Onward, Together: Enhancing Student Success Through Navigate U

At the University of Utah, our commitment to student success is the guiding principle shaping our decisions and priorities. Over the last year, we have refined our focus through a shared responsibility approach to create an exceptional educational experience for every student by identifying and removing obstacles that hinder their academic journey. Framing the work is the strategy set we call Navigate U. I'm excited to share updates regarding our progress, how we’re defining student success, and the vision for where we are going next together. 

What drives us 

Our six-year graduation rate stands at 64%, slightly above the national average but below what we aspire for our students. Too many students at the U face barriers that delay or prevent them from earning a degree. To confirm over a decade's worth of data gathering, analyses, and good work in this space, we partnered with the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) and continue to rely on our active membership in the University Innovation Alliance (UIA) to enhance our current approaches and future-proof the U with a "Students First" philosophy.  

In the current landscape of public higher education, rising costs and shifting perceptions about the value of a degree require us to be more strategic—maximizing our existing resources to support student success. Effectiveness in this context means being exemplary stewards of public funds and human capital to create a more seamless student experience. By refining how we guide students through their academic journey, we can help them get on track and stay on track to reach completion without unnecessary delays. 

Good work worth doing 

One significant challenge students face is navigating academic requirements and support systems. Small barriers—such as inconsistent advising, difficulty transferring credits, and unclear degree pathways—accumulate and become significant roadblocks to completion. Navigate U was born out of a deepened understanding of our context—our students, faculty, curriculum, and institutional culture. It is a comprehensive strategy set designed to transform how we understand, strategize, and implement intervention efforts across our campus. It aims to bring together previously disparate efforts to ensure an exceptional educational experience for every undergraduate student. 
 
To learn more about how our partnership with EAB is transforming our student data acquisition, communication, and the democratization of data within the U—subscribe to the Navigate U newsletter here. 

Collaboration: Together 

Navigate U is a collaboration among the Office of the President, Academic Affairs, individual Colleges, Schools, and Departments, Student Affairs, and Health Sciences. Campus stakeholders work together to align their unique strengths and perspectives to serve the diverse needs of our university community. An Advisory Committee, with representatives from Enrollment Management, University Information Technology, Student Affairs, Advising, and Faculty, guides usage best practices and policies of Navigate U. Since July 2024, a weekly meeting of an “Activate Group” has shepherded impactful projects through the U's complex systems to drive innovation and meaningful change. Additionally, an Education & Analytics Group of senior leaders among undergraduate and graduate education, enrollment, student affairs, and university analytics meets weekly to share opportunities and coordinate support for professional staff and faculty on the frontlines of student success. 

Pillars of Navigate U 

Navigate U focuses on several key pillars to enhance the student experience. These pillars have seen multiple Activate projects emerge to advance our shared efforts over the last nine months. 

Awareness and Engagement | EAB Navigate empowers student success through analytics. The web student interface connects administrators, faculty, advisors, and students across a collaborative network, streamlining communication and creating a seamless experience. All Colleges and Schools and undergraduate Academic Advisors are utilizing EAB Navigate creating opportunities for seamless communications, supporting students during major declaration, registration, and major changes, and leveraging data democratization to drive future success. 

Students in Transition | Advising for Students in Transition outlines the support needed to ensure students transition smoothly between majors without losing time toward their degree completion. Future innovations may well see refined work of coordinators within the Colleges and Schools to work directly with students who change majors and might risk longer time to completion. 

Proactive Academic Advising | The Academic Advising Standards Council has made significant strides in ensuring continuity of care across the U. In Fall 2024, the first campus-wide coordinated proactive academic advising training was held for all undergraduate advisors at the U. The second training is set for March 2025 to standardize practice and leverage the power, expertise, and passion of the U’s Advising community. 

Academic Planning and Curriculum Systems | By developing and maintaining functional 4-year degree plans, we guide students along their educational journey and assist their timely completion. We are actively working through streamlining curricular systems to align bachelor's degree programs with the 120 credit hours standard set by the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). We are tackling high-DEWI rates through a strategic approach of data analysis, engagement with faculty, and interventions to improve course outcomes.  

Financial Structures | We are moving forward on a student holds inventory and utilizing strategic micro-completion grants to address the immediate financial needs of students at risk of not completing their degrees. 

First Experiences and Experiential Learning | Launching in Fall 2025, the Quest academic learning community offers small-sized academic seminar courses that meet general education and baccalaureate requirements. As a successor to the LEAP program, Quest seeks to build students' sense of belonging at the U through social, community service, and academic peer events. Quest will partner directly with First Experiences already in place (e.g., Humanities’ Great Books, the Science Research Initiative, the Undergraduate Eccles Experience) or in design across Colleges and Schools. 
 
Student Pathways and Career Success | With the emergence of Navigate Hubs, advising, student success coaching, and career coaching are more accessible than ever before. The Navigate Hubs' shared services model promises to facilitate student access to various support services. U Career Success is reaching students with key strategies to prepare for exciting careers ahead. Career coaches held 16,631 individual appointments with students last year, nearly doubling from 2023. First-year to graduate-level students get guidance on personal branding, job and internship connections, building networks, preparing for interviews, salary negotiations, and more. Taking advantage of career services at the U builds a student's confidence, increases their resources, and enhances lifetime opportunities. 

Academic and Well-Being Support | Through an innovative partnership with InsideTrack, we’ve developed a new student success coaching program, and it has paid off for students.  Coaching improves retention and persistence rates across student populations — especially for those who have been historically underserved. The Fall 2022 to Fall 2023 retention rate for all coached students (84%) was higher than for non-coached students (80%).  Simultaneously, Student Affairs is investing in improving students' health and well-being resources. These include increasing the number of counseling professionals in the University Counseling Center and offering virtual 24/7 support through the TELUS Health Student app. Student Affairs is also investing in providing more skills workshops, mindfulness programs, and wellness coaching from health educators and peer mentors.  

All of these cross-campus efforts are making a difference at the University of Utah—again, through good work worth doing. And, folks beyond Utah are taking notice of the U's approach. Our commitment and focus will ensure that every University of Utah student has the opportunity to succeed academically, personally, and professionally.  
 
Like all of you, I am committed to this work and am grateful to work alongside professionals who care so deeply for our students and this great university. 

For more on Navigate U, visit navigate.utah.edu. 

 

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