in labor income
For every $1 invested by the state, the service region saw $1.91 in value-added economic activity and $2.85 in total output
The state saw $3.90 in value-added contributions and $5.27 in total output for every $1 invested
Spending by UT students supported 1,337 jobs in the service region and 1,151 jobs statewide, contributing $87.1 million and $97 million in value-added impact, respectively
2023 GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT & EARNINGS
Graduates with UT bachelor’s degrees can expect to earn an average of $20,273 more annually than those with only a high school diploma, translating to a lifetime earnings premium of $810,920.
UT’s Class of 2023 is expected to generate an additional $1.2 billion in lifetime earnings.
73% of 2023 graduates are employed in UT’s service region after graduation and 15% of graduates are employed outside the service region but within the state.
SOCIETAL CONTRIBUTION
In 2023, the Institute of Continued Learning offered 84 courses to 1,500 primarily retired community members.
66 faculty and staff advanced their fields through published scholarship and creative work, while over 200 students presented at the UT Symposium for Research, Innovation, and Creativity, collectively driving innovation and enriching societal knowledge and progress.
