As an open-admissions university that welcomes all, we strive to support the goals of all women who are part of the Wolverine family on our campuses and within the surrounding communities.
This March, Utah Valley University (UVU) is joining the country in honoring Women’s History Month. In 2023, UVU was recognized by Governor Spencer Cox as one of 100 Utah companies that are championing women. As an open-admissions university that welcomes all, we strive to support the goals of all women who are part of the Wolverine family on our campuses and within the surrounding communities.
The UVU Women’s Success Center fosters programs designed to help women-identifying students stay on course and graduate. These programs are also available to every student on campus, and the center welcomes everyone who comes through its doors.
Before the 19th century, women in the United States and Europe were rarely permitted to attend colleges and universities. Even after an exception was given for a woman to attend a higher education institution, many women were barred from graduating. In 1836, as the push for shifting societal roles for women swept the country, Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, became the country’s first women’s college.
Over the next 39 years, all-women’s institutions like Barnard College, Wellesley College, Bryn Mawr College, and 47 others followed Wesleyan’s lead to accommodate the rising number of women pursuing degrees. It wasn’t until the 20th century that a co-ed structure became the standard for higher education institutions. Many institutions, particularly a handful of Ivy League schools, continued to hold out on admitting women year-round until the years below:
Princeton University: 1969
Yale University: 1969
Dartmouth College: 1972
Columbia University: 1983
Following the push, for the first time in U.S. history, the country’s 1981-1982 academic year included more women bachelor’s degree recipients than men.
Today’s college campuses host a variety of students. Because of those who advocated and endured, women can choose their own educational paths. Astrid S. Tuminez, the first female president of UVU, is just one inspiring example of women's limitless potential in the world of higher education. The proud recipient of a bachelor’s degree in international relations and Russian literature from Brigham Young University (BYU), a master’s degree in Soviet studies from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), President Tuminez is a powerful example to UVU students.
In 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, President Tuminez reiterated the importance of women in education and beyond. “Women are vital to society’s success. Their talents and perspectives are needed to sustain economic growth, provide diverse perspectives, drive innovation, and demonstrate that a more just society is possible.”
In tribute to the trailblazing women who created a path for learners like herself, President Tuminez stated, “As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us think of the women who came before us, who persisted despite many obstacles, and who helped level the playing field for others. We can honor them by continuing to understand the barriers that women face and working to remove these barriers.”
